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The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 40th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself Paperback – October 30, 2012

by Carla Emery (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars 1,026 ratings
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From craft culture to survivalists, preppers, homesteaders, urban farmers, and everyone in between there is a desire for a simpler way of life—a healthier, greener, more self-sustaining and holistic approach to modern life. 
 
The knowledge you need to survive and thrive off the grid is at your fingertips in The Encyclopedia of Country Living, the best-selling resource for the homesteading movement. With its origins in the back-to-the-land effort of the late 1960s, Carla Emery’s landmark book has grown into a comprehensive guide to building your sustainable country escape haven, while lowering your carbon footprint in the process. 
 
The 40th anniversary edition offers up-to-date and detailed information on the fundamentals of topics like homegrown food; raising chickens, goats, and pigs; beekeeping; food preservation; mail-order supply sourcing; foraging; and much, much more (even how to deliver a baby)—everything you need to lead a self-sufficient lifestyle in the 21st century. 
 
Basic, thorough, and reliable, this book deserves a place in urban and rural homes alike.

Table of Contents

1 Oddments
2 Introduction to Plants
3 Grasses, Grains & Canes
4 Garden Vegetables
5 Herbs & Flavorings
6 Tree, Vine, Bush & Bramble
7 Food Preservation
8 Introduction to Animals
9 Poultry
10 Goats, Cows & Home Dairying
11 Bee, Rabbit, Sheep & Pig
12 Appendix
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  1. Print length
    928 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Sasquatch Books
  4. Publication date
    October 30, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    8.4 x 1.6 x 11 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1570618402
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1570618406
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“For the suburbanite with just enough space for a little garden to the die-hard homesteaders and everyone in between, The Encyclopedia of Country Living makes for both fascinating reading and a truly essential reference source. You won’t find a more complete source of step-by-step information about growing, processing, cooking and preserving every kind of food—from the garden, the orchard, the field or the barnyard!”
Rodale Book Club

"If you're dreaming about moving "back to the land" someday, or if you're already there and want to live more self-sufficiently (wherever you may be) you'll want a copy of ... The Encyclopedia of Country Living."
Organic Gardening

“This book is a monument to the coevolution of a person and an idea. As folk literature. . . this book should be shelved in your collection between the Foxfire books and Alicia Bay Lau­rel’s Living on Earth.”
Whole Earth catalog

 “Urbanites will find the recipes and resources list. . . useful, the trivia interesting. . . and Emery’s personal reflections. . . com­pelling. Even readers with no plans to raise sheep, sell home­made cheese or plant millet will find this a fascinating cultural document.”
Publishers Weekly

"Packed with old wisdom as well as up-to-date websites and mail-order sources to make country living easier."
Country Almanac

“Although mainly a modern individualist’s resource on how to grow and prepare food, this work is much more. As one aston­ished browser acclaimed, ‘Is there anything this book doesn’t tell you how to do?’”
Library Journal

"If you’re thinking about ditching the city and reconnecting with a simpler, more direct way of life, living the self-sufficient lifestyle full-bore, or just living more directly and simply where you are right now, The Encyclopedia covers a wealth of information to keep you on target."
Lehman's Country Living

"If I could only have one comprehensive how-to book on self-reliant living, this would be it."
Backwoods Home Magazine

"The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery is one of my favorite finds. It is a guide to all things country and, for those of us that don’t get down on the farm as often as we would like to, it is a mini vacation from the asphalt jungle. ...a warm and inviting trip to your Grandmother’s kitchen table and that, alone, is reason enough to pick up a copy for your own library."
The Jefferson County Post

"While it is impossible for one book to have everything you need, 'The Encyclopedia of Country Living' does an exceptional job of giving you the most bang for your buck when it comes to needing a single resource where you are likely to find the answer to your country living questions."
Outdoor Self Reliance

"Practical advice, invaluable information, and collected wis­dom for folks and farmers in the country, city, and anywhere in between."
Territorial Seed catalog

About the Author

Carla Emery lived on a farm in Idaho for more than thirty years as a wife, mother of seven, home-schooler, goat-keeper, garden-grower, writer, and country-living instructor. She wrote and self-published the first editions of The Encyclopedia of Country Living during the early 1970s and also ran her "School of Country Living." Carla sold nearly 90,000 copies of her self-published editions, traveling the country to promote it and appearing on such shows as The Mike Douglas Show, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Phil Donahue Show, and Good Morning America, where she demonstrated country-living skills such as goat-milking, bread-making, and butter-churning.

When Sasquatch Books published the 9th Edition of Encyclopedia in 1994, Carla continued to travel the country promoting and selling the book, and teaching the timeless skills of country living. Carla cultivated a large and loyal following across the country. Carla passed away in 2005.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sasquatch Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 30, 2012
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Anniversary
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 928 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1570618402
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1570618406
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.4 x 1.6 x 11 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 1,026 ratings

About the author

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Carla Emery

Carla Emery

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Carla Emery lived on a farm in Idaho for more than thirty years as a wife, mother of seven, home-schooler, goat-keeper, garden-grower, writer, and country-living instructor. She wrote and self-published the first editions of The Encyclopedia of Country Living during the early 1970s and also ran her "School of Country Living." Carla sold nearly 90,000 copies of her self-published editions, traveling the country to promote it and appearing on such shows as The Mike Douglas Show, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Phil Donahue Show, and Good Morning America, where she demonstrated country-living skills such as goat-milking, bread-making, and butter-churning. When Sasquatch Books published the 9th Edition of Encyclopedia in 1994, Carla continued to travel the country promoting and selling the book, and teaching the timeless skills of country living. Carla cultivated a large and loyal following across the country. Carla passed away in 2005.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
1,026 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book comprehensive and easy to read, praising its practical knowledge and well-written content. They appreciate its value for money, with one customer noting it provides much information for its price. The book is filled with humorous stories and includes detailed recipes, with one customer highlighting the thorough coverage of cooking on wood-burning stoves. Customers value its content on animal husbandry and gardening, and consider it a great gift for handy people, with one mentioning it has been in their family for generations.

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Information qualityReadabilityValue for moneyHumorRecipesAnimal husbandryGift valueCover variety
367 customers mention "Information quality"350 positive17 negative

Customers praise the book's information quality, describing it as comprehensive and a great reference tool that covers all aspects of practical knowledge.

"...You will find nearly every aspect of practical knowledge gone into in great detail, everything from finding and acquiring a piece of land to how to..." Read more

"...This is a great reference tool for anyone who is interested in growing food or learning self-sustaining techniques...." Read more

"...It works great as a reference guide whenever you have a question. Even though it is massive, it can't teach you everything you need to know...." Read more

"...All in all though it is an information rich book, it's just lacking in regards to the small acreage homesteader in my opinion." Read more

48 customers mention "Readability"40 positive8 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, appreciating that the author is down to earth.

"...Plus, I find it very interesting what this author and others do on their farms. I also have Storey's Basic Country Skills...." Read more

"...The writing style is down-home and comfortable, conversational while still giving you the information you need quickly and simply...." Read more

"...The author is down to earth, likeable and interesting. I have learned so much from this book...." Read more

"...Mrs Emery's writing style is very conversational, like she was talking to you over the kitchen table...." Read more

28 customers mention "Value for money"20 positive8 negative

Customers find the book well worth the money, appreciating its frugality and practical advice, with one customer noting it provides much information for its price.

"I definitely think the book was a good buy, but some information in the book I don't agree with especially regarding smaller acreage homesteading...." Read more

"...many of the older methods are still the best methods and save a great deal of money...." Read more

"...Unfortunately there is a lot of pages that are useless, the whole book could be half the size, if not less, and still give you all the info you need." Read more

"...It's HUGE! The ODDMENTS chapter at the beginning alone was worth the price of the book, but it is loaded with practical, useful information..." Read more

21 customers mention "Humor"21 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it filled with folksy wisdom and interesting stories.

"...There are funny stories and interesting notes such as the recipe for camel, and some really good information on soil composition and how to hunt..." Read more

"...It is full of recipes, interesting stories, all the basics of living from the land but without making you feel stupid for not knowing...." Read more

"...Maybe more. Glad I ordered it. Lots of personal stories that read like a novel. Like the personal touch." Read more

"I simply love this book. It has the wit and wisdom of someone who has lived the life, and we get to share that life over a cup of coffee while kids..." Read more

20 customers mention "Recipes"20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the recipes in the book, with one customer particularly praising the bread-making section and another noting the substantial content on cooking with wood-burning stoves.

"...There are funny stories and interesting notes such as the recipe for camel, and some really good information on soil composition and how to hunt..." Read more

"...She also has a substantial section on cooking on wood burning cookstoves...." Read more

"...It is full of recipes, interesting stories, all the basics of living from the land but without making you feel stupid for not knowing...." Read more

"...book and just had a copy of it sent to her as a thank you for the wonderful meal and hospitality her and her husband provided during our visit...." Read more

16 customers mention "Animal husbandry"16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's coverage of animal husbandry, including raising chickens and livestock, with one customer noting it covers everything from planting gardens to birthing babies.

"...from finding and acquiring a piece of land to how to build on it, raise animals, how to grow your own food, and prepare it for storage for the..." Read more

"...This book can tell you anything from how to can food to how to raise animals to how to make your own vinegar..." Read more

"...will find everything you must know to survive in the countryside: raising animals, growing plants, preparing food, preventing health problems, etc..." Read more

"...I mean childbirth,recipes,barn building, cooking, growing crops,animal husbandry. She misses nothing. It is the go to book...." Read more

13 customers mention "Gift value"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book makes a great gift, particularly for those who are handy, with one customer noting it has been in their family for generations.

"...Now I'm in luck.You have come out with the 40th Anniversary Edition...." Read more

"...Carla left the world a beautiful legacy with her work. I am honored to buy my second copy!..." Read more

"this is a great gift and "survival guide" covering a wide-range of topics useful to modern "home-steaders"!..." Read more

"...A great gift for anyone that's pretty handy and likes to do for themselves. If anything it acts as a good starting point." Read more

10 customers mention "Cover variety"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's comprehensive coverage, with one mentioning it includes everything from making soap to livestock care.

"...I consider this the #1 book in my how-to library. It covers EVERYTHING from A-Z and in between...." Read more

"...Covers everything from making soap, raising all sorts of animals, and growing all different types of crops...." Read more

"...While it covers a lot in great depth, for the items it doesn't Carla provided references where you can obtain more information...." Read more

"...on a desert island this would be the one book I would choose, covers everything!" Read more

City slicker moving to the country? This is your book
5 out of 5 stars
City slicker moving to the country? This is your book
I bought my first copy of this book 20 years ago. I was moving from the city to the country and this book was A LOT of fun! It's like having one of those neighbors that knows about or has tried a lot of different things on a farm, but it's in book form. I pulled my 20 year old copy out again recently when researching fish farming and decided to get a fresh copy. As you can see from the pic, the book has been well used over the years.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Cindy Shea
    5.0 out of 5 stars More information than you'll ever use.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book has everything, and I do mean everything. I am a bit surprised by some of the negative reviews. Yes, the paper is a bit thin, but if they used premium paper this book would cost a fortune. And yes there are no pretty pictures...Sorry, you actually have to "read" the book. There are a few drawings and such, but all are in black and white.

    There is no way I could read this book cover to cover, so I usually skim through it when I'm in the mood to read up on some new things or when I'm looking for something specific. There are funny stories and interesting notes such as the recipe for camel, and some really good information on soil composition and how to hunt for mushrooms.

    Since I raise goats, I jumped over to that section to see how accurate the information is. Most farming or homesteading books tend to give the basics and skip over the details when it comes to goats. Goats in this book are combined under the title Goats, Cows and Home Dairying. I could get into a lot of boring (if you aren't a goat person) details, but suffice it to say, I found most of the information very accurate. And there is a lot of it. Which I was happy to see. There were a few things I do differently, but that doesn't mean that what this person does is wrong. For instance, she writes that she lets her buck stay with her herd year round. This means that female goats will be bred indiscriminately, which most people don't want. Plus, it means that a doe could be bred more often than you like. If you are just raising a bunch of random dairy goats for both meat and milk, then this plan is probably fine for you, but we don't want babies born in the dead of winter and I DON'T want to be milking goats in January where we live. So our boys stay separate. This part could be a little more detailed.

    I assume from this that the book is the same throughout. Lots of information, some of it specific to the author or other contributors she notes throughout the book and some could use a little more detail. Some of it has maybe too much detail. (Like, do we really need the recipe camel?)

    I like this book because of the variety of information. It is a one-stop shop and has more information than any other book I've read thus far. Plus, I find it very interesting what this author and others do on their farms.

    I also have Storey's Basic Country Skills. Between the two, you have more knowledge than you'll know what to do with.

    I recommend buying this book if you are seriously thinking about living off your land in the country. It will be something you refer back to time and again.
    89 people found this helpful
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  • Christina Paul
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good advice for self-sufficiency in one book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    If you are considering homesteading or becoming more self sufficient, this is one of the first books you are going to want to have on your bookshelf. I currently have an older copy of this book in trade paperback. The physical book is the size of a large city phone book and so I wanted a copy for my Kindle.

    Carla Emery has meticulously assembled information about nearly every aspect of country living by getting the information from hands on experience and other old timers such as farmers, ranchers and homesteaders who live it. You will find nearly every aspect of practical knowledge gone into in great detail, everything from finding and acquiring a piece of land to how to build on it, raise animals, how to grow your own food, and prepare it for storage for the colder months. She also has a substantial section on cooking on wood burning cookstoves. This was of particular help to me when we bought our log home and I had not the slightest clue on how to make that cast iron monstrosity in my kitchen do what I wanted it to do!

    There is probably a whole lot more information in this book than anyone will want to know, but there is certainly something for everyone. I would recommend this book for anyone who is considering becoming more a self-reliant lifestyle or at least attempting to preserve some of the information and pioneer know-how that our grandparents and great grandparents had. This is like having a very handy and experienced neighbor that is fully of good advice and know how to help you get your bearing when you are new to homesteading, or even if you have been at it a while. Whether it is just by growing your own food or you really are a bit of a prepper, this book is very good to have on hand.
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Dreampet
    5.0 out of 5 stars The writer of this book is amazing! I bought this one as a gift for ...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The writer of this book is amazing! I bought this one as a gift for a friend with a farm; my copy is the 35th anniversary edition which I've had for 4 years. This book can tell you anything from how to can food to how to raise animals to how to make your own vinegar (I did that one and it worked wonderfully!) to anything else you need to know about farm or country living. The writing style is down-home and comfortable, conversational while still giving you the information you need quickly and simply. This is a great reference tool for anyone who is interested in growing food or learning self-sustaining techniques. You don't have to be a dyed-in-the-wool full-on farmer to get useful information from this book; I live in the city on a somewhat small plot of land, and I find myself going back to this book time and again about anything and everything. Keep it in a handy place because you will be pulling it out time and again to consult it.
    When you were a kid, did your Momma have a giant book that had earned a permanent place on the kitchen counter? A book that she would run to as her first source of information about everything? A book that seemed chock full of the kind of wisdom that is earned only by experience and can only be passed down by whispered word of mouth (such as tips for making the enviably best pie crust in the county)? For my momma, this sacred book was The Joy of Cooking. It had any recipe and insider knowledge on any dish you could want to make. This book can be that for you. Clear a spot on your counter when you order it.
    10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Patte
    5.0 out of 5 stars impecable
    Reviewed in France on March 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    pas encore lu, lais c'est sur si je dois aller sur une ile déserte, c'est le premier objet que je prendrais
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
    Reviewed in Canada on June 26, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This is an intense amount of information. When it says "Encyclopedia" it means it. It gives enough information and direction on the topics that I'd be able to do whatever it is I was trying to do in this area of life. The fact that one person put this together is absolutely amazing! Thank you for leaving your legacy Carla Emery!
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Pleased with my purchase from this seller. Came promptly and well packaged from the USA
    Report
  • JBA
    4.0 out of 5 stars Bon ouvrage pour travailler son autonomie...
    Reviewed in France on December 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Bon ouvrage pour travailler son autonomie... mais attention, il y a peu d'illustration et beaucoup de redondance. C'est un ouvrage qui a été remis sur le metier a plusieurs reprises et il existe donc des doublons, des contradictions, des évolutions perceptibles en fonction des époques d'écritures mais c'est assumé par l'auteur et, d'une certaine manière, cela permet de prendre un peu de recul sur les modes qui ont traversés et travese encore le contry living...
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  • TH
    5.0 out of 5 stars When Internet isn't available
    Reviewed in Canada on August 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is a must have for any homesteader, or anyone looking to do projects around the property. Has everything you can think of. Easy book to navigate through, the articles are very informative. You will definitely learn something and definitely build your knowledge toward "country" living. I highly recommend this book if you are into self sustainability, or just looking for quick information when interent isn't around. Its very thick, and informative.
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