Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

Hardworking and intelligent, draft horses and mules provide clean-energy power for an impressive array of tasks. Bringing strength and endurance to every job, from cultivating farmland and hauling logs to giving long quiet rides through the countryside, these animals love to work. In this illustrated guide, Gail Damerow and Anita Rice provide all the information you need in order to select, train, feed, care for, and work with your own team of draft horses or mules.

With a black and white interior, this book is a "MUST READ" for those who are planning to build a horse barn/farm, those who are just dreaming of someday building one, those on a limited budget, those on a limitless budget (because you will still have to give direction to your planners and architects to make sure you wind up with a functional barn/farm, and the one you wanted), those looking to buy an existing farm, those of you boarding, and anyone who rides or is thinking about riding (because the horse's housing and care will contribute to the horse's overall temperament and ability to perform). The author offers hard facts and information from her real life experience building and operating her own horse farm and her more than twenty years of horse ownership and hunter/jumper show competition. Anecdotal stories and "lessons" (epiphanies) are included to emphasize points to help readers avoid making mistakes in their own barn/farm construction projects.

Strong, intelligent, dependable, friendly, and extremely versatile, donkeys are the perfect farm companion. Whether you use your animal to pull carts, till fields, or protect livestock, you’ll benefit from this practical and inspirational guide to working with and caring for your donkey. Providing expert advice on selecting the right breed for your needs, daily maintenance, training, and first aid, Sue Weaver also includes plenty of fun facts and charming donkey anecdotes. Raise a happy and healthy donkey!

Whether you’re trying to protect your garden from wildlife predators or want to keep your livestock from wandering too far, effective fencing can bring welcome peace of mind. Covering the pros and cons of a variety of fencing types, Gail Damerow shows you how to build a fence that works for your needs. With clearly illustrated instructions for building wire fences, rail fences, electric fences, woven fences, and more, you’ll soon be creating effective enclosures that are guaranteed to save you time, money, and worry.

OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD: The 50th anniversary edition of the classic manual for sustainable living—with 1,000+ pages covering basic country skills and wisdom for living off the land! Whether you’re homesteading, prepping, or living off-grid, keep your family healthy, safe, and self-sufficient—no matter what’s going on in the world. From homesteaders to urban farmers, and everyone in between, there is a desire for a simpler way of life: a healthier and self-sufficient natural lifestyle that allows you to survive and thrive—even in uncertain times. Carla Emery’s classic guide will teach you how to live off the grid, be prepared, and do it yourself. • Can, dry, and preserve food • Plan your garden with a beginner's guide to gardening • Grow your own food • Make 20-minute cheese • Make your own natural skincare products • Bake bread • Cook on a wood stove • Learn beekeeping • Raise chickens, goats, and pigs • Create natural skincare products • Make organic bug spray • Treat your family with homemade natural remedies • Make fruit leather • Forage for wild food • Spin wool into yarn • Mill your own flour • Tap a maple tree • And so much more! The Encyclopedia of Country Living has been guiding readers for more than 50 years, teaching you all the skills necessary for living independently off the land. Whether you live in the city, the country, or anywhere in between, this is the essential guide to living well and living simply.

After the American Civil War, agricultural reformers in the South called for an end to unrestricted grazing of livestock on unfenced land. They advocated the stock law, which required livestock owners to fence in their animals, arguing that the existing system (in which farmers built protective fences around crops) was outdated and inhibited economic growth. The reformers steadily won their battles, and by the end of the century the range was on the way to being closed. In this original study, Kantor uses economic analysis to show that, contrary to traditional historical interpretation, this conflict was centered on anticipated benefits from fencing livestock rather than on class, cultural, or ideological differences. Kantor proves that the stock law brought economic benefits; at the same time, he analyzes why the law's adoption was hindered in many areas where it would have increased wealth. This argument illuminates the dynamics of real-world institutional change, where transactions are often costly and where some inefficient institutions persist while others give way to economic growth.