Do you ever dream about living off the land, but don't know where to start? Welcome to the Farm offers a perfect glimpse into modern homesteading.
Shay Elliot, of The Elliott Homestead blog, scratches the surface of, and thus demystifies, many farm activities that might seem foreign and exotic. For beginning homesteaders, and even for those who are just curious about what happens on a small farm, she breaks down different aspects into digestible chapters and sections. Ever thought about keeping bees? In a few pages you'll know if you want to investigate further. Butchering a hog or chicken? You might stop reading at "get the .22" or you may read all twelve pages devoted to pigs. Saving seeds and making your own tea? It's all introduced here.
There's something for everyone, although I doubt most will read cover to cover. Rabbits, for example. If I ever butcher one of those fuzzy faces, it won't be for many years to come; I skipped that section except to study the picture of the cute bunny with lettuce in his mouth accompanying the section on Harvesting Rabbits. Seriously, Elliot manages to romanticize homesteading while simultaneously remaining honest about the realities.
This great introduction to homesteading will help you identify what you want to seek more information about and what you want to skip or leave for later. Fans of Jenna Woginrich and other self-sufficiency lifestyle authors will enjoy browsing Welcome to the Farm.