I have lots of books on country skills but dont have Storeys basic country skills or the encyclopedia of country living . Which is the best book. Whould like to treat myself to a early christmas . Thanks Country Friend Jack Bunyard

-- Jack Bunyard (bunyard@cnz.com), November 28, 2000

Answers

The "Encyclopedia of Country Living" is absolutely the best!!! It has tons of information about everything imaginable in regard to country living/homesteading.

-- Ken Rush (rushwiz@aol.com), November 28, 2000.

I was able to get a set of about 30 of the Storey Country Wisdom Bullitins. I find the seperate subject booklets very convienient and informative. Plan to try and get the entire set as funds become available.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), November 28, 2000.

I've never seen the Storey's book, but it'd have to magnificently spectacular to beat the Encyclopedia.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), November 28, 2000.

I have both books. The Storey book is good if you just want a basic overview of several different topics. The Encyclopedia of Country Living doesn't cover quite as many topics, but it is much more in- depth. The Storey book is a good introduction for city-folk like me who are in the initial planning stages of moving to the country, but if you've already been homesteading you'll probably find the Encyclopedia more useful. My advice is to check out the Storey book from your local library, and buy the Encyclopedia.

Hope this helps! Sherri in IN

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), November 28, 2000.

I haven't seen Storey's book, either, but I have a copy of Carla Emery's Encyclopedia of Country Living, and highly recommend it. I should probably get a newer copy, myself, but it is still packed full of useful information on just about everything you really need to know.

-- Kathleen Sanderson in NH (stonycft@worldpath.net), November 28, 2000.

Well, I don't have the Storey book, but I do have TWO of Carla Emery's Encyclopedias!

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), November 28, 2000.

I have both books also and highly recommend Carla Emory's book. The Storey book is good also but Carla's is the one I go to first if I'm looking for some info, either that or I come here!

-- bwilliams (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), November 28, 2000.

DO NOT GET The Storey Book,, I sent it back to them, and demanded a refund,(which I still havnt got yet),, it was incomplete and totally useless. The boyscout manual is better than that book

-- STAN (sopal@net-port.com), November 28, 2000.

Carla Emery's book is the best. And she agrees with my long-held philosophy that two people do not need a washing machine!

-- Sandy (smd2@netzero.net), November 28, 2000.

Dont know about the two of those but here is my .02 on another bunch...

Dont buy anything written by Anita Evangelista. Her work falls into 2 categories: No $h!t and Bull$h!t. They are a total waste of money. The best thing that could happen is that the readers kills themselves following her "advice". The worst? The reader winds up maimed and indigent stranded in a rural area and decides to sue Countryside for distribution.

-- William in Wi (thetoebes@webtv.net), November 28, 2000.

Haven't read but just a few of the Storey books (got them at yard sales and such), but I paid full price for Carla Emory's book, if that tells you anything. She's been there, done that, and she has the knowledge to show for her exeriences. Carla's book has MY vote!!!!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), November 28, 2000.

Thanks so much my mind is now made up . You all are great. Indiana Country friend Jack bunyard

-- Jack bunyard (bunyard@cnz.com), November 28, 2000.

I have Carla's book and Back to Basics by readers Digest.. I get lost in Carla's book, seemed like half of it was telling story's about something else. Back to Basics gets to the point and tells you how to do everything. I have found many inconsistancies in Carla's book. It has dust on it and my Back to basics is opened weekly.

-- Ginny Davis (yehagirl@goin.missouri.org), November 29, 2000.

Jack, in my opinion, Carla's book is the best overall useful book for anyone wanting a return to the basics of living in the boonsticks, tells a little about everything, there is a new (1998) edition available, from Sasquatch Press, for 27.00 dollars. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), November 29, 2000.

I started looking at Carla's book with a box of salt (not just a grain) after I read her recipe for making soap. She instructs the reader to pour the fat into the lye solution--at least in my very old edition. That can cause the reaction she warns against. The lye should be poured very slowly into the fat so that it doesn't spatter.

She also recommends one of the giant rabbit breeds as the best for meat production and every specifically rabbit oriented book I've read, including ones from ARBA, suggest NZ Whites and Californians as best for meat. These books say the giant breeds spend too much time and feed on producing frame before they put on flesh--time and feed that are better utilized by the breeds developed for meat production.

I was also put off by all her stories. If I want to read a biography, I'll get a biography but when I need information, I don't like wading through other materials. My Back To Basics is very well used, too.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), November 29, 2000.

Hi Jack, Well heres my .02 cents worth. I own over 4000 books. I've found that Blackwells books offer a lot of information where you recycle everything. You literally use almost everything for something. My other Treasure trove has been back issues of Countryside magazine. We have several Large boxes of these.

Our library gives away books all the month of December. I've gotten great reads. Farm and ranch how to manuals written at the turn of the century. Natural healing books and even woodworking books. Last year we scooped up several dog training manuals. (*Wish the dogs would hurry up and read them, lol)

I know I didn't answer your question because I haven't read them. But I hope I gave you something to think on.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), November 30, 2000.