Books to buy

I'm looking for book recommendations. What book do you have now that you wish you had when you first started out homesteading or greening in the Southwest.

I've seen the recommendation for "Working Alone"

I also think I'd like "Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Gardening"

Any recommendations for building, farming, gardening, cooking, etc

Thanks!
Helen

I would start by downloading a PDF copy of An Agricultural Testament by Sir Albert Howard.

Then, not really a book recommendation, but the Rodale Institute recently published a whitepaper on their premise that climate change can be dramatically improved by "regenerative organic agriculture." It's a very interesting and telling read.

Carla Emery's Encyclopedia of Country Living is a classic. It has enough information on any topic from home birth to cheese-making to basic animal husbandry to get started or help you decide if you want to learn more. Lots of down-home recipes. Lots of folk wisdom. Where I go if I want to know whether I want to grow a new vegetable or whether keeping a new kind of critter is even practical at our place. Hope I never need the home burial instructions.

Dan, thanks for the recommendations. I have a huge 'library' of pdf's on a wide range of topics but don't believe I had come acrossed those yet. I appreciate you making note.

Ann, I have the Encyclopedia and agree, it is certainly all encompassing! I can't imagine the time it took to gather, organize and edit all of that material!

If anyone on Permies is familiar with the dewey decimal system and a glutton for punishment, I have a goal of organizing a digital library of pdfs. I'm happy to share the drop box with anyone that loves to learn and prepare for what life tosses our way.