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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Book review (Southland Times)



















The new Complete Book of Self Sufficiency By John Seymour (Dorling Kindersley, Penguin, RRP $65)
Reviewed by Robert Guyton - Southland Times

If you have room on your bookshelf for only one book on raising, growing and making your own, this is it.

This expanded version of John Seymour's previously published handbooks on self-sufficiency is as complete as could be hoped for. With chapters on crafts and skills, preparing and cooking home grown food, brewing and wine making, all things to do with dairy along with growing a vegetable garden, a field of grains and raising livestock, you'll have little need to look elsewhere for ideas.

Each of the topics is beautifully supported by subtly-tinted drawings that provide the detail you'll need if you are going to try your hand at the practical activities described in the book.

Should there be a need for us all to become a little more self-reliant; grow food in our own gardens, make our own bread, keep some animals or build a shelter, John Seymour's latest "do-it-yourself" contribution, will prove a very valuable tool.

The author describes his book as 'the classic guide for realists and dreamers'; those who have their sleeves rolled up and are already shaping their world with spade, spindle and saucepan and those who love to pour over beautiful books and imagine how a life of independence and creativity could be.

It's a great resource for both those camps, and everyone in between.

We've got a copy of this useful book in our home and it doesn't spend much time on the shelf.

10 comments:

Shunda barunda said...

I want it!!
Where can I get a copy?

robertguyton said...

Available at all good bookstores.
There's one on my bookshelf (they send it to you and it's yours, once you've filed the review!)
See if your local rag needs a reviewer Shunda - it's a very satisfactory arrangement. Just hope they don't ask you to review 'The History of Unions in New Zealand' or anything by Hawkins :-)

Shunda barunda said...

I'll see if touchwood books has it.

Sorry for upsetting you re-unions!

robertguyton said...

Not upset Shunda. fact is, it's not my 'topic' at all. The Hobbit, on the other hand, is.

Shunda barunda said...

You don't like the Hobbit?
(personally I have never read it)

robertguyton said...

I'm very familiar with the book Shunda, as I am with the Trilogy.
New Zealand, I'm bound to say, is not Middle Earth.

Anonymous said...

Even Aleisha has spent a bit of time in that book

robertguyton said...

How could she not Bio!
After all, she's hanging out with Aragorn!

Shunda barunda said...

I met a couple of very encouraging people yesterday,chatted for ages we did, they are looking at starting a "transition towns" thingame in Hokitika, which sounds really interesting.
Thank you Griselinia littoralis for the reason for such an important meeting!

robertguyton said...

Bioneer's the Transition Guy in Invercargill Shunda. I'll alert him to your interest.