SHTF and Homesteading Library Essential Books

 These are just some books I recommend for your SHTF and Homesteading Library.  Keep in mind these are books if you are going to get you had better do it NOW! I currently don’t have the ability to homestead. 

*You don’t have to get the exact books I choose. But consider getting the subject matter.*

Homesteading Book

The one I choose is Back To Basics by Reader’s Digest. This book has everything you need to know to start rebuilding your life and possibly a homestead. From choosing land (you might want to do this now while you can) to butchering, gardening, and even recipes from across the nation. I don’t remember how much it cost but I do remember I got it from Amazon.

Survival

For this, I got The Official U.S. Army Survival Guide. Okay for those of you who are new here my late father served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was a first Generation Green Beret which is why when I saw this book it brought back so many memories of conversations with him. It has a lot of great information from what animals and plants are poisonous to which ones are safe. More of it tells you how to look at a leaf and be able to tell. It tells how to set and brace a broken bone. I got it from Amazon for $20. 

Cookbooks

Have a variety of these. This is so important. It will help relieve food fatigue. This simply is when you have the same thing over and over. You get sick of it. So have a nice variety of cookbooks or binders with favorites. 

Baking Books

Again it can help with food fatigue. Having a variety of bread books especially is important. We need to learn how to make a sourdough starter is going to be essential. 

King Arther’s Baking School Cookbook. Awesome!

Canning CookBooks

Here are my selections:

Georgia Varozza has two I love because they are the only ones I currently have of hers. 

1. Amish Canning Cookbook. Awesome book to start learning from. 

2. The Homestead Canning Cookbook. Again awesome work.

Ball’s The All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving. Each section has charts to do simply canning projects like pages 112 to 114 is guidelines for canning fruit. There are about four of these in various sections.

USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning from the National Center for Home Food Preservation book. I don’t trust the government one bit. There have been so many canners like Liesa Sutton who swear by this book. Since I do value her opinion as an experienced canner along with Linda from Linda’s Pantry, Angie from Angie’s Pantry, and Heather from The Kneady Homesteader. These are different ladies from different perspectives. They have been honest about recommending books in the past. 

The Unofficial All-American Canner Cookbook by Sandra May. This book is a must-have for pressure canning. You don’t have to have an All-American Canner. I have a presto and the recipes work just fine. 

The last book I recommend is The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest by Carol W. Constenbader. This is the Mike Tyson of books. She included everything from canning to dehydrating. Even how to build a dehydrator. Got a cellar, she’s got you covered. 

Other Books

The Ultimate Healthy Dehydrator Cookbook by Pamela Ellgen. An awesome book she has this genre covered from A to Z. 

Fermenting Food Step By Step by Adam Elabd. This is awesome. He covered every aspect from diary to condiments. Great information.