5 INSPIRING HOMESTEAD BOOKS TO READ THIS FALL + FULL REVIEWS

The fall season always brings out the book lover in me. It’s the perfect time to cozy up with your favourite book and dig in! This season I’m sharing with you 5 inspiring homestead books to read this fall. I’ve already read most of these books several times, because they are so good and packed FULL of educational content for the homesteaders and the homesteaders at heart!

Although we’re still super busy, I tend to gravitate towards reading more in the colder months. I’m still run off my feet with life in general, but the shorter days and cold weather turn on that hibernation/rest mode in me (and I try my best to embrace it). One way I force myself to rest is by reading educational content, because I’m still getting something done even though I might be sitting down or resting.. can you tell I’m a do’er?

Below are 5 of my favourite homesteading books from my library that I tend to reach for during the fall months! They are absolutely LOADED with content and provide a wonderful reading experience. I particularly enjoy the writing of Elliot Coleman, he has a way to turning even the most basic sentences into poetry.

Enjoy my top picks of homestead books to read this fall, and let me know in the comment box if you share the same favourites as me!

1: Canning & Preserving Your Own Harvest

This book is an easy read and provides all around information about canning and preserving.

Things I like about the book

Although I wouldn’t say this is like the bible of preserving books, it’s a great addition to your homestead library. This book takes you through the general practises of preserving many different foods, as well as basic recipes to get you started.

This book is easy to read and you can find what you need quite fast. The chapters are laid out well and the basic information you might be looking for (cooking temps, recipes, etc.) are easy to find.

Things I don’t like about the book

I don’t feel like this book alone would be enough for me to grow and learn with canning. Some elements are missing, and some preserving methods are left out.

I’m also a huge fan of pictures in books, especially when I need to learn something new. This book does not have pictures at all! (besides a few basic cartoon ones for interest)

Check out the book HERE

2: Woodland Homestead

This book is one that’s quite new to me compared to the others in my homestead library. Of course I’ve already read the whole thing (I can never get enough when I get a new book!) but it’s definitely one I’ll be reading again during fall.

Things I like about the book

If you live in the forest this books is a MUST for you! It’s full of inspiration and ideas about all of the things you can do with your woodlot. And it encourages you to make the most of your forest.

I’ve lived my whole life in the forest, yet I learned so much from this book. Visual aids, graphs and charts, instructionals, lists, and more fill this book, making it the perfect candidate for my homestead library!

Although the pictures are animated, they are very detailed and help you visualize what you’re reading.

Things I don’t like about the book

Although the book is full of ideas and knowledge, I do feel like it left some things out.

There are so many more suggestions the author could’ve gave the reader in terms of options for making the most out of your woodlot. I was surprised when these things were missing. But maybe the author just didn’t want to cover them.

I also didn’t like that some sections were spoken with so much authority, it was as though there were no other options but the ones mentioned in the book. If you didn’t know any better you might take the authors word as true and miss out on some other avenues of learning about specific subjects.

Check out the book HERE

3: The Year-Round Solar Greenhouse

If your entertaining the thought of a greenhouse, wanting to build your homestead library, or consider yourself a “prepper”, you need to by this book. Its loaded with information!

Things I like about the book

This book is thick and it’s no wonder, the thing is full of information! The author takes you through allll the different types of greenhouses, heating, cooling, building, different climates and more.

I was so impressed at how thorough the book was in every aspect. And the real life pictures bring inspiration and clarity to what you’re reading.

Things I don’t like about the book

The book can be a bit dry, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but can make it harder to read straight through. It packs in a ton of knowledge so it gives my brain a good workout! But with that means more breaks between reading so that I can soak it all in.

Check the book out HERE

4: The Winter Harvest Handbook

Oh Eliot Coleman, my gardening hero. The farm I aspire to be more like.

This book is gold, a true must have for your homestead library. And definitely wins for one of the best homestead books to read this fall!

If you want to dive into gardening- especially during the cold months then this book is for you!

Things I like about the book

Everything. It’s that simple.

But really, if I have to choose a few key points to pull from for this review I’d say the writing alone will win you over. The way that Eliot Coleman writes is really special. Every sentence, every phrase, it’s like poetry. It inspires you and excites you to be a better gardener, and a better caretaker of food in general.

The book has real life pictures scattered throughout that are high quality and most of them are very large. This makes turning each page exciting because you get to look at all of the details of the pictures straight from Eliot’s farm.

Things I don’t like about the book

Even though I love this book, there is one thing that bothers me.

I feel like he could’ve zeroed in on winter gardening even more than he did.

I know that might sound confusing but within the book are many chapters and not all of them surround gardening during winter. Some chapters or sections are just based on gardening in general.

Now I totally understand why the book is laid out the way it is (an all around gardeners handbook focusing on winter), I just wish there was even more for me to indulge in!

Check the book out HERE

5: The Sugarmaker’s Companion

The bible of maple syrup books if you ask me! This book is thick and large, proving to be one of the BEST books I’ve read on sugaring. And I’ve read quite a few considering I’ve been doing this since I was 5 years old!

Things I like about this book

This book is 100% my best resource in the sugaring area of my homestead library. It’s full of great information, opinions, research, and so much educational content.

There are many pictures, and the book in laid out very well so finding what you need at any given time is quite easy.

Things I don’t like about the book

Unlike the book above (Eliot coleman’s A Winter Harvest Handbook) this book doesn’t carry you through any type of story or add in inspiring poetic lines. It’s very factual and reads like it’s intended; a resource for sugaring.

Although that’s not a bad thing, I did mention it because I love when educational books can still make you feel like your going on a journey with the author, much like fiction or biographies.

Check the book out HERE

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5 Inspiring Homestead Books To Read This Fall + Full Reviews