Table of Contents

Getting started. What is self-sufficiency?; Before you begin; How self-sufficient can you be?; Moving to the country; The road to self-sufficiency. First steps; Look to the land; Working the land; Storage, machinery and tools; Boundaries; Working with wildlife; Growing your own. Why grow your own; Growing produce in small spaces; Planning your plot; Preparing a new vegetable plot; Improving your soil; Composting; Sowing and propagating; Growing under cover; Watering and feeding; Mulching and weeding; Pruning and training; Supporting and protecting plants; Saving seed; Pests and diseases; Attracting wildlife; Timetable of planting and harvesting; Vegetable directory; Fruit directory; Herb directory; Growing cereals; Raising your own. Livestock to the land; Keeping chickens; Keeping ducks; Keeping geese; Keeping turkeys; Keeping quail and other fowl; Hatching and rearing poultry; Keeping bees; Keeping rabbits; Keeping pigs; Keeping goats; Keeping sheep; Keeping cows; Keeping horses, ponies and donkeys; Keeping camelids; Keeping rare breeds; Breed date chart; Food from the wild. Natural abundance; The wild food calendar; Identification guide; Game shooting and fishing; From crop to kitchen. Preserving; Drying; Freezing; Jams and chutneys; Pickling, salting and preserving in oil; Bottling; Grains and bread; Dairying; Meat; Brewing; Self-sufficiency in the home. Becoming and remaining self-sufficient; Reducing energy consumption; Buildings and insulation; Solar power; Wind turbines; Water power; Heat pumps; Cookers and stoves; Sewage; Harvesting water; Making your own; The naturally clean home; Making candles and soap; Spinning; Dyeing; Weaving; Knitting; Tanning; Index.

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Features the latest advice on eco-builds and renovations, bee-keeping and growing your own vegetables. Includes contributions from experts in low-carbon lifestyles, animal husbandry and foraging. Features step-by-step full-colour photographs and artworks. Offers essential advice, whatever the level of self-sufficiency you would like to reach.

About the Author

Liz Wright is a self-sufficiency expert, writer and editor of Smallholder magazine with over 25 years experience. A committed green gardener and smallholder, she has kept bees, chickens, ducks, geese, goats, pigs, sheep and a cow. Location: Cambridgeshire, UK Also features contributions from experts in the fields of renewable energy; sustainability; organic gardening; smallholding; animal husbandry; food and eco-living.