Are you looking for the best homesteading books for beginners?
After more than a decade of living off the grid, growing food, preserving our harvest, and raising chickens and turkeys, I've learned that a good reference book can save you time, money, and frustration. You won't find one book that answers every question, but the right homesteading guide can help you build practical skills one step at a time.
I still believe the best way to learn homesteading is to do the work yourself. Yet during our long northern winters, I often turn to my dog-eared books for plans, instructions, and ideas for the next season.
This list includes books about gardening, food preservation, livestock, DIY projects, backyard homesteading, and off-grid living. You don't need land or a working farm to start learning.
Table of Contents
Homestead Books on Growing Your Own Food
We've been interested in food production and trying to secure our food supply for years.
First, with a backyard garden, and then with indoor gardening in the colder months. We've saved tomato seeds, struggled with gardening in a cold climate, and experimented with cold frame gardens too.
Yet each winter, I review my dog-eared gardening books and glean more practical, step-by-step advice for growing our own food to feed our family.
I'd suggest you do the same, whether you're a weekend homesteader, a micro homesteader, an apartment homesteader or hoping for an off grid homestead like ours.
Books About Raising Homestead Animals
Every year, we hear about more and more people raising chickens. And back in 2020, we took the plunge and built a DIY chicken coop on our own homestead. Yes, that's right.
Here in Canada's subarctic.
Before ordering our first chicks (10 Western Rustics and 10 Barred Rocks), we read up on the best chicken breeds for backyard coops and keeping chickens in general. Books helped us prepare for our first flock, but I also check current egg safety advice from Health Canada when we handle and store fresh eggs.
We ended up with meat chickens as well as layers - almost 40 birds in all. And we did get help from a friend in butchering our chickens at home. Yet first, we read the step-by-step instructions in one of our favorite homesteading books.
We also turned to our books about homesteading for beginners when we ran out of chicken feed. And then again, when we were trying to figure out which chicken supplies we really needed.
The following year, when we decided to raise turkeys, we reviewed our farm and homesteading beginner books once more.
We'll do the same thing before we add meat rabbits and quail. And if we try our hands at raising farm animals again, I'm sure!
Homestead Books for Beginners
Now, I know that if you're starting out on your homesteading adventure, you might feel a little overwhelmed.
And maybe even a little lost as you start thinking about the homesteading and survival skills you want to learn.
There are so many things to do to start and maintain a homestead. And finding a good place to start can be difficult.
So if you're new to homesteading, I've put together a guide of my favorite homesteading books that are great for beginners.
These books break down everything you need to know in order to start homesteading right where you are.
Some of our old favorites include the reference book Encyclopedia of Country Living, and I wrote a review on the 50th edition in May 2025. A great read, it also includes a wealth of information on self-sufficient living in general.
I also like Storey's Guides to homestead animals.
Our new favorite Joel Salatin title, a comprehensive guide called Polyface Designs is a great book full of DIY projects.
Practical Advice on Backyard Homesteading
These good books are full of practical advice to help today's backyard homesteader. No matter your experience level, I'm confident you'll find something on this list to help you get started as a homesteader.
Some of the titles are personal experience pieces and are more reflective of the modern homesteading movement.
Others focus on practical advice for the new backyard homesteader trying to organize their homestead projects.
They include information on basic and traditional skills, as well as general tips for the homesteading lifestyle.
And by the way, if you're trying to get your children interested too, you might like this post on the 15 best children's books about plants.
Whether you have a small farm, just a quarter acre, or you're just dreaming about farm life, there IS a book on this list that can help.
Grab one good book at a time - this is a great way to build your homestead library.
How to Choose Your First Homesteading Book
The best homesteading book depends on what you want to learn first. You don't need to build a complete homestead library all at once.
Choose a broad reference book if you're still planning your homestead or deciding which skills matter most. Pick a focused guide if you're ready to start a garden, preserve food, raise chickens, or build a specific project.
Look for clear instructions, useful photos or diagrams, and advice that fits your climate and property size. For subjects such as food preservation and animal health, use books as a starting point and check current guidance from reliable government or university sources.
21 Best Homesteading Books for Beginners
I’ve updated this list with the homesteading books I believe offer the most practical help for beginners. Some are broad reference books, while others focus on one skill, such as gardening, preserving food, raising animals, or building homestead projects.
Polyface Designs: A Comprehensive Construction Guide for Scalable Farming Infrastructure
This was one of Dan's Christmas presents and we're going through all the plans and instructions carefully - especially the chicken tractor!
The Women's Heritage Sourcebook: Bringing Homesteading to Everyday Life
A good book to gift the women homesteader wannabes on your lists.
Homesteading: A Backyard Guide to Growing Your Own Food, Canning, Keeping Chickens, Generating Your Own Energy, Crafting, Herbal Medicine, and More (Back to Basics Guides)
One of two well-known homesteading books by Abigail R. Ghering, it's a must-have for beginner homesteaders.
Homesteading From Scratch: Building Your Self-Sufficient Homestead, Start to Finish
Inspired by From Scratch magazine, I particularly liked the fiber arts section. Another good reference book.
The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvest: How to Can, Freeze, Dehydrate, and Ferment Your Garden's Goodness
I know her as Ann from A Farm Girl in the Making, and I was thrilled to find her book on preserves - including 30 recipes.
The Complete Beginner's Guide to Raising Small Animals Everything You Need to Know About Raising Cows, Sheep, Chickens, Ducks, Rabbits, and More (Back to Basics: Farming)
Published under the Back to Basics Farming label, this is a comprehensive beginner guide to getting started with typical homestead animals such as chickens, ducks, cows and rabbits.
The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals: Choose the Best Breeds for Small-Space Farming, Produce Your Own Grass-Fed Meat, Gather Fresh ... Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Cattle, & Bees
One of the five-book-series Backyard Homesteading, this volume covers farm animals such as cows, pigs, chickens, and goats.
The Homestead Canning Cookbook: •Simple, Safe Instructions from a Certified Master Food Preserver •Over 150 Delicious, Homemade Recipes •Practical ... Lifestyle (The Homestead Essentials)
Another gorgeous canning cookbook with practical step-by-step instructions for canning and preserving your garden and orchard harvest.
The Do It Yourself Homestead: Build your self-sufficient lifestyle one level at a time
Tessa Zundel was one of the first homestead bloggers to catch my eye. Her straightforward and direct approach to building a self-sufficient lifestyle has kept my attention over all these years!
The Homesteading Handbook: A Back to Basics Guide to Growing Your Own Food, Canning, Keeping Chickens, Generating Your Own Energy, Crafting, Herbal Medicine, and More (Handbook Series)
Another of Abigail R. Gehring's homesteading books, I find this one is more of a "skim it over coffee" kind of book - and a good gift option for anyone interested in self-sufficiency too....Plus there are a couple of good soup recipes!
The Ultimate Homesteading Handbook: A Back to Basics Guide (for Beginners) to rearing your Livestock, Growing Your Own Food, making your cleaning and Laundry Supply and more, All-Year-Round!
While the Ultimate Homesteading Handbook includes similar basic information to the other homestead books in the list, I especially liked the addition section on oils and drying herbs.
The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself
This is THE classic reference book that has inspired thousands of people to live a more self-reliant lifestyle homesteading and living off the land. Originally published over 50 years ago.
The Old Farmer's Almanac Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook (Old Farmer's Almanac (Paperback))
When you're serious about growing your own food and maximizing production naturally in your backyard vegetable garden, The Old Farmer's Almanac is your best bet. Word of advice: get the flexible binding shiny cover version. Doesn't show the dirt and the pages stay open better.
Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
As far as I'm concerned, this is the Bible of home canning. In fact, I love it so much that last summer I wrote a book review about The Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving.
Because food preservation safety guidance can change, I also check the National Center for Home Food Preservation for current, research-based canning, freezing, drying, and fermenting information.
Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on ¼ Acre
Want to homestead in a really small space? Grab this book to learn self-sufficiency on ¼ acre or less.
Raised Bed Gardening for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Sustain a Thriving Garden
Even if you're living in a downtown townhouse with a postage-stamp-size yard, you can grow your own food by planting vegetables in raised beds.
The Beginner's Guide to Backyard Homesteading: Step-by-Step Instructions for Raising Crops and Animals
I was delighted to see my homesteading blogger collaborator friend Lisa Lombardo's book show up on several "best homesteading books" lists - for good reason. Practical, direct, no-nonsense and actionable tips from the blogger behind The Self-Sufficient HomeAcre.
Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills (Back to Basics Guides)
If I had a dime for every time I've referred to this book. Mine is a dog-eared second-hand copy from Winnipeg's Value Village. You can grab a new copy here!
The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre!
Another classic title from the Back to Basics series - this deserves a spot on your homesteading for beginners book shelf.
40 Projects for Building Your Backyard Homestead: A Hands-on, Step-by-Step Sustainable-Living Guide (Creative Homeowner) Fences, Chicken Coops, Sheds, Gardening, and More for Becoming Self-Sufficient
As we soon learned after moving to our own off grid homestead, there's a potentially never-ending list of homestead building projects to keep all of us busy. Here are plans and cheat sheets for 40 of them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homesteading Books
Choosing your first book doesn't need to feel complicated. Start with the skill you're most likely to use in the next few months.
What is the best homesteading book for beginners?
The Encyclopedia of Country Living is one of the best broad reference books for beginners. It covers many parts of self-sufficient living, so you can return to it as your skills and homestead grow.
Which homesteading book should I buy first?
Choose a general reference book if you're still planning. Choose a focused guide if you already know you want to start gardening, preserving food, keeping chickens, or building homestead projects.
What books should every homesteader have?
A useful homestead library should include one general reference book, one gardening book, one current food preservation guide, and books about any animals you plan to raise. Add project books as you need them.
Can I start homesteading without land?
Yes. You can learn to cook from scratch, preserve food, grow herbs, start seeds, compost, repair household items, and build basic DIY skills while living in a town or city.
Are older homesteading books still useful?
Older books can offer helpful traditional knowledge, plans, and ideas. However, check current government or university guidance before following older advice about canning, food safety, animal health, electrical work, or building codes.
Is there one book that teaches everything about homesteading?
No single book covers every homesteading skill in enough detail. Start with one broad reference book, then add focused books as you begin new projects.
