Author: Jenna Woginrich
Publisher: Storey Publishing
Release Date: 2008
I asked for this book for my birthday because I read Jenna's blog fairly regularly and enjoy her opinions and turn of phrase. Made From Scratch is part autobiography, part introduction to basic homesteading skills, and part DIY homesteading projects and ideas.
When Jenna first began considering a vegetarian diet, she researched how the food she ate got to her plate, and the truth of it disgusted her, as well as increased her respect for small farmers and her desire to live a more self-sufficient life. Her only skills at the beginning of her journey were basic knitting and soap-making, which she did for fun; with the help of friends and more research, the list of homesteading skills she developed grew to include gardening, raising chickens, beekeeping, training work (and sled) dogs, shearing angora rabbits, collecting antiques (especially hand-powered kitchen appliances), sewing clothing, and making her own entertainment by learning to play the fiddle. In each chapter devoted to one of these skills, Jenna tells her story, then directs us how to get started. At the end of the book in something like a bibliography or reading list, Jenna points the way even further with the books and websites she used to research these skills.I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it for anyone who misses summer now that we're in January or who likes the ideas of controlling how necessary items get to them, learning basic self-sufficient skills, or living closer to the land. Jenna's humor and honesty draw you in and really make you part of the community she herself has joined, while the story of her mistakes and successes and growth encourage you to do something productive, something real and authentic. As MaryJane Buttars (to whom Jenna refers multiple times) said, "Jenna walks you to the door of your fantasy and points the way towards a more self-sufficient and authentic lifestyle."
To get a taste of the book before you buy (or borrow from me), check out Jenna's blog. And as always, I'd love to hear what you think.
To get a taste of the book before you buy (or borrow from me), check out Jenna's blog. And as always, I'd love to hear what you think.
No comments:
Post a Comment