Books & Gifts

For more than 50 years, this homesteading classic is the essential book of basic skills and country wisdom for living off the land, being prepared, and doing it yourself. Keep your family healthy, safe, and independent--no matter what's going on in the world. From homesteaders to 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 that allows you to survive and thrive--even in uncertain times. With its origins in the back-to-the-land movement of the late 1960s, Carla Emery's landmark book has grown into a comprehensive guide to living a self-sustaining lifestyle.

Going Off the Grid: The How-To Book of Simple Living and Happiness contains step-by-step instructions for creating your self-sustaining refuge in the untamed wild or the blacktop jungle. Through Collins' methods, you'll identify and purge unnecessary stressors from your everyday life. You'll also learn the basics of off-the-grid living from home construction to energy alternatives, from sewage disposal to internet access.

Dimensions: 0.41" H x 8.5" L x 5.5" W
Hardcover
Weight: .51 lbs
192 pages
Written by Gary Collins
Publisher: Second Nature Publishing

Looking for a faster, easier, and engaging way to identify plants? Related plants have similar characteristics, and they often have similar uses. Rather than learning new plants one-at-a-time, it is possible to learn them by the hundreds, based on plant family patterns
Each family of related plants has unique patterns for identification. Learn to recognize these patterns, and discover them again and again in the plants you encounter. It is possible to instantly recognize a plant never before seen, and in many cases, to know its edible or medicinal properties on the spot-even before you have identified it down to the species!

Dimensions: 0.6" H x 10.9" L x 8.5" W
Paperback
Weight: 1.5 lbs
235 pages
Author: Thomas Elpel
Publisher: HOPS Press

Use alder, hickory, maple and cedar grilling planks for grilling fish or get creative and make the perfect wood-fired pizza with this versatile cookbook. Grilling with cedar and other flavorful wood planks imparts a wonderful smoky infusion to all kinds of dishes with crowd-pleasing results. Learn how to use wood planks to make smoky homemade bacon, caramelized Butternut Squash and Apple Soup, and flavorful Rack of Lamb with Rosemary Pomegranate Sauce. Filled with color photography throughout, this cookbook explains the basics of plank grilling, such as how to prepare wood planks, as well as how to get the most out of cedar, alder, hickory, and maple planks in 75 versatile recipes.

Dimensions: 0.53" H x 8.67" L x 7.25" W
Paperback
Weight: 1.05 lbs
171 pages
Written by Dina Guillen, Rina Jordan
Publisher: Sasquatch Books

People can transform their RV, van, cabin, boat or tiny homes using these off-grid solar systems. This book is written by an electrical engineer who specializes in solar power design and reviewed by a licensed electrician. It's written for beginners to understand how an off-grid solar power system works and how to build one.

Dimensions: 0.61" H x 9.0" L x 6.0" W
Paperback
Weight: .86 lbs
290 pages
Written by Nick Seghers
Publisher: Independently Published

For many, owning a home is the ultimate goal in their life. To have a place that reflects who one is, their values, and that they can call their own is a natural dream to have. However, in today's economy, owning a house can be more difficult and unattainable than ever before, which has led many people to look at alternative means of home ownership, such as the shipping container home.

Growing in popularity in recent years, shipping container homes are attractive for a number of reasons. The most obvious is that they are environmentally friendly and a great alternative to building a brand-new home. It is entirely possible to build a shipping container home out of recycled containers, reducing the amount of waste in the waste stream, and providing quality building materials for a fraction of the price.

Dimensions: 0.14" H x 9.0" L x 6.0" W
Paperwork
Weight: .23 lbs
68pages
Written by Alec Edwards

From the home organizers who made their orderly eye candy the method that everyone swears by comes Joanna and Clea's signature approach to decluttering. The Home Edit walks you through paring down your belongings in every room, arranging them in a stunning and easy-to-find way (hello, labels!), and maintaining the system so you don't need another do-over in six months. When you're done, you'll not only know exactly where to find things, but you'll also love the way it looks.

Dimensions: 0.8" H x 9.9" L x 7.0" W
Paperback
Weight: 1.62 lbs
256 pages
Written by Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin
Publisher: Clarkson Potter Publishers

Join naturalist Leigh Calvez as she explores the secret world of owls, from owl-watching to avian science--often in the dead of night. These creatures have a certain mystery about them, which is just part of what makes them so fascinating. Calvez relays scientific facts and observations in entertaining, accessible ways while also exploring questions about the human-animal connection, owl obsession, habitat, owl calls, social behavior, and mythology.

Dimensions: 0.7" H x 7.4" L x 5.4" W
Paperback
Weight: 0.52 lbs
224 pages
Written by Leigh Calvez
Publisher: Sasquatch Books