GreenReads: Made From Scratch

Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life
by Jenna Woginrich

This book is written by a woman who is a typical 8-5 working woman from the city who's trying to live a more homemade life--not a country bumpkin who's grown up knowing how to do all this by-hand stuff. We can relate, no? Her premise is that we can all change the way we live, no matter where we are. "You can make better decisions every day; you can learn the skills for a more independent way of living. When you do, you'll start to feel more appreciation for those everyday tasks, because at the end of the day you're more in control of your life." She basically says that the point of this book is about self-sufficiency and being more RESPONSIBLE to everyday things we take for granted and have "become numb to" and get back to the real basics of where things come from--to gain a greater appreciation for getting dirty, working hard and slowing down. The author said it was starting her own "homestead" (at her rented place with a little garden) that made her life and work more meaningful.

"Living the way you want has nothing to do with how much land you have or how much you can afford to spend on a new house. It has to do with the way you choose to live every day and how content you are with what you have. "

First step: Go Local, buy less packaged goods, etc.
Education in realizing the process of how everything gets to you (stores, farms cargo, gas, plastic....lots of factors)
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As I kept reading, I picked up interesting experiences she'd had trying to raise chickens and keep bees and such. She talked about buying second hand and learning to do things by hand, such as knit.

I felt as though it was a brief mention of a few experiences, but nothing super informational. She just gives you a look into her trying to become more self-reliant and homesteader-ish. So if you're new o this whole idea, it's a short read to open your eyes a little. Not more than that. However, she does list lots of resources for particular things she does....like books on raising chickens, etc.

I'd give it a 3 of 5.