I will tell you a little secret… I am a wanna be farmer. I dream of a farm of my own with lots of fruit and nut trees. A big old farm house ready for renovations. A wrap around porch complete with rocking chair for me to sit and knit while I watch the boys run around the yard. A big wood stove to warm the house with. The kind that I could put a tea kettle on or cook a pot of soup on if the power went out. I would sit next to it in the winter time, probably with a kid on my lap. Drinking tea or hot cocoa and knitting.. I can see myself puttering around that house in my winter wool socks.
This farm house would have a large pantry that would be lined with my jars of canned goodies that I canned myself of course. Jams, pickles, fruit, veggies.. There would be a basement with more shelves to store the harvest. I am sure the laundry room would be down there too and I would probably hate that. 
The house would be white and the windows would have white curtains. I can see it all.
The farm would have a big herb garden- both medicinal and culinary. A flower garden and a huge veggie garden. Raspberry and blueberry bushes. Chickens, cows, and sheep (for my yarn addiction). There would be rope swings on all the big trees because we have more than one kid. There would be a variety of earth looms through out the property. Earth looms are free standing looms that you weave on outdoors. You use twine to start it and then you weave in all sorts of yard waste- branches, leaves, weeds etc.. It becomes an outdoor work of art. I would have a studio that I could use as a classroom as well. Teaching people self sufficiency, cooking from scratch, nutrition, weaving, knitting, spinning and more.
I think about my dream often. I read all sorts of homesteading books and magazines, watch tv programs, and tend to love movies that are centered around a farm and farm life. I don’t think I am over dramatizing it- I have lived on a farm. I know what I would be getting myself into and I can hardly wait. Bring it on.
So today I am reviewing a book that covers all the basics of country living: Country Skills- A Practical Guide to Self-Sufficiency. The book is written by Alison Candlin- her garden is in Wiltshire England. The book is published by Skyhorse Publishing. The book is loaded with pictures, charts, tips and tricks on country living. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know which is always good. I absolutely loved all the pictures. This is a great book to have on hand if you are starting your journey in self-sufficiency. I was inspired and have more ideas to add to my dream.
Chapter 1: Starting Out
- Planning
- Clearing Overgrown Land
- Improving the Soil
- Composting and Amending
- Improving Drainage
- Digging
- Fences and Other Boundaries
- Tools and Equipment
- The Greenhouse
- Greenhouse Management
- Cloches
- Crop Rotation
- Watering and Irrigation
Chapter 2: Calendar of Seasonal Tasks
- The Year in the Garden
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
Chapter 3: Growing Vegetables
- Growing Vegetables
- Raising Vegetables Seedlings
- Growing Cole Crops
- Growing Root Vegetables
- Growing Beans and Peas
- Growing Potatoes
- Growing Salad Greens
- Growing Tomatoes
- Other Vegetable Crops
- Growing Asparagus
- Greenhouse Vegetables
- Growing Herbs
Chapter 4: Growing Fruit
- Growing Fruit
- Planting Out
- Growing Apples
- Growing Pears
- Other Tree Fruit
- Growing Figs and Grapes
- Greenhouse Fruit
- Growing Rhubarb
- Growing Strawberries
- Other Berries
Chapter 5: Directory of Pests and Diseases
- Preventing Pests and Diseases
- Treating Plant Problems
- Visible Pests
- Leaves with Holes
- Distorted Leaves
- Discolored Leaves
- Distorted or Wilted Shoots
- Problems with Stems, Bark, or Branches
- Wilting or Withered Plant
- Fruit Disorders
- Problems with Beans, Peas, or Tomatoes
- Root Vegetable Disorders
Chapter 6: Keeping Animals
- Keeping Animals
- Keeping Pigs
- Keeping Goats
- Keeping Chickens
- Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys
- Keeping Bees
Chapter 7: Food from Nature
- Gathering from the Wild
- Herbs and Plants
- Fruits and Nuts
- Mushrooms
- Fishing
- Food from the Ocean
- Hunting
- Gathering Firewood
Chapter 8: Preserving Your Produce
- Preserving your Produce
- Preserving your Vegetables
- Equipment for Making Preserves
- Pickles, Chutney, and Relishes
- Preserving Herbs
- Preserving Fruit
- Canning Fruit
- Making Jams and Jellies
- Making Wine and Cider
- Goats’ Milk
- Preserving Meat and Fish
Chapter 9: Water and Energy Conservation
- The Self-Sufficient Home
- Conserving Energy
- Keeping in the Heat
- Solar Power
- Alternative Energy Sources
- Saving and Recycling Water