Gene Logsdon's Practical Skills: A Revival of Forgotten Crafts, Techniques, and Traditions

I found a copy at a garage sale, took it home to my husband.In the process of moving, changing jobs, we had to once give up all our stuff, including this book.Now that we want the self reliant country lifestyle on a 5-40 acre farm, we can't find another book like it in the world. And my husband won't settle for anything less. He's read other self reliant books, but ..."Nothing is like that Gene Logsdonbook you bought me"....he says.A wealth of information. Good information on building fences, gates in unique and interesting ways. Much foregotten information, you will hardly find elsewhere.Rhonda Thomas,hopeful homsteader

Gene Logsdon's book is my all-time favorite useful title, with plenty of pictures and simple descriptions of the skills. When we moved "back to the farm" (actually, we'd been raised in Los Angeles, and were just starting out in a self-sufficient life-style), this book was literally a lifesaver. We're building a privy now, using some Logsdon ideas -- I can't thank this guy enough!

If you want a book to help you through tough times cheaply, this is it! An emergency situation may cause books such as this one to be a life saver. You can find it on Bibliofind & other online used book shops. Covers:1. Maintaining & Repairing House Items 2. Home Comfort: Buying a Wood Stove; Getting the most heat from fireplaces; Running Water. The Hydrolic Ram.3. Making and Making Do4. Food Prep: Milk from the cow to the fridge; Homemade Butter, Butchering a chicken, Hog Butchering, Practical Wild Foods.5. Yard & Garden: Things To Build & MaintainA Practical Privy, Septic Tank principals, cistern, dry stone walls & fences, building Icehouse Coolers, A Wood heated fruit dryer (dehydrator) Garden Skills: Hoemanship, Low Cost Hothouse frame, Homemade bug fighters.6. Around The Barn: Basic Construction & Livestock Tips.7. On The Land: In The Fields: A Farm is a large garden OR a garden is a small farm. Tools for small Time gardens.(NOTE: I just hit the "basics of this book.) I have used several of his ideas: One was how to keep a mile long gravel road from "washing" out using a gravel trench type drain with 2 railroad ties filled with loose rock. I weigh 100 lbs. soaking wet, am a female, & can honestly say this book is high on my list for learning practical skills! CJ