Site Book - The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition. Live Off the Land: The Ultimate Guide to Self-Sufficiency.
Discover the #1 bestselling guide to off-grid living, farming, food preservation, and self-reliance. Over 1 million copies sold—get ready to thrive anywhere.
In a world full of uncertainty, more people than ever are turning toward self-sufficiency and sustainable living.
Whether you're dreaming of a peaceful homestead, preparing for emergencies, or simply seeking a healthier, independent lifestyle, The Encyclopedia of Country Living offers over 1,000 pages of practical knowledge to help you thrive.
This 50th anniversary edition has sold more than 1 million copies—and for good reason.
It’s the ultimate manual for growing your own food, raising animals, preserving harvests, making natural remedies, and mastering essential skills for off-the-grid living.
Let this trusted guide empower you to live well, resiliently, and independently—no matter where you are.
OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD: The Ultimate 50th Anniversary Edition of The Encyclopedia of Country Living
The Encyclopedia of Country Living has earned its place as an essential manual for sustainable living, with over 1 million copies sold and a 50-year legacy of empowering individuals to live self-sufficiently.
Whether you're a homesteader, prepper, urban gardener, or simply seeking a more independent lifestyle, this encyclopedic guide is your complete resource for thriving off the grid or simply reclaiming natural, traditional skills in a modern world.
The Cornerstone of Self-Sufficient Living
Carla Emery’s seminal work is more than a book—it’s a lifeline for anyone serious about self-reliance.
Spanning more than 1,000 pages, this expansive edition delivers step-by-step guidance and time-tested techniques that help individuals and families build sustainable lives, regardless of where they live.
From cultivating your own food to preserving the harvest, from raising livestock to crafting homemade remedies, this volume is a comprehensive field guide to a life of resilience, health, and independence.
Grow Your Own Food: Gardening for Beginners and Beyond
Creating a thriving vegetable garden is a foundational skill, and this guide walks you through every phase:
- Planning your garden layout for maximum yield
- Understanding planting zones and soil types
- Step-by-step directions for starting seeds indoors
- How to companion plant to reduce pests naturally
- Organic methods to boost soil fertility and crop health
- Tips for crop rotation, seasonal planting, and succession sowing
With easy-to-follow instructions and practical illustrations, even novice gardeners can experience the joy of harvesting homegrown food.
Preserve the Harvest: Canning, Drying, and Storing Food
Learning to can, dry, ferment, and store food is vital for long-term sustainability.
This guide covers:
- Water bath and pressure canning techniques
- Vacuum sealing, root cellaring, and dehydration
- Recipes for fruit preserves, pickled vegetables, and shelf-stable meals
- Safe food handling practices to prevent spoilage
- Instructions for building a pantry that lasts
By preserving your own harvest, you gain both food security and peace of mind.
Backyard Livestock: Chickens, Goats, Pigs, and More
Raising animals for food, fiber, and companionship is made manageable with detailed guidance on:
- Constructing coops, pens, and shelters
- Feeding, breeding, and basic veterinary care
- Egg-laying cycles and chicken breed selection
- Goat milking, cheese-making, and kidding procedures
- Raising pigs for meat: housing, feeding, and humane processing
This manual ensures that even first-time animal keepers can raise healthy, productive livestock.
Cooking Off-Grid: Wood Stoves and Rustic Baking
Rediscover the art of cooking without modern appliances.
Learn to:
- Build and maintain a wood-fired stove
- Bake artisan breads from scratch
- Make 20-minute cheese with simple ingredients
- Craft homemade staples like butter, yogurt, and fermented vegetables
- Prepare nutritious meals from what you’ve grown and raised
The joy of cooking from scratch connects you deeply to your food and enhances your self-sufficiency.
Natural Healing: Herbal Remedies and Homemade Skincare
Harness the power of plants to treat common ailments and nourish your body.
The guide features:
- How to grow and identify medicinal herbs
- Recipes for homemade salves, tinctures, and teas
- Treatments for colds, flu, cuts, and digestive issues
- Instructions for making natural skincare: lotions, balms, shampoos
- How to produce organic insect repellent and healing oils
By making your own remedies, you reduce dependence on commercial pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
Foraging and Wildcrafting: Nature's Free Pantry
Gain the confidence to forage safely and responsibly with expert advice on:
- Identifying edible wild plants, mushrooms, and roots
- Guidelines for ethical harvesting and land stewardship
- Preparing foraged foods like fruit leather, syrups, and teas
- Tools and techniques for sustainable wildcrafting
Learning to forage enhances your connection with the land and builds an emergency food skillset.
Fiber and Fabric: Wool Spinning and Yarn Crafting
Tap into age-old skills with tutorials on:
- Shearing sheep and preparing fleece
- Washing, carding, and spinning wool into yarn
- Building a drop spindle or working with a spinning wheel
- Dyeing fibers using natural plant dyes
- Knitting and weaving basics for garments and textiles
These timeless skills support creative independence and reduce your reliance on mass-produced clothing.
DIY Basics: Flour Milling, Maple Tapping, and More
The Encyclopedia also includes guides for:
- Milling your own flour from wheat, oats, or corn
- Building a simple grain grinder or using a hand mill
- Tapping maple trees and boiling sap into syrup
- Creating homemade soap, candles, and cleaning products
- Constructing rainwater collection systems
Each of these skills reinforces the ability to create essentials from scratch, reducing dependence on external systems.
Living Well Anywhere: Urban, Suburban, or Rural
You don’t need acres of land to benefit from this guide.
The skills taught can be applied:
- In city apartments, where window gardening and fermentation thrive
- In suburban backyards, with chickens, bees, and raised beds
- On rural homesteads, with full-scale food production and livestock
Wherever you live, this book helps you build a life centered on well-being, sustainability, and preparedness.
Why The Encyclopedia of Country Living Remains Essential
Celebrated for its depth, practicality, and real-world applicability, The Encyclopedia of Country Living continues to resonate across generations.
It empowers readers to:
- Take control of their health, food, and resources
- Build resilience against economic or environmental uncertainty
- Reconnect with meaningful, hands-on living
- Equip families with survival skills in a rapidly changing world
Every chapter serves as a toolkit to navigate life with autonomy and purpose.
Final Word: A Lifeline for Modern Homesteaders
The 50th Anniversary Edition of this beloved manual isn't just a celebration of five decades—it’s a testament to timeless wisdom.
With over 1,000 practical pages, it remains the ultimate survival book, the essential homesteading reference, and a blueprint for independent living.
Whether you're preparing for uncertainty, seeking a healthier way of life, or simply yearning for a return to nature, this edition of The Encyclopedia of Country Living is your definitive resource for building a life you control—on your terms.
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