I am an avid reader. My house is overflowing with books of all kinds. And while a lot of information can be found online, there is something about physically holding words in my hand that makes them seem a little more important.
I have read my fair share of “going green” books, e-books, magazines, et. centers, and I have created a short list of a few of my favorites that will hopefully inspire you as well:
The first on my list is Harriet Fasenfest’s “Householder’s Guide to the Universe”. Harriet is one of my greatest idols, my true “who I want to be when I grow up.” She is a backyard homesteader who lives in the city Portland, Oregon. She is also a self-proclaimed grump who spends her days gardening and cooking, or canning and napping, I have taken so much wisdom from her book. Complete with a planting guide and recipes, “Householder’s Guide” is a month-to-month planner of sorts that walks you through the to-do list for each month in the kitchen, the garden, and the home. Her unique perspective and way with words make this book a page turner. She also includes many references in the margins for further reading, a few of which I have added to my library (the complete works of Wendell Berry among them).
Next comes “Lemons and Lavender” by Billie Sharp. Written like a how-to, I read it like a novel. It was the very first book I read about becoming more eco friendly and it has been a consistent reference guide ever since. It gives instructions on everything from making a sourdough starter to dying fabric with leaves and the sun.
Third is “Chasing Slow” by Erin Loechner. This book is a true gem that I have turned to several times when I feel like my life is moving at a faster pace than I can keep up with. Filled with painfully honest anecdotes that are almost stand-alone poems, she retells her painful falls from the proverbial grace of being internet famous, while learning the hard way that life is not sustainable if lived at break-neck speed. Hers is a true success story for those who need a push to step away from the rat race, in order to become a more whole individual.
“Living Off the Land” by Alicia Bay Laurel. Half instruction manual for living in harmony with nature/ half hand-illustrated picture book (where most of the humans depicted are nude), this book is a call to the wild of the most natural kind. Definitely written in the 70’s, it contains a myriad of useful information. It’s entertaining, and beautiful in its own way, and sits proudly on my shelf of go-to prepper guidebooks for when SHTF. It will also be the blueprint for my hippie commune (anyone want to join?).
“Dishing Up the Dirt” by Andrea Bemis. Yes it is a cookbook: A lovingly created and beautiful photographed cookbook written by a couple whose farm (Tumbleweed Farm) resides in the Pacific Northwest. The recipes are divided into seasons, and most are plant-based (if you are so inclined). I love the imagery and the anecdotes that accompany each page. It’s encouraging to see what a harvest’s bounty could become, and should become, when your life is ruled by the natural seasons. It challenges one to feel the awe and joy that comes with life that is lived more locally.
There are (of course) a thousand other books that I have been changed and challenged by. These few are the ones that have encouraged me on my journey to natural living. I hope you find encouragement in the words of these women as well. 💖
By Land or By Sea 