My self-designed Home Ec course has some books and other resources attached to it. This list will grow and change as my skills do, but here's the first lineup:
1. HEARTH: Home Economics Archive of Research, Tradition, History. From Cornell University's Mann library, HEARTH is a database of journals, textbooks, and articles dealing with Home Economics and related fields. I anticipate this database being useful for learning particular skills, as well as providing a springboard for critical and sometimes humorous looks at the history of homemaking.
2. Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House. I have a weakness for buying hard copies of books, and I'm trying to train myself in thrift by using as many public domain and online resources as possible. This book, however, is a splurge I'm glad I made. It's basically an encyclopedia of everything from book repair to folding fitted sheets, and it's a beautiful edition at that.
3. The Bust DIY Guide To Life: Making Your Way Through Every Day. I'm a longtime reader of Bust Magazine, and my favorite features are the heirloom recipes and crafty project instructions in each issue. Finally, the ladies at Bust compiled a decade's worth of DIY advice and tutorials into one book. I just ordered it (along with my textbooks for Spring semester), I'm excited to get started.
4. Natural Healing Wisdom and Know How. A huge book of home and natural remedies, this book will help me make my first line of defense against bothersome pains and ailments an economical and non-industrial one.
5. Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids. Having my own children is far in the future for me, but child rearing is a part of my everyday life as a nanny. I'm interested in Simplicity Parenting in both a theoretical and practical way. I don't have this book yet, but will get it when my budget allows.
6. How To Sew A Button And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew. Organized into short, step-by-step tutorials, this book is full of handy advice on many things, from the concrete ("how to shine your shoes," "how to dry apples") to the large-scale ("how to raise a good citizen," "how to ask for help").
How about you? Which books and online resources do you recommend for someone seeking to learn more skills related to homemaking, community involvement, and economical living?
Kim John Payne is my favorite man these days. Adore.
ReplyDeleteNourishing Traditions is a fantastic cookbook and primer for living from a place of authenticity with relation to food and how we can sustainably create health for our families in traditional ways, that are lovely and simple, and filled with love for process. Wild Fermentation is similar.
We have been canning a great deal, and through in the internet and some books, we;re doing OK with it. I want to do more, so I am reading "Canning for a New Generation" to get tips on how to create a canning culture in a tiny, busy kitchen.
I'm getting back to my roots with knitting all the time (dishtowels, blankets, hats, whatever) and loving that the skill has become functional on the day to day. I'm also rediscovering the joys of stitching, and have taken up embroidery, and will be learning more traditional needlepoint soon - to make things like belts and chairs, and such.
There are brilliant books by soulemama about being a creative family, and I am working on both Kim John Payne-ing my house and also implementing some rigor for myself to get the kids doing creative things, and engaging the world creatively. Both will be at Morning Meadow next year, and I can't begin to tell you how inspiring I am finding the prospect of having time to myself when they are away to regroup and become prepared to be fully present for them after school.
We are making bread from scratch, and planning breakfasts ahead. Nourishing traditions is just a fantastic book about traditional real food eating and preparing. The Waldorf inspired blogs and sites are fantastic too - they bring a special something to parenting and housekeeping that I definitely wish I could emulate, but I am just a novice.
As I gather my resources I will keep you posted. Are you on Pinterest? I'm virginiahamner. I think I am good to follow for many of these things, mostly because I think we're on the same page (or nearly) on much of this business :)
Thank you so much, Virginia. Those are really amazing suggestions. I'm trying so hard not to get ahead of myself with purchasing all these great books I want. I'm attempting to compile my own "homemaking book" with the help of a three ring binder, sheet protectors, and the use of my boss' printer…
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be in Gainesville for a week in March. Can we please get together? I really want some of your wisdom and advice. I'll buy the wine. <3
Ordering Nourishing Traditions now!
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