Book Review- Modern Homestead

Renee Wilkinson is the author of the blog Hip Chick Digs and of a book on homesteading in urban areas called Modern Homestead : Grow, Raise, Create

There are a lot of books out there about getting started in homesteading in urban environments now, and the truth is, I don't think you can have too many because a lot of them offer different approaches and information.
This book is great for beginners. It's easy to get overwhelmed when you're first getting interested in trying to grow more produce for your dinner table or when you're considering taking the next step in homesteading.Renee writes in an easy and clear way. It's so easy to read that I spent a day in the sun with a choice between this book and a trashy novel I was reading and wound up happily reading this.

Grow:
It's in bits and bites, and she recommends that you start with what you think you can realistically handle, then lays out methods to handle it. Where to go to get information, how to set up a garden club to exchange ideas and seeds, and how to start planning and planting. She offers practical suggestions for planting in very limited spaces and how to find the best areas for sunny plants in those spaces.

Raise:
Then she gets into livestock. Are you able to have chickens? She gives plans for a minicoop that will fit on some balconies. It's sized for bantam sized chickens and includes a worm bin for compost. She gives lots of practical advice about how to raise chickens and care for them. Then gets into other things like ducks, goats and beekeeping,what kind of space, time and supplies you'll need to raise those.

Create:
The final section of the book is recipes, for cooking seasonally out of your garden or farmer's markets, jams and other food preservation methods, non-toxic cleaning supplies and beauty items.

One of the things I love about this book is how down to earth it is. It's fun to read, with great photos and lots and lots of information. She gives ideas for having a party with friends to make jams or bath salts. I really recommend this one, and it's one that I'm going to have my husband read as well.

You can get this book directly from the publisher, Fulcrum Publishing You can get more information about my review policy here.

Eggs and Bacon Recipe Cards

Yay! Blogger is out of read-only mode. I've been trying to log in all day to post these.

3x5 inch recipe cards- print 4 to a page. Quarter ruled. 300 dpi, click on the image for the full sized version.

4x6 inch recipe cards, 2 to a page, 300 dpi, click on the image for the full sized version. Also quarter ruled.

8x10 page, unlined, good for recipe scrapbook pages, or if you prefer to keep a recipe looseleaf binder. 300 dpi.

The last few days have been *gorgeous*, so I've been outside working in my garden and reading. Yesterday I read a homesteading book that I'll review tomorrow. It's excellent. 

Today, looking at the "weeds" which have overtaken part of my yard, my son decided that a dandelion green salad was just the thing. He picked and rinsed a big bowl of tender leaves, and served them with a vinaigrette. I pointed out where the fireweed was coming in, and said "You can make something that tastes very like honey using that and clover flowers." My mom used to make it. He thought that was interesting. He loves honey. Then it occurred to me that Mom's old "Homesteader's Honey" recipe could probably be made in smaller batches using raw sugar for a decent honey substitute for vegans. So when the flowers bloom, I'm going to try that.  I'll also need to try it with other kinds of flowers. Not everyone is lucky enough to be living in an area with rampant fireweed.

I hope you're enjoying your summer as much as I'm enjoying it here. After all the rain last year, I'm determined to enjoy the weather while it lasts, and if it holds, I'll enjoy it all summer long. 

Rose Mandala

I had a different rose design in mind. But this is what wound up actually happening. I do hope you like it!

Black version of the box included for people who prefer to color by hand!
Click on the images for the full sized versions. The coloring page is 100 dpi, the rest are 300.

Book Review- The Mitsitam Cafe Cookbook

The Mitsitam Cafe Cookbook : Recipes from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

The Mitsitam Cafe offers Native foods from both North and South America, offering education about preparation methods along with meals.  This cookbook has recipes that are used in the cafe.

There are a lot of recipes in this book. If you have an interest in regional cooking, Native culture or cooking in season, this has recipes for you. The recipes all have side bars offering you a bit of information about either the inspiration for the recipe or the way the foods were eaten traditionally by different regions and nations.

One of the things that impressed me most about this book is the range of recipes, there are recipes for things like a buffalo chili that even a very conservative eater might be willing to try, or if you're more adventurous, juniper cured salmon. A lot of the recipes can be used by vegans as well. Last night I served the refried beans (made with a vegetable oil) and a roasted pepper salsa to my family for dinner. Both were enthusiastically received by my teens and husband who didn't even seem to miss having meat with dinner. My daughter was thrilled and excited by the dessert recipes. She thinks corn and chocolate tamales are just a brilliant idea. I love the Cranberry Crumble and other berry based recipes.
A good selection of salad, appetizer and main course recipes makes this a wonderful cookbook. The recipes are all well explained and easy to follow. There are some techniques like salt curing that some home cooks may not have tried yet, but the language is easy to follow.
You expect gorgeous food photos in a cookbook, and there are some delicious photos of food, there are also some great photographs of native art and people. This one gets a place of honor on my shelf of cookbooks, I have bookmarks in for the next recipes I want to try out of it. My only quibble is a minor one given how much I do like this cookbook, I wish there were more recipes from Alaska represented. However some of the ingredients used in traditional cooking up here can be extremely hard to find anywhere else.

You can find more information about the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian here.
You can get this book directly from the publisher, Fulcrum Publishing or by clicking the Amazon.com affiliate link below.

You can get more information about my review policy here.