SELF - SUFFICIENCY

There are several different methods of preserving fruits and vegetables and all give delicious results.

Jams, jellies, fruit butters and curds, bottled fruits, chutneys, pickles and salted vegetables are all practical and economical ways to preserve seasonal produce.

And you don't need a load of kitchen gadgets and equipment to get started: a heavy-based pan, a funnel, a sugar thermometer and a selection of glass storage jars are all you need!

Most fruits and vegetables can be used for preserving, and what better and more satisfying way to use up home-grown or local produce than to puree, pickle, bottle or salt it and consume it throughout the year!

Ingredients, popular fruits and vegetables, sugars, cooking techniques, along with storage information and helpful hints and tips followed by 60 delicious recipes make this book your one-stop guide to successful preserving.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Carol Wilson is a food writer, cookery consultant and member of the Guild of Food Writers. She writes for a number of food publications both in the UK and the US and has written several cookbooks as well as appeared on TV cookery programmes.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

As sustainability and organic living become increasingly popular, so does a desire to live a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

This timely book will help you to achieve self-sufficiency and make beekeeping a reality.

Beekeeping is about management, control and learning to understand the honeybee.

It can also become a very enjoyable and sociable pastime - visiting others' hives and picking up vital hints and tips is all part of the fun - and farming and eating honey that your own bees have produced is a pure delight.

Joanna Ryde covers all aspects of beekeeping, from the basic tools and equipment needed for setting up a hive to detailed advice on when to harvest honey and honey-inspired recipes, from delicious cakes to beauty products.

This really is the definitive guide for anyone thinking of keeping bees.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

What could be better than enjoying a glass of delicious home-brewed organic beer?

This book includes everything you'll need to know to brew a variety of beers at home, from the equipment and techniques needed to a few inside secrets from a professional brewer.

In this timely book, John Parkes demystifies the brewing process and explains in easy-to-follow terms how anyone can produce delicious beer with the help of just some basic equipment and a few key skills.

Those new to home brewing will love the easy-to-follow instructions and the detailed explanations of the brewing process and anyone already adept at home brewing will be delighted by the original recipes.

Made without unnecessary chemicals and additives, the beers featured here will appeal to anyone seeking a more self-sufficient lifestyle.


AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: John Parkes has a life-long fascination with beer and in 2006 set up his own company, Red Rock Brewery, brewing traditional beer from his farm in Devon. His beers are sold locally and also served in pubs in and around Devon.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

With the textile industry able to make cloth more quickly and cheaply than ever before, why make your own?

The answer is simple: nothing could be more different and unique than hand-made textiles.

Weaving your own textiles for use in clothing or furnishings is a rewarding and satisfying activity - with the added benefit of knowing that the whole process can be done just as well by hand, using almost no energy but your own!

This book looks at where different fibres come from, how to grow and harvest your own vegetable fibres, and how to prepare them for spinning.

The principles of spindle and spinning wheel spinning are covered, along with home dyeing using natural dyestuffs, and hand weaving with or without a loom.

Finally, there are a number of simple projects, such as a rug, shoulder bag, bed cover, and jumper and mitts to put your newly learnt skills to the test.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Penny Walsh teaches and researches traditional techniques of dyeing and spinning, adapting them in the light of contemporary advances whilst retaining the quality of colour and texture.

She uses as ecologically sound ingredients as possible and renewable sources, and endeavours to source animal fibres from breeds that are becoming rare because they are not commercial.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Green cleaning is becoming increasingly popular, as eco-savvy consumers strive to do their bit for the environment.

Most conventional shop-bought cleaning products are packed full of chemicals, many of which are harmful to the environment and your health, let alone your wallet.

You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that your kitchen store cupboard already stocks many harmless alternatives that will transform your home into a clean and fresh smelling haven!

Lemons, salt, vinegar, baking soda and club soda are just some of the natural ingredients used to clean the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, floors and everything in between!

Most of us don't realise just how harmful shop-bought cleaning products can be.

A look at the toxic chemicals used in conventional products will help you make an informed decision, and the hints and tips and green recipes dotted throughout couldn't be easier to make or use - and the results are truly amazing.

Turn a chore into a pleasure and discover a whole new way to clean.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Rachelle Strauss has been writing about environmental issues for several years.

She has a friendly, down-to-earth style and has written many features and regular columns for a variety of green and ethical magazines.

Much of her inspiration and ideas are based on everyday practical experiences.

In recent times, people have become much more ecologically aware and also more keen to minimize their carbon footprint.
This, coupled with the pressure from governments to recycle household waste, means that creating and using garden compost is becoming almost essential knowledge.This guide gives gardeners all the information they need about starting to make their own compost, storing it and using it.
Information on different types of compost - what they consist of, what they are good for and how they are best stored - is given, before moving on to explore in detail how to create your own compost.
Guidance is also given for those who wish to construct their own compost bin.
There are specific chapters explaining wormeries and green manuring, as well as a wealth of information on seed and potting composts.
This is a really thorough guide for anyone wanting to make and use their own compost.