15 Must-Read Homesteading Books for Every Skill Level
Discover the best homesteading books for gardening, raising animals, preserving food, and self-sufficiency. Build your dream homestead with these books!
Whether you’re just starting your homesteading journey or looking to deepen your skills, the right book can be a game-changer. I’ve read countless homesteading books over the years, and these are the ones I keep coming back to for advice, inspiration, and tried-and-true methods.
In this post, I’m sharing my favorite homesteading books that cover everything from gardening and preserving to raising animals and sustainable living. These books have shaped how I manage my own homestead, and I think they’ll inspire and empower you, too. Whether you’re on a quarter-acre lot or a sprawling farm, you’ll find something here to help you thrive.
The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery
What I Loved: This book is a massive resource covering just about every homesteading skill you can think of—from gardening and animal care to making soap and cheese. It’s incredibly detailed and feels like chatting with a knowledgeable neighbor who genuinely wants to help you succeed. The practical advice is easy to follow, and it covers both the basics and more advanced skills. I always turn to it when I need a thorough explanation of any skill or when I’m ready to take on a new homesteading project.
Who It’s For: Ideal for anyone serious about self-sufficiency and wanting a comprehensive guide to homestead living. Ready to build a truly self-sufficient homestead? Grab your copy here and start mastering essential homesteading skills.
Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills by Abigail R. Gehring
What I Loved: This book is beautifully illustrated and covers practical skills like blacksmithing, woodworking, and food preservation. I love how it mixes practical advice with history and tradition, making each project feel meaningful and rewarding. The step-by-step instructions are straightforward and accompanied by detailed illustrations, making even complex projects approachable. I also appreciate how the book emphasizes sustainable practices, encouraging readers to reuse materials and adopt eco-friendly methods.
Who It’s For: Great for beginners who appreciate visual guides and want to learn a variety of traditional skills. Curious about mastering traditional homestead crafts? Explore this guide and start learning hands-on skills today.
The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan
What I Loved: This was one of the first books that truly made me believe I could grow and raise most of my family’s food. It covers gardening, livestock, and even small-scale grain growing with clear, easy-to-follow instructions. The crop rotation guides and planting schedules have been invaluable for keeping my garden productive year after year. I still revisit it for seasonal planning and whenever I’m looking to try something new on the homestead.
Who It’s For: Beginners and intermediate homesteaders looking to expand their self-reliance. Want to turn your backyard into a mini farm? Check out this book for practical tips to grow and raise your own food.
Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre by Brett L. Markham
What I Loved: This book proves you don’t need acres of land to produce a significant amount of food. I appreciated its focus on maximizing small spaces with high-efficiency gardening techniques, which helped me make the most of my small garden. The detailed sections on soil health, crop rotation, and companion planting gave me practical strategies to boost yields without relying on chemicals. I also loved how it broke down complex gardening concepts into easy, actionable steps, making it a perfect guide for anyone wanting to turn a small backyard into a productive homestead.
Who It’s For: Ideal for suburban or urban homesteaders working with limited space. Think small spaces can’t grow big harvests? Find out how to maximize your garden and become more self-reliant in this book.
40 Projects for Building Your Backyard Homestead by David Toht
What I Loved: This hands-on guide breaks down DIY projects into simple, step-by-step instructions. It gave me confidence to build raised garden beds and even try my hand at small structures like chicken coops and compost bins. The woodworking plans are especially beginner-friendly, with clear diagrams and material lists that make it easy to get started. I appreciated how the projects range from quick weekend builds to more involved projects, allowing me to gradually build my DIY skills.
Who It’s For: Perfect for hands-on learners who want to create functional structures and tools for their homestead. Ready to build your own coop, shed, or garden beds? Get inspired here with step-by-step homestead projects.
Raised-Bed Gardening for Beginners by Tammy Wylie
What I Loved: This book simplifies gardening by focusing on raised beds, making it accessible for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. The step-by-step instructions made it easy for me to design a productive and manageable garden, even in small spaces. I especially appreciated the practical tips on soil selection, crop rotation, and pest management, which helped me create a thriving garden with minimal effort. The troubleshooting section also provided helpful solutions for common gardening challenges, ensuring my raised beds stayed healthy and productive all season long.
Who It’s For: New gardeners or those looking for an easier way to manage their garden space. Want to start a low-maintenance, productive garden? Learn how with this beginner-friendly raised bed guide.
Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving by Judi Kingry & Lauren Devine
What I Loved: This is my go-to canning bible. It’s packed with reliable recipes and detailed safety guidelines for preserving everything from jams to meats. I trust this book completely when it comes to safe food preservation, especially with its clear explanations of canning methods like water bath and pressure canning. The troubleshooting tips and creative recipe ideas have helped me confidently preserve a wider variety of foods while ensuring everything stays safe and delicious.
Who It’s For: Anyone interested in food preservation, from beginners to seasoned canners. Ready to fill your pantry with homemade preserves? Get your copy and start canning with confidence.
The Farm Girl’s Guide to Preserving the Harvest by Ann Accetta-Scott
What I Loved: This book dives deep into canning, fermenting, dehydrating, and freezing with easy-to-follow instructions. I learned how to reduce waste and preserve my harvest more effectively, especially with its creative fermentation recipes. The detailed step-by-step guides and safety tips gave me the confidence to try new preservation techniques I had never considered before. I particularly appreciated the focus on using seasonal produce and minimizing food waste, making this book an essential tool for anyone looking to make the most of their garden’s bounty.
Who It’s For: Homesteaders wanting to expand their food preservation skills. Looking to make the most of your harvest? Start preserving today with this detailed guide to canning, fermenting, and more.
Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant Living by Kris Bordessa
What I Loved: This book feels like a modern guide to old-fashioned skills, blending timeless self-reliance practices with innovative, sustainable solutions. I loved how it combines sustainability with practical projects for the home and garden, including everything from composting and food preservation to natural cleaning products. The beautifully organized chapters and easy-to-follow instructions make even complex tasks feel manageable. It’s perfect for anyone trying to live a greener life and reduce their dependence on store-bought goods.
Who It’s For: Anyone looking to live more sustainably and make meaningful lifestyle changes. Interested in sustainable living without overwhelm? See how this book can help you make meaningful, eco-friendly changes.
Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide
What I Loved: This book introduced me to herbal remedies in a way that was easy to understand. I love the step-by-step recipes for tinctures and salves, and it helped me feel more confident in using herbs medicinally. The detailed plant profiles and guidance on safely foraging and preparing herbs gave me a solid foundation to start making my own herbal remedies. I especially appreciate how Rosemary Gladstar emphasizes using gentle, common herbs that are safe for beginners, making the process approachable and rewarding.
Who It’s For: Beginners interested in herbal medicine and natural remedies. Want to start making your own herbal remedies? Begin your herbal journey with this beginner-friendly guide.
Bread Baking for Beginners by Bonnie Ohara
What I Loved: This book made bread baking approachable with clear instructions and helpful tips. I finally mastered kneaded and no-knead bread thanks to this guide, and the troubleshooting tips are incredibly helpful. The book also covers a variety of bread styles, from simple sandwich loaves to more complex enriched breads, giving me the confidence to experiment with different techniques. I appreciate how it explains the science behind bread making, helping me understand how ingredients and methods impact the final result.
Who It’s For: Anyone wanting to learn or improve their bread-baking skills. Dreaming of baking fresh, homemade bread? Learn the basics and start baking delicious loaves at home.
The Prairie Homestead Cookbook by Jill Winger
What I Loved: This cookbook is filled with simple, wholesome recipes that focus on from-scratch cooking. I love how it brings heritage cooking into the modern kitchen, making it easy to create hearty, nourishing meals. The recipes celebrate traditional ingredients and cooking methods, helping me reconnect with seasonal, homegrown foods. I also appreciate the tips on sourcing local ingredients and preserving leftovers, making it a well-rounded guide for sustainable kitchen practices.
Who It’s For: Homesteaders and home cooks interested in traditional, nourishing meals. Craving old-fashioned, from-scratch meals? Grab this cookbook for heritage recipes your family will love.
The Good Living Guide to Keeping Sheep & Other Fiber Animals by Janet Garman
What I Loved: This book covers everything from housing and feeding to shearing and spinning, providing a thorough introduction to raising fiber animals. It demystified fiber animals for me and gave me the confidence to get started with sheep. The detailed sections on pasture management, health care, and fiber processing are practical and easy to follow, making it a great resource for beginners. I also appreciated the guidance on how to transition from raw fleece to finished fiber products, which opened up a whole new creative outlet for me.
Who It’s For: Aspiring fiber farmers or anyone curious about raising sheep, alpacas, or goats. Thinking about raising sheep or fiber animals? Discover how to care for them and make the most of their wool.
Quail Keeping Made Easy Series by Jessica Knowles
Why You’ll Love It: As the author of this series—5 Mistakes New Quail Owners Make, 5 Mistakes New Quail Breeders Make, and 5 Mistakes New Quail Sellers Make—I created these books to provide clear, actionable advice for raising Coturnix quail. They reflect everything I’ve learned through years of experience and are designed to help beginners succeed.
Who It’s For: Anyone interested in raising Coturnix quail for eggs, meat, or starting a quail-related business. Curious about raising Coturnix quail? Start your quail journey with my easy-to-follow guides designed for beginners and be sure to check out my quail-specific website, Forget-Me-Not Quail Farm.
Start your self-sufficient journey—Pin these must-read books now!
Whether you’re dreaming of a self-sufficient life or already knee-deep in homesteading projects, these books offer valuable insights and practical guidance. They’ve helped me grow my own food, care for animals, and learn skills I never thought possible. I hope they inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me!
Before you dive into your next homesteading read, explore more about what it truly means to live a self-sufficient lifestyle. Learn how modern homesteading is more than just growing food—it’s a mindset and a way of life. Discover what a typical day on the homestead looks like, and get inspired to embrace this rewarding journey.
Which of these books have you read or want to read? Share your thoughts or recommend your favorite homesteading books in the comments below!
