Book Review – Little House in the Suburbs

When I started researching this whole concept of “backyard homesteading” I spent a lot of time on the internet reading blogs, watching youtube videos and joining groups on Facebook.  But one of the things I enjoyed the most was perusing the Gardening Section at my local bookstore.

This wonderful section has some treasures tucked in there on backyard farming, self-sufficiency and simple living.  I would grab a coffee from their shop and then curl up in a corner with a pile of books.  Tell me I’m not alone here! 😉

On one of these outings I stumbled onto Little House in the Suburbs by Deanna Caswell and Daisy Siskin.  Now being a Little House on the Prairie fan since childhood, I simply couldn’t resist the title!  So a sip of coffee and away I went.

They had me at “Did Your Backyard Just Bawk?”.  I loved their chapters on why simple living in the suburbs was possible, gardening in your backyard (including composting) but it was the chicken section that kept me.  Simply written for the novice, it made me feel like I could continue to pursue my desire to have backyard chickens.  I loved the common myths section, pictures of their coops, chicken terms, how-tos and the awesome information on choosing a breed.

The book includes some fantastic information about backyard goats (wish I had the room in the micro yard), beekeeping, making your own personal products and much more.  But the next section that I really loved was how we could bring small town life to the city.  The authors talk about rebuilding interdepence through swaps and coops.  A lot of what I had been reading up to this point was about independence and doing it all on your own.  So this chapter was truly refreshing.

The appendix of the book is worth the cost of the book alone!  From planting charts to resources for backyard livestock to a well laid-out gardening log.  There is something for everyone.

You’ll be sure to enjoy the casual style of the author’s text; feels like you’re talking to your friend instead of being lectured by an expert.  The pictures are rich and full of life, but not so perfect that you’ll feel they are out of reach for you (and me).

From recipes for your kitchen, gardening, backyard chickens, beekeeping for the rest of us, soap making 101, and the fun chapter on keeping goats – this book is a keeper!

Needless to say I bought the book that day and I still find myself pulling it off the shelf on a regular basis…

• You can purchase the book on Amazon – Little House in the Suburbs
• Connect with the authors on their website and on Facebook

This is an unpaid and unsolicited book review.