definitely has a bunch of homesteading info. probably could use some editing, but overall a very good resource to learn from. should not read from start to finish, pick a chapter about something you want to learn and read that.

There's a reason why so many farmers and homesteaders consider Carla Emory's book to be THE definitive source of information. Sure she wrote it many years ago, but it has evolved with each printing into a total package of information. It covers everything from raising and butchering livestock, to baking, gardening, canning, using herbs, building chicken coops and churning butter. I've turned to it many times when I needed information, or to read about something I was considering trying. She has a very no-nonsense approach, much like our farming grandparents did, and I appreciate that most of all.

There's a reason why so many farmers and homesteaders consider Carla Emory's book to be THE definitive source of information. Sure she wrote it many years ago, but it has evolved with each printing into a total package of information. I've turned to it many times when I needed information, or to read about something I was considering trying. She has a very no-nonsense approach, much like our farming grandparents did, and I appreciate that most of all.

This ninth edition includes the most valuable information on all aspect of the homestead. Carla wrote this over decades at different stages in her life. She tells us how to butcher an animal, how to grow a huge variety of crops, how to keep chickens for eggs and meat, bees for honey, and many other tidbits. She includes many recipes, too. I follow a traditional diet, so wouldn't necessarily use many of her recipes, but the information about farming is extremely valuable to me.

The Encyclopedia of Country Living is indispensible for the homestead or real country living! Or for those in the city who are dreaming of the country life...It is as homey as a crackling fire on a wintery night or the smell of homemade bread wafting, and as useful as that special tool on the farm which can be used in endless ways. Carla Emery has put together an amazing amount of information which is really enjoyable to read~ it's hard to put down!

This book is amazing!!! Don't let the title fool you. Recipes are mostly side notes compared to the incalculable information contained within. (I almost didn't buy it thinking it would be full of unwanted recipes). I have searched through numerous books on the topic of having a self-sufficient farm and moving to the country. This is absolutely the best one there is, hands down. I prefer the newer updated version (blue rimmed, 2003) as it contains websites. With this book in hand, I would only recommend you buy two others if you are serious about moving to the country and becoming independent. Its rival, in my opinion, is John Seymour's The Self-Sufficient Life. It's a gem and fills in any gaps you might have after reading Emery's book. [If you have animals you will obviously need to know specifics about your breed(s) and typical bumps along the way.] But, I would say that the only other topic that needs polishing and more detail is beekeeping. Find a good volume on that topic, read these three books throughly, and I believe that you need little less than a great desire to make it happen, a positive outlook, and some neighbors willing to offer advise - I doubt they will be difficult to find in a place where people are grateful for their opportunity to work the land and lend a hand when needed.

I love this book! It is a great reference book and will tell you anything you need to know about doing things the old fashioned way. I love the little stories between the info. There is a great index and topics are very easy to find. The receipes are great and if the book doesn't have the info that you are looking for, most likely there is a web site listed, or an address listed to the correct government agency to get you what you need. I have had this book for about a year and keep it handy, it's like the Western Garden book, but for every thing to do with living in the country. I purchased this book recently for a gift and my friend loves it and raves about it almost as much as I do.

BUY THIS BOOK AND DITCH ALL THE REST. This book will tell you everything you ever need to know about homesteading, animals, cooking, canning, washing, planting, EVERYTHING... dont waste your time buying 10 different books on 10 different subjects... just buy this ONE and you are set!

If you are looking for a book that will cover all your bases, this is it. Obviously it can be supplemented with other specific books, but if you are looking for an excellent reference book to any question you've ever had, this is the book for you.

This book is just a classic! I owned a copy of it almost 20 years ago, & it disappeared during a major move. I read that copy so much I felt as if the author were almost related to me or something. I enjoyed her writing style, her family anecdotes, & the feeling that this information was possibly disappearing into time. With this new copy, that feeling almost returned, as even though I am a confirmed city liver, I still love her style & just reading about a way of life that I can't even imagine. She has a tremendous amount of information to share, a lot of it learned on her own, & if you don't enjoy her family asides, just skip them, but they added to the realism of the book for me. I also enjoyed reading the updates about her life since I last read an earlier edition of her book. Carla Emery knows her stuff, & covers it thoroughly.

I found my first copy of this book in 1977. I had a newborn son and a desire to live in a remote location. As I read it cover to cover many times, Carla became a dear friend.

This is my new and updated copy, but I still have the old version. Ths one has wonderful updates that she has made over the years. It is much more than recipes! It is full of all kinds of insights and instruction for country living and homesteading.

If I had to choose one book that changed my life, this one is it! I wish I had been able to meet Carla.

This is one of the best information books that I have ever read. If you have ever wanted to know anything about doing anything by yourself, this is the book to get. It is fascinating as just a read, and invaluable for information. We first got it because we were interested in making our own cheese, but we have used it for so much more. From owning your own cattle to making a mud oven, helpful ideas and very frank and honest. I will buy this book again, another for my husband - he keeps taking mine - and for every family member that lives out in the country and has a desire to start being a little more self reliant. Excellent book

This book is a dictionary of living in the country. Includes finding land, raising animals, farming, and a whole lot more. A must have for the preparedness minded person's library.

Definately a must have in your collection.

I love this book. I've been reading it a little bit at a time and each day I learn something new and important. I'm driving everyone crazy with quotes from this new 'bible'... we are new to the country, trying hard to live a 'greener' life, and this book promises much help in that regard. If you are looking for a book that gives you a lot of helpful information on just about anything to do with becoming self-sustaining, this is the one!

When we city folks moved to our homestead in 2001 this is the book I used, holding it in one hand while attempting to milk a goat or butcher a chicken with the other hand. Some things, like chicken housing, were hard to figure out; but maybe you can't really get some things until you get there. Some subjects it's practically impossible to find better information elsewhere, and no other book has even close to the coverage, although not everything is covered (no fiber arts, nor beer/wine making, for example)

But as I've gained experience and read zillions of other books since then, I have found that this is a human book, there are errors and the details aren't always perfect nor the recipes complete. This is more like having a homesteader aunt or grandmother who will tell you stories and give advice, rather than a database of the latest information on every topic. For those of us who didn't grow up on the farm, that old timer advice is really invaluable!

This book truly was worth every penny I spent on it. It is chocked full of invaluable information. It tells everything from how to make coffee from acorns to the fact that you can use eggs to keep deer out of your garden. There is always at least the basic know-how given. The author always gives you resources to find all the info you could possibly want, although I haven't found the need for more information then the book itself provides. This book is great for anyone, whether you live in the country or not. The author explains everything so that anyone can understand it making it seems like she's talking to you as a friend. Even if you are not intersted in using what you learn in this book on a day to day basis it is if nothing else an ideal book to have in case of an emergency. I will be purchasing more copies of this book in the future to give as gifts.

I've had a small farm all of my life and I find myself referencing this book at least once a week. It's difficult to give a review on something so vast, because there is really nothing else like it. If you can think of a topic, it's covered in The Encyclopedia of Country Living. I will say this, if terrorists ever attack us in a large-scale way, or a large meteor comes crashing to earth, I would not want to be without this comprehensive encyclopedia.

J. P. Landry, author of Hazard 666

I really like the information in this book. I see complaints that it doesn't go very far in depth on most issues, but it IS intended as an all-encompassing encyclopedia. The book is good as a quick-look reference; and if you have the need for deeper information into any one of the categories, you can search for another book that specifically encompasses that subject.

I think anyone interested in self sufficiency, homesteading, or country living should get this book. It is great for getting an overall sense of what it's like to live these lifestyles while leaving deeper, specialized topics for other books.

I am giving this book 4 stars as I found it to be very informative, easy to read and yes, entertaining. This is a great book for the hobby farmer, the homesteader, the backyard gardener and even the outdoor camp person. This book is a great starting point for basic information on some subjects and also provides very thorough information on other subjects. The only negative thing I have to say about this book (which is why I did not give it 5 stars) is it is very big and awkward especially since it is a paperback. The pages are very, very thin - almost like onion paper. If you're a person living the ranching/farming and/or country life, you want a sturdy book to keep on hand to review if needed. This book itself reminds me of a sleek greyhound - definitely not for the country life. I would of liked to compare this book to a good steady farm dog. This would be a better item if the author broke it down into a 3 or 4 hardback book set rather this this large flimsy book. Again, I loved the information and I think it is one of the best books I have read.

Fantastic! Why just a few pages of the jam packed book are worth the money. Carla goes into great detail answering almost all the questions you have and if not she gives a book or web to find more! This is a must have for any homesteader!

If you have to choose only one book for your 'back to the land' bookshelf, make it this one.
I have owned the last three editions of this book, and I have been reading this type of book for over 30 years, now, since I picked up my grandmother's copy of the first 'Foxfire' book. This is the best, most comprehensive book I have ever read. On any topic. And I have read it cover to cover, too many times to count.
I was born and raised in metropolitan Tampa Bay, Florida. Even then, I dreamed of having a farm. I bought this book when my husband was in the military, we were moving every 18 months, and had never owned a house, much less a farm. It gave me something to dream on. I have memorized most of it by now, and my copy is ragged from actually using it to learn from. We now have a very small farm, raising veggies, fruits, goats, ducks, and chickens naturally. 'The Country Recipe Book' gave me the courage to follow my dreams, and enough basic knowledge to figure out how. (Learning to milk the goat, while reading the directions out loud to my husband and 12 year old daughter, was worth every penny I've ever spent on it...).

This is a required read for anyone wanting to get back to the Country. It is chock full of information on the old ways of doing things.

Wow!! full of info, ideas, almost overwhelming! I keep it on my coffee table!

This is truly a great book! An excellent resource for those of us who like the idea of living "off the grid" and being self-reliant. Covering everything from births at home to making breads from your own home-grown grains, this is a practical reference that is easy to read and very down to earth. Lots of information, but in a easy-to-follow casual style which makes it very easy to apply the knowledge yourself and get a jump on a homesteader's life. Even if you aren't interested in homesteading, the country skills she teaches are practical in emergency situations or during a loss of power. And it is just plain interesting to read!

I first read Carla's book in the 70's when I married a part-time farmer. She helped this city girl learn how to manage a large garden, livestock, preserving, milking,and storing the surplus. Her humorous anecdotes about family also helped while raising my children. I recently purchased a new book for myself and my nephew. He had returned from a 2 year stint in the peacecorp in Africa and had an interest in living a more basic life back home. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in getting back, not to a simple life, but to a meaningful, full life!

This book should be given to every newly wed couple. Its one of the those books you would grab to take off the shelf to run out the door in a major disaster. Carla just keeps adding more. I have seen one of her original self produced hand bound beginnings, and this has truly come along way.
Right up there with the firefox but in a more condensed version.

This book was given as a gift. My sister loved it. Very informative. Very educational.

This book should be given to every newly wed couple. Its one of the those books you would grab to take off the shelf to run out the door in a major disaster. Carla just keeps adding more. I have seen one of her original self produced hand bound beginnings, and this has truly come along way.
Right up there with the firefox but in a more condensed version.

This is a brilliant book, packed full of details about how to live a completely self sufficient lifestyle on a farm. While I found it a wonderful book for experienced country people, it was a little too much for me, being a city dweller moving to the country.

However, I recommend it to anyone who wants to know all the details about how to be totally self sufficient.

The Encycopedia of Country Living is a wonderful reference guide written over the course of Carla Emery's lifetime. It is packed full of information for the person dreaming of living in the country or for the experienced homesteader. Carla Emery writes in a personal, down to earth way and it is never boring. It is a must-have for those even thinking about a county lifestyle. Carla Emery passed away recently but her book will continue to live on and be a reference guide to all those people that have hopes and dreams of living off the land.

This book is a rich treasury of simple living. Reading it is not only incredibly informative, but also almost like having a close friend or grandmother at your side. Excellent for reference, full of useful facts, critical insights, and a personal touch that rings of the warmth of a country home.
I highly recommend this book. I am also looking for it in digital format. It is such a treasure that I would like to preserve it for myself and my family for generations.

Long ago I had an earlier version that was punched hole pages with wire rings holding it together.

Over the years I managed to destroy that copy through frequent use and purchased a newer copy several years ago.

For anyone who gardens or is interested in various crafts, it's extremely useful. For those who are homesteaders, it's a must have book.

Wonderfully written and entertaining, it contains tons of how-to information, stories and recipes.

This book has everything about everything. I have owned it for several months and am amazed at how many times I reference it. I am purchasing a copy for every household in our extended family. It is very useful information if you are urban or country. And can give potentially life saving information if disaster ever strikes in your area. It truly teaches you everything you would need to know about self-sufficient living and getting prepared for it. I have never seen a book with more information. I love the personal stories she adds, just to keep subjects that can be very overwhelming very light hearted. This is in my top 5 most important books in my library!

This is a huge book 11x9 and shy 900 pages. The cover says over 600,000 copies have been sold but I bet its millions by now. When I first ordered the book I assumed it would be good, but its better than good. As a real homesteader I recommend this book for a variety of reason.

The chapters are long and thorough. Choosing to Buy Land and the chapters on Resources for Back to the Basics, Living Simply, Health Matters and Living Simply are excellent. Because in the buying land section which is long she covers everything from can you get a job near by if you need to still work, can you do with your land what you want, how do you know if the land is fertile, and the wheel and deal aspects involved. Knowing if the land is fertile is a must for anyone who wants to be fully self sufficient since growing food is a top priority.

Being able to do what you wish with your land is also important, because there are places where if you want to use a stream that runs thru your property to harness water generated power, or you want to cull trees, you have to get permits. Same with wanting to add an addition onto your abode. Some places demand you get a permit while others will let you build with the understanding that when you sell, the place is sold 'as is'.

Her food section is humongous and covers everything from seeds to growing the garden to preserving what you grow either in a cellar, or by canning, freezing or drying. She has information galore on predators, insects and snakes. Barns and fences, which is important because I know first hand what a poor fence job or poor animal shelter will do when it comes to animals getting in or out.

She has a huge section on poultry as well as goats cows, home dairying, bees, rabbits and pigs. And what is involved with birth to butchering. Speaking as someone who has had chickens for decades, and have consumed my fair share of home grown milk and meat, knowing what is involved in growing quality animals will save you lots of money in the end. Not to mention the home grown item tastes so much better than commercially grown animals. And knowing what is involved, what tools you will need when it comes time to cull or slaughter an animal is a must if the job is to be done humanely, safely and well.

She also has an important section on caring for your own dead. Don't wince! This is very important and is a natural life process. And knowing how to deal with the local authorities as far as burying a loved one on ones own property is very important. I speak of this as a widow. Caring for ones own dead isn't as hard or creepy as one thinks. Same with knowing how to handle a birth at home. On page 35 as an example she also writes about how to bath under primitive conditions, which is what we have to do here in the Sierras when the power goes out due to snow.

What the previous reviewer seems not to realize, is that this book began more like a subscription recipe newsletter than a book. My grandmother subscribed to it in the 70s and she got it a few pages at a time, as Carla wrote it... oft times her subscribers wrote her their ideas/experiences/etc and she included these notes in her "newsletters"... the book kind of grew from this, and that's why it's a huge book where the author seems to take a long time getting to the many points made in the book... there are a lot of points, because she sent out a lot of separate "newsletters" on different topics! And that's also why there are lots of comments from her friends (subscribers) through-out.

This book is a wonderful treasure for any homesteader, and I'm happy to have inherited my grandmother's copy (in a *huge* three ring notebook) as well as a newer bound edition.

Sadly the world lost Carla Emery this week, but I'm sure heaven is enjoying her presence! She was an amazing, fascinating person.

I bought this for myself, but would not do again. A much to large tome, very confusing at times and boring. Maybe for a serious farmer it MIGHT be interesting, but for the average consumer it is to dry and boring. I find myself using it as a reference on a rare occasion for some recipe related item, but mostly collecting dust. Might be donated to the local public book source soon, not worth the shelf space in my opinion. Spend your precious cash elsewhere.

Ignore the title....this is a must-have for every home. Ms. Emery doesn't just tell you how to live off the land or live simply. She gives cooking/canning info, gardening advice, how to select-care-for-butcher livestock, care for the sick, housekeeping advice, even how to deliver a baby. This book has useful advice for every homemaker as well as "doomers" who want to prep for complete self-sufficiency and people who want to go back to a simpler lifestyle.

This is a charming and useful book. I am a newcomer to Carla Emery's work and indeed have read many of the other more concise, straightforward and professional books out there about farming and country living. Not only is there a TON of useful information in this book, people who enjoy the meandering, prolific style are not at fault for liking the book. Carla Emery, who has been living this way and writing long before other resources appeared, is still a respected source of wisdom. There are tidbits and tips that you might never see in a "professional" book, and the "Oddments" section alone was worth buying this book. The list of resources from native skills to homesteading to renewable energy sources to emergency preparedness is amazing. If you want to live closer to the land and be radically more self-sufficient doing so, you probably will not find more information on a wide range of topics in one place. In Carla's book, you get detailed information PLUS recommendations about other sources of information, classes, organizations, magazines, and more. I didn't know so much was out there!

Together with a stock of standard, concise, and more professional books on raising livestock, organic gardening, energy, or whatever else you choose to incorporate into your lifestyle, this book is invaluable and passionate -- because passionate is what we SHOULD be about the agrarian movement.

[To add to this review...] The scope and detail of this book is amazing. It has TONS of recipes, stories, and ideas for back-to-basics traditional living that come from years and years of collected wisdom and experience that you probably couldn't get anywhere else. What if you lived in a rural area for, say, a month, and couldn't go to a grocery store and wanted to know how to survive? It is truly an encyclopedia of folk knowledge and so much more. Want to know how to use garlic and onion for medicinal purposes? Want to learn about different types of diets? Want to use up scraps and throw away very little, or eat more vegetables, or be entertained by tidbits and tales from the country? Here is a compendium of information, in all its glory.

This is a monster of a book. You will not be able to read it in one sitting. Carla does cover her material very well, but in an easy to read way that makes you want it to be shorter so you CAN read it at one time. She does put quite a bit of herself into it. You will discover she is a christian. You will find out that she had seven children. And you will also find out there are three ways to make hominy. That pigs wil distroy almost any fencing. And perhaps you might discover why this book became her life's work with its constant revisions and additions.

"The Encyclopedia of Country Living" is an expansive volume of collected wisdom, techniques, recipes, and other information for living in the country. To a great extent it is a volume on self-sufficiency without harming the environment in any substantial way. The only assumption that seems to be made is that the land you purchase will have a house on it or you will have one built. Everything else, from buying the land, to what plants to plant, when to plant them, where to get them, how to grow them, and how to harvest them to what animals to raise, how to raise them, how to use them for food and dairy to how to deal with child birthing in the wilderness (where you may be alone when it happens), dealing with pollution, enriching your soil, and even worm farming. This is an exhaustive study in country living with very detailed and thorough sections on farming. In addition the author includes page after page of other sources of information, where to purchase things, catalogue sources, websites, and just about every other conceivable way to get the items mentioned in the text. If there was a way to take all the old-timers in the country, get them all together, draw out all the skills they have learned over the years and distill it into a book this is the book that you would create. "The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 9th Edition" is a very highly recommended read not only for those looking to move to the country after a lifetime in the city, but also for those who, like me, have that backyard garden and could use the extensive information presented here to make it even more successful and fun.

This book appears to have a devoted following so I'm sure I'll arouse some ill will with this, but here goes.

There are several things potential readers need to know about this book. The first is that, as the other reviewers suggest, the author comes across as very friendly and sincere. Another is that it has been around in some form or another for a long time, long before many "hobby farm"-type books were available, and for that reason has many devoted fans, at least some of whom appear to be unaware of more modern reference books that have superceded this one in many respects. The next is that if you have a lot of free time, and you like nine hundred page books whose author is in no rush to get to any of its thousands of points, you'll love it.

The most important, though, is that if you would like the best, easiest to understand advice available on raising sheep, keeping chickens, growing a garden, and all the other fun but challenging aspects of hobby farming, you will be far better served by other books out there. I have a hobby farm on seven acres with fruit trees, vegetable garden, livestock, etc., and own many of the hobby farm books available. We have had the opportunity to consult them as we have learned from direct experience, and have found that there is a wide variety in usefulness.

While The Encyclopedia of Country Living contains good advice, this book has features that I believe the average modern, would-be hobby farmers will be put off by. One is its overwhelming, unnecessary, and frustrating length. It wouldn't be so bad if each paragraph was a sparkling, concise gem of practical wisdom, i.e, if it really were written like an actual encyclopedia, but core information is often clouded with anecdotes, nostalgia, sermonizing, etc. If you are the kind of person who likes reading books about country life, but who doesn't actually live in the country and doesn't plan to, this may be something you enjoy, but it made this book difficult to use for me.

Moreover, the author regularly feels obliged to list the many and disparate views on a particular topic held by her friends, or by people who have written her letters over the years. A number of these printed comments are either pointless or really daft, and are liable to confuse more than enlighten the would-be hobby farmer, especially since the author often does not make clear which ideas have most merit, scientifically or from her own personal experience.

I believe the average person who plans on "country living" or hobby farming will find other books far more useful. The updated and revised "Backyard Livestock", by Steven Thomas, is absolutely brilliant for beginning hobby farmers serious about keeping animals for food, eggs, milk, etc. It is concise while still telling you everything you need to know. For those wishing more detailed information on livestock, the various Storey's guides to raising farm animals are also excellent. If you are interested in fruit or berry cultivation, you will find the Stella Otto books far more valuable than this one. For vegetable gardening, "The Vegetable Gardener's Bible" by Edward C. Smith is the best. I could go on, but my personal experience is this: if you would like to hobby farm, be successful at it, and have fun doing it, you'll need the best information you can get. For most of us, this means a few A-list, reliable, practical, concise, understandable reference books. Despite its length and sometimes charming autobiographical features, there's no reason why you should buy "The Encyclopedia of Country Living" when so many other books on country living now are superior to it.

Now in a completely updated and expanded ninth edition (including the introduction of websites and new mail-order sources), Carla Emery's The Encyclopedia Of Country Living is much more than just an ordinary recipe, notions, and activities book. The Encyclopedia Of Country Living is crammed from cover to cover with a wealth of tips and ideas for people inclined toward a country living atmosphere for their homes and lifestyles -- no matter whether their home happens to be located in the city, in the suburbs, or in the countryside. From the basics of raising chickens, pigs, and other livestock; to making a quilting frame; to pruning a tree; to recipes for homemade food with flair, The Encyclopedia Of Country Living is a handy, comprehensive, useful and "user friendly" 896-page reference.

It's a bit difficult to rate an entire encyclopedia, but after a partial reading of 8 hours I found this book to be all I hoped and much more. It easily replaces many books on many topics. I'm a 'wanna be' cottage farmer looking for 10 acres but I need to learn just about everything there is to know about farming and livestock, etc and this book will serve as my encyclopedia. If you plan to always have petro fuel (bad times ahead ?) then you may not enjoy the valuable references to hand harvesting. But for a cottage farm, I am most grateful that the author provided that information. I may grow wheat, but only an acre of it and I can't afford a $200,000 combine, however I can now hand harvest it. If you already own a combine, I doubt you will need this book. :) After buying a dozen farming books, I rate this book at the top of the list along with 'The Contrary Farmer'. In my 8 hours of reading I did not detect any self indulgences by the author as others may have suggested but to be fair I would have to read another 50 hours to finish the book. This book is a must for anyone looking for all the answers in a single place.

In terms of content, excellent -- the only thing is Carla's tendancy to give you info on her personal life that I felt had no bearing on the how-to info being shared.

This book has everything. It's one of the most useful and practical books I have read as well as extremely inclusive. Written in an easy to read format rather than factual and boring, it seems to flow. It also has a handy reference section which is useful for more information. Well worth adding to your home.

An earlier edition of this book was the only book my husband and I had in common when we met each other more than a decade ago. It certainly boded well for our relationship!

No matter what is going on on the homestead, I can turn to this book and find out whatever it is I need to know. I learned to make bread from this book. I learned to make soap from this book. Last year I tried out some pickle recipes. Ages ago I learned all about hog butchering and when I finally helped with one, well, I knew what to do.

But not only is this book thorough and detailed, it is warm and human. I always check out the new editions to find out what is new in the Carla saga.

As a city girl who moved to the country 5 years ago I have been 'lost' numerous times in this farm life.

What to feed the baby ducks? How to milk the goat? ...dry herbs? ...preserve all the produce from the immense garden? The list of questions goes on, and the answers are all within the book!

This book is my most recommended book to friends, family and visitors to my website GoodbyeCityLife.com.

Carla's personality is within every paragraph on every page. She's a wealth of information, a friend you haven't made yet, but get to reap the benefits of knowing.

Writing a review of this book seems tobe waste considering all the praise that has already been lavished on it, but I just wanted to add my two cents worth. The book is everything it saids it is, an encyclopedia of a simpler lifestyle.. (NOTE: A country/rural lifestyle is simple, it is NOT easy! ) Almost all aspects of country living are covered here with short "fun" quizes to test yourself interspersed here and there. An added bonus is that Ms. Emery "forgets" she is writing a "how-to" book and gives the reader some really beautiful writing. This is a book that truly offers something for almost everyone.....

I have had this book since 1981 and have enjoyed it over and over. From the very beginning on how the book was put togeather to the very end.. It is one of the most informative books I have ever put my hands on... And do not believe any house hold should be with out it... If there is a question to be asked the answer is in this book..

When I first saw this wierd-looking rainbow-colored 1975 "Old Fashioned Recipe Book" in 1978, I fell in love with it. I traded a bolt of white bridal satin for it, and have never regretted that trade! Of course the binding fell apart, but a 3-ring notebook holds it now. I think it was printed on a hand-crank mimeograph drum on stiff colored craft paper. Carla's book has been my companion for 21 years now, and I still find things in it that I didn't see before. She wrote about real life, and real family love. The recipies are secondary. I'd like to see the new version, but the original is priceless. Of the dozens of 'cook books' I own, this is the one I return to most often for basic information. Thank you, Carla.