10 Best Homesteading Books for Beginners: Guides For Crops & Livestock

There are a lot of different books on homesteading out there, and it can be tough to know which ones are the best for beginners.

It’s no wonder that so many people are intimidated by the thought of starting homesteading. Between gardening, animal husbandry, preserving food, and more, there’s a lot to learn!

What are the best homesteading books for beginners? 

PolyFace Designs, The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible, Livestock Guardians, Keeping Chickens, Garden Design Workbook, The Joy of Keeping Goats, Self Sufficient Backyard, The Backyard Homestead, No-Work Garden Book, and The Self-Sufficient Life & How To Live are the best homesteading books for beginners.

Are you interested in homesteading but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’re a seasoned homesteader looking for some new reading material. 

Either way, we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we will list 10 of the best books for beginners who want to learn about homesteading. From gardening to raising livestock, these books have it all! So, whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking for more information, these books will help get you on your way.

We spent countless hours scouring the internet for the best homesteading books for beginners, and we think you’ll agree that these are the cream of the crop.

PolyFace Designs by Joel Salatin & Chris Slattery

Authored by Joel Salatin and Chris Slattery, PolyFace Designs provides farmers with a step-by-step guide on how to design and build efficient and effective farming infrastructure. 

The book covers a wide range of topics, including pasture management, irrigation, fencing, and barn construction. With clear instructions and illustrations, the authors show how to create a farm that is both productive and sustainable.

In addition to providing detailed plans for various structures, the book also offers valuable advice on choosing the right location for your farm and selecting the best animals for your land. 

With its comprehensive coverage and step-by-step approach, PolyFace Designs is an essential resource for anyone interested in starting a farm or improving their existing operation.

The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible by Edward C. Smith

The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible is one of the most comprehensive guides to vegetable gardening available. Written by Edward C. Smith, a well-respected authority on the subject, the book covers everything from soil fertility and planting depths to irrigation and pest control. 

It provides detailed instructions on how to create a high-yielding vegetable garden using Ed’s waffle garden system. 

With this system, you can grow a large variety of vegetables in a small space!

Perhaps most importantly, Smith provides detailed information on which vegetables are best suited for different climates and soil types. In addition, the book includes a section on common gardening mistakes and how to avoid them.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible is sure to provide valuable guidance on how to get the most out of your garden.

The Livestock Guardians by Janet Vorwald Dohner

By day, Janet Vorwald Dohner’s sheep graze peacefully in the high country meadows of Colorado. But at night, they are guarded by a unique breed of dog known as the Anatolian Shepherd. 

Originally developed in Turkey, the Anatolian Shepherd is a large and formidable breed, with a thick coat and powerful build. 

But despite their size, these dogs are gentle giants, and their primary goal is to protect their flock from predators such as coyotes and mountain lions. The Livestock Guardians, by Janet Vorwald Dohner, is an essential guide for anyone interested in keeping livestock safe from predators.

Dohner provides a comprehensive overview of the different types of predators that pose a threat to livestock, as well as the various methods of predator control. 

She also discusses the pros and cons of using different kinds of livestock guardians, such as dogs, llamas, and donkeys.

In addition, The Livestock Guardians includes helpful tips on choosing and training a guardian animal, as well as troubleshooting common problems. Whether you are a farmer with a flock of sheep or a rancher with a herd of cattle, The Livestock Guardians is an indispensable resource for protecting your livelihood.

Keeping Chickens by Celia Lewis And Jeremy Hobson

Keeping Chickens is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about keeping chickens. The authors draw on their own experiences of chicken-keeping to provide practical advice on everything from choosing the right breed of chicken to housing and feeding them. 

They also offer guidance on more unusual topics such as hatchlings, molting, and predators. Throughout, the authors emphasize the importance of respecting chickens as individuals with their own distinct personalities and behaviors.

In addition, Keeping Chickens includes a section on common health problems and how to treat them. They also cover the basics of chicken anatomy and physiology, so readers have a better understanding of how these animals function. 

The second half of the book focuses on practical considerations, such as housing, feeding, and health care. 

The authors provide clear instructions for building a safe and comfortable coop, as well as offering advice on what to feed chickens and how to keep them healthy. Throughout the book, Lewis and Hobson share their own experiences of chicken keeping, making this an essential read for anyone considering taking on this rewarding hobby.

Garden Design Workbook By Rosemary Alexander And Rachel Myers

Gardeners have always been keen observers of the natural world, and they have long used this knowledge to design beautiful and functional gardens.

In recent years, however, the study of garden design has become a more formalized discipline, with a growing body of research to support its practice. The Garden Design Workbook is a comprehensive guide to the principles and practices of garden design, drawing on the latest research in the field.

The authors Rosemary Alexander and Rachel Myers share their expert knowledge on everything from choosing the right plants for your garden to creating a planting scheme that will bring it to life. They also provide guidance on how to deal with common problems such as poor drainage, shady areas, and exposed sites. 

In addition, the book includes a section on maintenance and pest control, so you can keep your garden looking its best all year round. With its step-by-step approach and clear illustrations, The Garden Design Workbook is an essential guide for anyone wanting to create their own stunning outdoor space.

The Joy of Keeping Goats by Laura Childs

As any goat owner knows, these creatures are intelligent and inquisitive animals. They are also very social creatures and enjoy spending time with their human companions. For many people, keeping goats is a very rewarding experience.

In The Joy of Keeping Goats, author Laura Child shares her own love of these creatures and provides practical advice on everything you need to know about goat care. Child starts by discussing the history of goats and their place in human society. 

She then provides information on choosing the right breed of goat for your needs and providing proper care and nutrition. Throughout the book, Child includes helpful tips and anecdotes based on her own experiences with goats.

Child covers the basics of goat anatomy and physiology so readers understand how these animals function better. 

She also discusses the different types of goats available and their unique behaviors and needs.

In addition, The Joy of Keeping Goats includes helpful tips on choosing the right breed for your homestead and caring for goats throughout their life cycle. Whether you are thinking about getting your first goat or a seasoned goat keeper, this book will surely provide valuable insights into these fascinating creatures.

The Self-Sufficient Backyard By Ron And Johanna Melchiore

The Self-Sufficient Backyard is a comprehensive guide to homesteading. The authors, Ron and Johanna Melchiore, share their expert knowledge on everything from choosing the right plants for your garden to creating a self-sufficient homestead. 

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle. The Melchiores share their own personal experiences as homesteaders and provide detailed instructions on how to set up your own backyard homestead.

The Melchiores argue that, with a little planning and effort, anyone can become self-sufficient in a small space. They offer tips on everything from growing your own food to generating your own power. 

In addition, The Self Sufficient Backyard includes a section on raising animals, so you can have all the benefits of fresh eggs and milk without having to buy them from the store. 

With its clear and concise instructions, The Self Sufficient Backyard is an essential guide for anyone wanting to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

The Backyard Homestead By Carleen Madigan

Carleen Madigan’s book, The Backyard Homestead, is an essential guide for anyone interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle. 

Madigan provides readers with step-by-step instructions for growing their own food, raising chickens, and preserving the harvest.

In addition, she includes information on making your own soap, cheese, and wine.  In addition to practical advice, the book also includes a wealth of information on the history and theory of homesteading.

With Madigan’s guidance, even beginners can learn how to homestead successfully. In addition, the book includes a section on starting a homestead business so that you can make money from your homesteading efforts. Whether you want to become self-sufficient or just want to live a more sustainable lifestyle, The Backyard Homestead is an essential guide.

No-Work Garden Book by Ruth Stout

Ruth Stout is a pioneer of the no-work garden method. In her book, The  No-Work Garden Book, she shares her unique approach to gardening. According to Stout, the key to a successful garden is to let nature do the work for you. 

This means using mulch to suppress weeds, protect against compaction, and cover crops to improve soil health. It also means avoiding chemicals and other inputs that can damage the ecosystem. 

Stout’s approach is based on her belief that gardens should be self-sustaining natural ecosystems. As a result, her no-work garden method has been hugely influential in the organic gardening movement.

Stout’s gardening method is based on heavily mulching straw or grass clippings. This helps to keep the soil moist and prevents weeds from taking over. 

This method does not need to till the soil or pull weeds by hand. In addition, plants are allowed to grow close together, which reduces the amount of space that needs to be planted each year. 

While some gardeners may balk at the idea of giving up control, Stout argues that this hands-off approach is actually the best way to ensure a healthy and bountiful garden. With less work to do, gardeners can simply sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour

If you are looking forward to really living off the grid, you may want to pick up this book with you as you move. 

The author of the book, John Seymour, who has quite extensive homesteading experience, has tried to incorporate everything that he knows about homesteading to ensure that your dream of living an independent life actually comes true.

This book’s interesting aspect is the author’s perspective that a true homestead lives life with zero waste. In times when wasting food and a lot more is a norm, the author’s perspective is enlightening as the book has tried to incorporate a step-by-step approach to how you can live a self-sufficient life with zero waste.

The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It is a relatively new homesteading book that aims to live a self-sufficient life with zero waste in a waste-driven environment.

From his personal experience and learning over the years, John Seymour has not only tried to cover the essentials of professional farming but also provided an in-depth understanding of the basics of living on a smaller or medium land area.