Charles A. Sanders has made a
career as a Conservation Officer with the Indiana State Dept. of
Conservation. He is also a homesteader. It almost goes without saying
that his book is filled with practical applications relating to a myriad
of things you’ll want to know about.
Sanders has done an admirable job
of covering all the basics in a well ordered format that is easy to read
and quick to reference via the contents page.
We were particularly taken with
the section devoted to woodlot management, but you’ll probably have your
own areas of interest. Whether it’s raising rabbits, fixing fence or
brooding banties that you’re interested in, you’re likely to find a few
kind and helpful words to ease your awkwardness inside The Self-Reliant
Homestead.
Excerpt:
“Sometimes prospective
‘homesteaders’ are lured to the country by the thoughts of living a simple
life and making a living solely from their small farm. If you are hoping
to make a living strictly off your homestead in the traditional
agricultural sense, then you are likely to be in for some big
disappointments.
For many reasons, in today’s
economy, it is difficult for one wage-earner to make enough to support a
family. Similarly, it can be tough to live in the country and support a
family on a rural income.
In the ‘old days’, farmers
held what you might call ‘diversified stock portfolios.’ That is, every
well-rounded homestead had a variety of stock: cattle, hogs, chickens,
horses, and maybe sheep, rabbits, and fowl. They knew that
diversification was the key to maintaining a profitable farm. Each type
of livestock contributed its own important part to the whole of the farm
income. I believe that a modern-day small farmer-homesteader would do
well to imitate these predecessors. Often we seem to be looking for that
magical moneymaker that we can concentrate our efforts on. More
realistically, diversification is the better answer.”
