Home and house maintenance Books

Fresh, local nutrient-dense fruits vegetables are hard to find in winter in cold climates. Growing warm-weather crops like tomatoes, bananas, avocados, and other perennials is nearly impossible using conventional structures. The solution for millions of...

Hempcrete is a versatile, energy-efficient natural insulation material, useful for walls, roofs, and floors. Made from the inner stem of the hemp plant mixed with a lime-based binder, it is a very strong, lightweight and breathable alternative to...

Merlin, Gandalf, Voldemort-these well-known sorcerers from popular culture are famed for their amazing spells and spectacular magical powers. In ancient times, however, a wizard was actually a freelance intellectual whose main stock in trade was good...

Sustainable Luxury presents twenty-seven recent residential projects created by Singapore's most talented architects to address the urgent challenges of sustainability. Singapore is a prosperous, forward-looking nation that is...

An entertaining and enlightening collection of ancient writings about the philosophers who advocated simple living and rejected unthinking conformity.The Cynics were ancient Greek philosophers who stood athwart the flood of society's material excess,...

Packed with step-by-step instructions, useful tips, time-honored wisdom, and both illustrations and photographs, this might just be the most comprehensive guide to back to basics living ever published. Fans of Back to Basics, Homesteading, and...

"Architect and author Chuck Durrett's recently released book Senior Cohousing Handbook comes at a time of high interest in greening, sustainable housing and affordable living concerns. Durrett's new book is a comprehensive guide for baby boomers wishing...

The cohousing "bible" by the US originators of the concept.

How the largest social movement in history is making the world a better place.

Great compost is one of the most important secrets of successful organic gardening. In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn everything you need to know about the various methods of composting and how to adapt them to your home and garden. With...

Bestselling author Brett Markham's new handbook gives us the mini farming basics along with in-depth tips on vegetable gardening, fermenting, composting, and self-sufficiency in a handy new format and design. Includes: Soil management and making your...

Over 200,000 copies sold-fully updated! Dye your own wool, raise chickens, make your own cheddar cheese, build a log cabin, and much much more.Anyone who wants to learn basic living skills-the kind employed by our forefathers-and adapt them for a better...

Mini farming describes a holistic approach to small-area farming that will show you how to produce 85 percent of an average family's food on just a quarter acre-and earn $10,000 in cash annually while spending less than half the time that an ordinary job...

This compact guide provides advice, tips, and step-by-step instructions for hundreds of projects, offering the entire family the tools they need to make the shift toward self-sufficient living. Readers will learn to dip candles, bake bread, make maple...

Are you and your family self-reliant? Will you be able to provide for them and keep them safe? The best way to prepare for the future is not through fancy tools and gadgets-it's experience and knowledge that will best equip you to handle the unexpected...

Finding community is as critical as obtaining food and shelter, since the need to belong is what makes us human. The isolation and loneliness of modern life have led many people to search for deeper connection, which has resulted in a renewed interest in...

The decline of cheap oil is inspiring increasing numbers of North Americans to achieve some measure of backyard food self-sufficiency. In hard times, the family can be greatly helped by growing a highly productive food garden, requiring little cash...

For most of human history, people have lived in durable, comfortable buildings made from natural materials such as soil, sand, rocks, and fiber. All over the globe, these ancient traditions persist; a quarter to a third of the world's population today...

From foundation to finish, a wealth of information is available on sustainable construction methods-entire volumes have been published on individual green and natural building techniques. But with so many different ideas to choose from, there is no...

Wendyl Nissen shares her approach to living a balanced and sustainable life based on an old-fashioned model of growing and cooking your own food, avoiding artificial products and doing your best to avoid letting unnecessary chemical cocktails into your...

A modern classic for a new generation looking for environmentally friendly, thrifty, tried and true solutions for tackling everyday household tasks. Red wine on the carpet? Coffee stain on your white t-shirt? Candlewax on the tablecloth? This book will...

Story Of My Home: The Art of Home: Interior inspiration for every home

Make your home more mindful and discover a more considered way to decorate with this beautifully presented guide by acclaimed interior stylist, Joanna Thornhill. We often think of mindfulness in relation to meditation, but our homes and interior design...

Ever dreamed of having your very own garden retreat? Off-the-shelf sheds aren't always the answer - the cheap ones are badly made and freezing cold, and the better quality ones are really expensive. But what if you could build your own shed from scratch?...

The secret to Marie Kondo's unique and simple KonMari tidying method is to focus on what you want to keep, not what you want to get rid of. Ask yourself if something Ôsparks joy' and suddenly it becomes so much easier to understand if you really need it...

Add the perfect deck and enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of your own home! Featuring 30 complete deck plans that are created and provided by the industry's leading master deck builders, this comprehensive, easy-to-read guide will walk you through...

"If you are looking for a tangible, stress-free guide to protect you and your family from everyday environmental toxins, THIS IS IT!" -Dr. Vivian Chen, MD, founder of Plateful Health and Detox Right With all the time spent at home in recent years, you...

Being in charge of your own life, and making decisions based on what you want to do rather than what you have to do, gives you a rare kind of contentment and shows you that every ordinary day offers magnificent opportunities.' Award-winning blogger...

Holy reno inspo! Before & afters Styling how-to's Money-saving reno tips 'Australia's most fabulous renovators' Real Living magazine When best friends Erin, Bonnie and Lana ditched their corporate careers to start Three Birds Renovations, they were...

Create your very own hideaway for relaxing, crafting, reading, or just to have a private place just for you. She Sheds provides the instruction and inspiration in this lovely gift-able edition. They've got their man caves, and it's time for you to have...

Learn to reconnect with plants and nature for collective healing in a world beset by environmental crisis with this herbalism and eco-activist handbook. Alyson Morgan, a second-generation Haitian American, grew up feeling disconnected from her roots and...

A new, updated issue of this bestselling guide to essential carpentry techniques and timeless projects to master the art of woodworking. Master the art of carpentry and create timeless handcrafted pieces with this essential guide to working with wood.  ...

Transform your home into a permanently clear and clutter-free space with the incredible KonMari Method. Japan's expert declutterer and professional cleaner Marie Kondo will help you tidy your rooms once and for all with her inspirational step-by-step...