Great resource - who knew Reader's Digest put out stuff like this? It may be out of print, but it's still readily available used.

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Product Description

This how-to, user-friendly guide teaches self-sufficiency-covering all of life's essentials: shelter; alternative energy sources; growing and preserving food; home crafts; directions for making herbal remedies; and even home-grown entertainment.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37940 in Books
• Published on: 1997-03-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 456 pages

Amazon.com Review
"Voluntary simplicity" has become a catch phrase for what seems to be a yearning for a simpler, more self-sufficient and economical way of living in the late 20th century. This book, first published in 1981 and recently updated, was probably many folks' first in-depth exposure to the idea of a simpler life, making things by hand, and enjoying a stronger sense of control over personal budgets, home projects, and lifestyles. Hundreds of projects are listed, illustrated in step-by-step diagrams and instructions: growing and preserving your own food, converting trees to lumber and building a home from it, traditional crafts and homesteading skills, and having fun with recreational activities like camping, fishing, and folk dancing without spending a lot of money. This book will have you dreaming and planning from the first page! -- Mark A. Hetts

Review
"Voluntary simplicity" has become a catch phrase for what seems to be a yearning for a simpler, more self-sufficient and economical way of living in the late 20th century. This book, first published in 1981 and recently updated, was probably many folks' first in-depth exposure to the idea of a simpler life, making things by hand, and enjoying a stronger sense of control over personal budgets, home projects, and lifestyles. Hundreds of projects are listed, illustrated in step-by-step diagrams and instructions: growing and preserving your own food, converting trees to lumber and building a home from it, traditional crafts and homesteading skills, and having fun with recreational activities like camping, fishing, and folk dancing without spending a lot of money. This book will have you dreaming and planning from the first page! -- Mark A. Hetts --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

  (Amazon.com Review )

This encyclopedic book covers various aspects of old-fashioned country living, from barn raising to animal husbandry. Originally published in 1981, with a second edition in 1997, this iteration boasts new photos and lots of homey advice. However, the text has not been updated since the first edition, ignoring many important changes and improvements-e.g., the discussion of herbal remedies has nothing about drug interactions, and the first-aid section is dangerously out-of-date. Many of the illustrations, too, are dated and unattractive. While this might have been a fantastic book 27 years ago, it is now a liability and should not be on any library shelf. Instead, try John Seymour's The Self-Sufficient Life and How To Live It. (Library Journal-Karen Ellis )

From the Back Cover
"Open the book at any page and there's something of interest." -Chicago Sun-Times

"...it would be an asset to anyone's personal library at home. We recommend it highly." -Kansas City Times

"It is a superb reference book, better than any number of those that pretend to teach you survival skills by concentrating on just a few crafts." -Survival Tomorrow

"This is really an encyclopedia and, like a good encyclopedia, the narrative is clear and complete, the illustrations are plentiful and the whole thing is thoroughly indexed. You can spend a fortune on a library of neo-pioneer books or you can buy BACK TO BASICS." -Times & World News, Roanoke, VA

"If you're going to go back to the good old days you'll need something the good old days didn't have...an instruction manual." -Cincinnati Enquirer