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Cubby Reads: My Mini-Farmstead Book Nook
50
items A cozy corner of truth, tradition, and tender-hearted learning — one page at a time.
Sections
12
🌿 Herbal Remedies & Natural Wellness
🪵Homestead Heritage & Forgotten Skills
🧼✨ Tidy by Nature: Clean Living the Simple Way
“Faithfully Prepared: Everyday Readiness for Farm & Family”
Rooted & Resilient: Grow-Your-Own the Homestead Way
💧 Growing with Water: Hydroponics & Aquaponics
🌿 Herbal Remedies & Natural Wellness
These are the guides I turn to when I want to care for my family naturally — with God-given herbs, healing plants, and time-tested remedies. From trusted herbalists like Nicole Apelian to faith-rooted wellness wisdom, this shelf holds peace of mind a...
This book is one of the go-to resources on my cubby shelf — filled with over 250 time-tested herbal remedies, organized by ailment so you can find exactly what you need fast. Dr. Nicole Apelian simplifies everything with step‑by‑step mixes, tinctures...
Forgotten Home Apothecary: 250 Remedies
This one lives on my cubby shelf and gets pulled down a lot. It explores over 181 healing plants with full-color photos and simple guidance that helps me recognize what’s growing right here on our land. I love how Nicole Apelian blends practical know...
The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies
This was the very first book I purchased from Nicole Apelian — and honestly, it changed everything for me. After being diagnosed with early-stage COPD and Graves’ Disease (hyperthyroidism), I wasn’t comfortable going the full traditional medication r...
Holistic Guide to Wellness: Herbal Protocols
After how much I used and loved the original Lost Book of Herbal Remedies, I didn’t even hesitate to grab Volume II — and I’m so glad I did. It builds beautifully on the first book with even more herbs, remedies, and healing plants, many of which gro...
The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies II by Apelian
I added this book to my shelf as part of a bigger shift toward making informed, natural choices about how I care for my body. It’s written by a doctor who’s walked the path himself, but what stood out to me was the balanced, practical insight — no ex...
Natural Treatment for Hyperthyroidism & Graves'
This one’s a feast for the eyes and the soul — beautifully organized and rich with info on medicinal herbs, salves, teas, and tinctures. It’s a gentle guide to herbalism that feels both wise and welcoming. I love how it balances science and tradition...
The Herbal Apothecary: 100 Medicinal Herbs
This book goes way beyond basic herbal teas — it’s a deep dive into the plants that help our bodies fight back naturally. I picked it up wanting to feel more prepared and informed, especially living a lifestyle where we prefer natural options first. ...
Herbal Antivirals 2nd Ed: Natural Remedies
This book is exactly what I wish I had when I first started making tinctures at home. It’s down-to-earth, beginner-friendly, and full of easy-to-follow recipes using common herbs I already had growing or tucked away in jars. I love how Sarah keeps it...
Herbal Tinctures Recipe Book for Beginners
This is where everything I’ve learned about how herbs start to come to life in a hands-on, purposeful way. I really appreciate how JJ Pursell guides you through creating balms, tinctures, teas, and even skincare — using ingredients that feel natural,...
Master Recipes from the Herbal Apothecary: 375 Tinctures
This is one of those books I keep reaching for — whether I need comfort, clarity, or just something cozy in my cup. The recipes are simple, soothing, and rooted in natural wellness. I’ve learned to blend my own teas right from the herbs we grow (or s...
Healing Herbal Teas: Learn to Blend 101 Teas
🪵Homestead Heritage & Forgotten Skills
These are the books that reconnect me with the kind of wisdom that built this country — resourceful, hands-on, and full of heart. From food preservation to old-school remedies and off-grid know-how, they celebrate the strength and simplicity of gener...
This book feels like sitting down with your great-grandparents and hearing how they actually lived — no frills, no fluff, just the tried-and-true ways folks used to grow, preserve, build, and survive. The Lost Ways isn’t just about prepping — it’s ab...
The Lost Ways: Claude Davis - Books
This book feels like sitting down with wise ancestors and learning the lost arts that carried families through hard times and abundant harvests alike. From preserving food to time-tested homestead habits, it’s full of practical guidance and humble wi...
Forgotten Skills of Self-Sufficiency by Mormon Pioneers
This book digs deeper into the everyday survival skills that once came second nature — gardening, seed saving, fermentation, and beyond. What I love most is how Caleb shares these practices like a neighbor would, encouraging you to reclaim lost knowl...
More Forgotten Skills of Self-Sufficiency
This was one of the very first books I picked up when dreaming of our own homestead. It’s packed with practical ideas for turning even a ¼-acre yard into a productive mini-farm — from growing food and herbs to raising animals. While we’ve got a bit m...
The Backyard Homestead: Produce Food on 1/4 Acre
This book felt like it was written just for us. When we moved to our wooded 3.25 acres with zero experience, we needed a guide that honored the land as it is — trees, shade, uneven ground and all. This isn’t your typical flat-pasture farming manual. ...
The Woodland Homestead: Make Land Productive
After growing it, raising it, and harvesting it — this book taught me how to truly use it all in the kitchen. From butchering to bread baking, and fermenting to freezing, it’s full of practical wisdom to help you make the most of every bit of your ha...
Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How
This book felt like it was written just for us. Coming from zero experience, we built our mini-farmstead from the ground up — learning everything the hard but rewarding way. This guide walks through the process of starting where you are, which really...
Homesteading From Scratch: Build Self-Sufficient Homestead
🧼✨ Tidy by Nature: Clean Living the Simple Way
This list is all about creating a clean, peaceful home using simple, natural ingredients — the way it used to be done. From DIY cleaners to sustainable swaps and homemaking inspiration, these books reflect the heart of a home rooted in stewardship an...
This was the book that helped me simplify my entire cleaning routine without sacrificing peace of mind. Natalie’s recipes are easy, effective, and smell so fresh — no mystery ingredients, just natural tools that actually work. I turn to it when I wan...
The Modern Organic Home: 100+ DIY Cleaning
This was one of the first books that helped me truly understand how to bring natural wellness into every part of our daily life — from supporting our health to keeping our home clean and calm. It’s not just about essential oils — it’s about creating ...
The Essential Life (2nd Edition) - Wellness
This book is all about using what’s already in your pantry for a healthier body and a cleaner home — and that’s exactly how we live. From boosting digestion to scrubbing the sink, I was shocked (in a good way) at how versatile and powerful apple cide...
81 Ways To Naturally Cleanse Body & House
“Faithfully Prepared: Everyday Readiness for Farm & Family”
This list is all about quiet, confident preparation — the kind rooted in faith, not fear. From water collection to food preservation, these books help us live more wisely, use what we have, and rely less on what we don’t. Whether we’re stretching our...
This book makes rainwater harvesting feel doable — not just a pipe dream for people with fancy setups. It's practical, straightforward, and tailored for everyday folks like us trying to make smart, sustainable changes one step at a time. I love that ...
Harvesting Rainwater for Your Homestead in 9 Days
This little golden powerhouse has been a healing staple for thousands of years — and now it's a regular part of our homestead wellness too. The Turmeric Testament opened my eyes to just how many ways turmeric can help — from soothing inflammation to ...
The Turmeric Testament - 4000 Year-Old Miracle
I thought I knew what coconut oil could do — until I read this. This book digs into why this tropical treasure isn’t just hype — it’s a true homestead helper. From skincare to heart health to frying eggs and shining wood furniture, coconut oil has ea...
The Coconut Oil Secret: Nature's #1 Best
It’s wild how something as common as a lemon can be so powerful — but this book shows just how much healing is hidden in the most ordinary fruit. The Secret Lemon Fix taught me dozens of ways to use lemons to fight illness, boost energy, support dige...
The Secret Lemon Fix: Nature's #1 Disease-Fighting Fruit
Honey’s always had a place in our kitchen — but this book showed me just how powerful that liquid gold really is. From soothing sore throats and fighting infections to supporting gut health and energy levels, The Honey Phenomenon breaks it all down i...
The Honey Phenomenon - Liquid Gold Healing
Rooted & Resilient: Grow-Your-Own the Homestead Way
Whether it’s raised beds in the backyard or a jar of herbs in the window, this is where homestead meets harvest. These are my favorite tools, seeds, compost picks, and garden helpers — the ones that help us grow more from home, waste less, and get ou...
This book feels like a gentle reminder of why we grow — not just for food, but for freedom, health, and home. It’s full of inspiring wisdom and down-to-earth techniques for growing nourishing food wherever you are. For me, it blends heart and harvest...
The Secret Garden: Growing Delicious Food
Raised garden beds are a game-changer for us out here — easier on the back, better soil control, and perfect for our little patch of land. This book makes setting them up feel totally doable, even if you’re short on time or space. I’ve pulled several...
Instant Box Garden Miracle - Grow Food & Herbs
I discovered this gem while searching for low-labor, high-yield ways to garden on our mini-farmstead — especially with our wooded land and tough soil. Lasagna gardening (aka layering organic materials like compost, leaves, and newspaper) is a no-till...
Lasagna Gardening: New Layering System for Gardens
💧 Growing with Water: Hydroponics & Aquaponics
We’re exploring soil-free growing the old-fashioned way—with a twist. These books dive into hydroponics and aquaponics, two modern methods we’re learning to blend with our off-grid values. Whether it's nutrient-rich water or fish-powered systems, thi...
I grabbed this book when I wanted to stretch our growing season and try something new without needing extra land — and wow, it delivered. The Hydroponic Garden Secret lays everything out simply, showing how to grow a surprisingly big harvest using ju...
The Hydroponic Garden Secret: Grow Food Fast
I picked this up while diving into sustainable systems that blend gardening and self-reliance. Aquaponics was totally new to me, but this guide made it approachable — even for someone learning everything hands-on like we are. It explains how to grow ...
Aquaponic Gardening: Raising Fish & Plants
🪴 Contained Joy: Container Gardening Projects
Whether you're growing from a porch, patio, or backyard corner, container gardening proves you don’t need a lot of land to harvest something beautiful. These books are full of practical, creative ways to grow herbs, veggies, and flowers in pots, barr...
I love this book because it proves you don’t need a giant plot of land to grow something meaningful. With just a few pots, buckets, or even recycled containers, The Backyard Harvest walks you through 50 projects that are practical, beautiful, and beg...
The Backyard Harvest - 50 Container Gardening Projects
🧰 Modern Homestead Projects & DIY Sustainability
This section is for the doers — the “build it, wire it, grow it, fix it” kind of folks. These books are packed with how-tos and hands-on guides that fit real life on a mini-farmstead — from solar panels and rainwater systems to chicken coops and food...
This book is loaded with practical ideas to help you live more sustainably and self-sufficiently — right where you are. Rain barrels, solar panels, off-grid energy, chicken coops, and other clever setups you can actually build. It’s perfect for our l...
DIY Projects to Get Off the Grid: Rain Barrels, Coops
This book dives into all levels of off-grid living — whether you're tinkering in the backyard or planning for full-on bunker life. While we're not completely off-grid ourselves, we’re always learning ways to be more self-reliant. This guide is full o...
How to Survive Off the Grid: Homesteads & Bunkers
🐣Barnyard Basics & Rare Breed Reads
These are the books that helped shape my flock and farmstead. From rare chicken breeds to everyday animal care, this shelf is filled with guides, tips, and personal favorites I’ve turned to again and again while raising hens, ducks, and more. If it c...
This was one of my first go-to guides when we started expanding beyond the chicken coop. It covers a little bit of everything — from chickens and ducks to goats, pigs, and even bees. It’s practical, beginner-friendly, and packed with info I still ref...
Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Animals
This is the chicken lover’s dream book — and it’s as beautiful as it is helpful. With full-color photos and detailed descriptions, it’s what first inspired me to explore rare and heritage breeds. I’ve spent hours flipping through these pages, dreamin...
Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds
This book speaks straight to my rare breed heart. The Ayam Cemani isn’t just a chicken — it’s a legend. All black from feathers to bones, it’s one of the most captivating birds in my flock. Angela Jewitt dives into the history, care, and mystique of ...
Ayam Cemani Chicken - Indonesian Black Hen Guide
Whether you're building your first coop or improving your setup, this book is a solid guide for any backyard poultry keeper. As someone who jumped into raising rare breeds from scratch, I appreciate how this book breaks it down into doable, budget-fr...
How to Build Chicken Coops: Complete Guide
This book is like a chicken dictionary — and I love it. Anytime I’m unsure about a term, breed, behavior, or care tip, this beautifully illustrated reference has my back. As someone raising rare and heritage breeds, it’s been such a helpful companion...
The Chicken Encyclopedia: An Illustrated Reference
🍽️Let’s Eat, Y’all: Homestead Meals & Cozy Cravings
Whether it’s cast iron on the campfire, bread in the machine, or a skillet full of sizzling spuds — these are the cookbooks I actually use when feeding our little homestead. They’re packed with real flavor, real ingredients, and recipes that make you...
This one lives up to its name — it's my go-to guide when we fire up the grill on the homestead. Whether we’re using our homegrown wood, flavored chips, or charcoal, this book covers all the basics and beyond. Packed with techniques, marinades, timing...
Grilling Bible by Marilyn Pocius, Publications Intl
Yes, it’s shaped like a potato — and yes, it’s as fun as it sounds! This quirky little spiral-bound book is all about humble spuds, and we’ve used it more times than I can count. From skillet-fried to oven-roasted, mashed to casseroles, this book’s g...
Tasty Taters: Judith Bosley
This egg-shaped little gem is a favorite in our kitchen — sturdy, wipeable pages and all. With so many chickens in our flock, eggs are always on hand, and this book keeps us from ever getting bored. It’s filled with simple, elegant ideas that help us...
Eggs: 50 Easy Recipes by Academia Barilla
This one's an oldie but a goodie — and even though it's from 1999, it pairs beautifully with our newer bread machine. From rustic loaves to sweet breads, it’s packed with easy-to-follow recipes that deliver that warm, homemade smell that fills our mi...
Complete Guide to Bread Machine Baking
We love cooking over wood fires, so this book felt like it was written just for us. Plank Cooking brings out the natural flavors of food using real wood — and it fits right into our outdoor cooking style. Whether you're using cedar, maple, or cherry,...
Plank Cooking: The Essence of Natural Wood
This book fits our lifestyle to a T — cooking outdoors over open fire with our trusty cast iron gear. Whether we’re grilling by the firepit or using wood from our land, these recipes keep meals simple, hearty, and full of flavor. From campfire breakf...
Cast-Iron Camping Cookbook: Easy Skillet Recipes
This little book is like a cozy kitchen companion — simple, practical, and packed with cast iron know-how. Whether it’s skillet suppers or sweet treats, Rachael Narins shares easy recipes that make the most of the cookware we rely on every day. On ou...
Cast-Iron Cooking: Recipes & Tips
🫙 Put It Up: Canning, Preserving & Pantry Recipes
Whether it's the sweetness of summer peaches or the comfort of a hearty stew base, this section is where the harvest meets the jar. These are my go-to reads for water bath and pressure canning, preserving seasonal abundance, and stocking a pantry tha...
This was one of the first canning books I reached for when we started preserving food from our mini-farmstead. It’s full of time-tested recipes passed down through generations — the kind of practical, wholesome meals that never go out of style. From ...
The Amish Canning Cookbook: Plain & Simple
This book was a comforting starting point for me when I felt a bit overwhelmed by the world of water baths, pressure canners, and preserving seasons. It breaks things down into simple steps and helps you build confidence while filling your pantry wit...
Beginner's Guide to Canning: 90 Easy Recipes
This was the very first canning book I ever owned — a Christmas gift from my husband alongside my water bath canning kit. That holiday marked the start of our preserving journey, and this book has been my trusted go-to ever since. From jams to pickle...
Ball® Blue Book Guide to Preserving - Ball Mason Jars
🐝 Beecoming a Beekeeper: Honeybee Reads for Future Hives
This section is dedicated to the sweet beginnings of our beekeeping journey. These books are helping us prepare to welcome honeybees to our homestead — for pollination, sustainability, and nature’s liquid gold.
This was one of the first books I picked up when we started learning about bees. It breaks everything down simply—like having a patient mentor walk you through the buzz without overwhelming you. Perfect for beginners dreaming of adding hives to their...
The Beginner's Guide to Beekeeping (FFA)
This one goes beyond the basics and really helped me understand why bees matter—not just for honey, but for the whole homestead. It's practical and inspiring, packed with info on how to keep bees healthy and how to be a good steward of your hives. As...
Beekeeping: Handbook on Honey, Hives & Bees