The best way to learn while on the road: audiobooks! For those interested in homesteading and farming, these are five easy-to-listen to audiobooks you will enjoy!
Inspirational audiobooks for homesteading
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Learning to Homestead
As a continuous learner about all things homesteading, I try to read everything I have the time to pick up and digest. With two small children and a more-than-full time job, this has been quite a struggle.
Typical Day
A typical week day here begins at 5am. Wake up, check garden/chicks, 5:30 wake children, breakfast, change, leave by 6. Then I have about an hour in the car between dropping my kids off and a long distance to my job. I work 7am to 4pm, then repeat the hour commute home. Garden/chickens, dinner, bath time, play time, bed time, all ends around 8 which gives me about an hour before I need to be in bed to do it again the next day. Two hours in the car is a long time…to learn!
How to fit in learning
Why all this detail on my schedule? Because learning can be fit in anywhere, including my long commute (or on your phone through Audible).
In order to do that, I looked into audiobooks and these are the top five most inspirational and enjoyable. They have helped me learn and maintain hope to lead a more self sufficient, homemade, homegrown and from scratch lifestyle.
Why these books?
There are many books out there on the subject of homesteading and farming, and some on how to get started. However, these five inspirational homesteading audiobooks are different. First of all, they are audiobooks which can be consumed on the road. I hope many more audiobooks related to homesteading come available soon!
Second, these books are not about the nuts and bolts of homesteading. Though some of them do point out the very real practicalities of farming life and how they overcame struggles. In general, they are stories and not the how-to guides.
Instead, they are a breath of fresh air with the candor and humor of real life and the heart of determination. Without further ado, here are five books I listened to that helped me realize the love and hard work needed to begin a homestead/farm:
Locally Laid by Lucie B Amundsen
This book was written by the wife of a gentleman who decided he wanted to start a chicken farm selling pastured eggs. A real life look at both how hard it is to start a business and the ridiculousness of chickens. An eye opening experience from people at the forefront of an industry change.
Gaining Ground by Forrest Pritchard
This is an almost idyllic fairytale of how a farm was eventually saved using sustainable, earth friendly practices inspired by Joel Salatin. Rotational grazing, rebuilt pasture and a clear peaceful synchrony between the land and farmer all play a roll as Pritchard tries to market and sell pastured pork and beef. The beginning makes it abundantly clear how hard and important it is to find your feet.
Hit by a Farm by Catherine Friend
This witty and funny book is a delight to listen to and Friend does an excellent job getting you in on the farm they decide to start. The end surprised me a little but no spoilers here! Definitely about drawing boundaries while still supporting both a farm and farmer.
Bootstrapper by Mardi Jo Link
One of the first audiobooks I enjoyed. She’s funny and plucky but admits to being just too squeamish for some parts of the homesteading life. Both shocking and hopeful, this book is a good read on picking yourself up by your bootstraps. Filled with ingenuity and hope.
Farm City by Novella Carpenter
Hands down one of my favorites. As an urban homesteader I too am limited in space and options. She makes it seem easy while maintaining wit and street smart understanding. A few of the topics she brings up such as beekeeping, keeping poultry in the city, dealing with people taking your garden goodies and squatting are all real life accounts of trying to grow food in the city. This is hyperlocal farming without the startup funds, space or even legalities in place. She also mentions techniques about handling these factors that may actually be applicable. This is both inspirational and practical.
You will enjoy them too!
These remind me of two facts. First, I knew it would be hard going in but it is possible to make it work or at least make it work for this point in your life. For example, maybe have to wait on getting the family cow, but that is ok! Second, everyone has a beginning and needs time and space to figure it out for themselves.
Scrappy ingenuity, passion, persistence and a modicum of grace make it all worth it. That first home-laid egg, that bill for fixing the tractor, the fresh garden salsa, the 2am vet call, the first homemade bread, the garden pests…they all have their place and these inspiring individuals have made it happen. You can too!
Leave a comment and let me know what books you’ve enjoyed on this journey (I am always looking for new ideas!).
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