The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre

Yearning for a simpler life is common among city dwellers. The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre shows you how to do it, at least how to get started. Carleen Madigan has put together a useful book that covers everything from growing your own grains, fruits, and vegetable to, more importantly, making your own beer.

Anyone who owns a quarter acre of land can become self-sufficient.

Somehow, that gives me hope.

Ms. Madogan covers raising chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, goats, sheep, pigs, and yes, for you steak and milk lovers, cows. A smart urban homesteader can produce 1,400 eggs, 50 pounds of wheat, 60 pounds of fruit, 2,000 pounds of vegetables, 280 pounds of pork, and 75 pounds of nuts. Yes, bake your own bread, churn your own butter, make your own cheese.

Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

Anyone who longs for self-sufficiency should own this book. Even if you don't take it all the way, it's worth it just for the dreams. More info here...