John Seymore's guide to self sufficiency (PLEASE READ MOD NOTE IN POST #1)

jinghong

Everyone, get yourself a copy of John Seymore's guide to self sufficiency. It is the bible for smallholders.

He recommends ash too, coppicing after 10 yrs


[MOD] This thread has been split off from another, please post here only on the subject of the book/author.
The subject of coppicing may be discussed elsewhere. [/MOD]

William Powell

jinghong wrote: »

Everyone, get yourself a copy of John Seymore's guide to self sufficiency. It is the bible for smallholders.

He recommends ash too, coppicing after 10 yrs

OMG have we come to this so soon

Interesting thought provoking read may be, bible NO.

jinghong

no then, not a bible, but definitely a must have..

William Powell

jinghong wrote: »

no then, not a bible, but definitely a must have..

And under no circumstances should a copy be left within reach of anyone who hasn't a clue about self sufficiency. He makes it all sound far to simple and he has conned far to many town folk into believing they too could be self sufficient.

johngalway

jinghong wrote: »

Everyone, get yourself a copy of John Seymore's guide to self sufficiency. It is the bible for smallholders.

He recommends ash too, coppicing after 10 yrs

I have that book, thought it sounded familiar. Would agree he makes life sound overly simple and rather idyllic. It's uhm, not

moy83

johngalway wrote: »

I have that book, thought it sounded familiar. Would agree he makes life sound overly simple and rather idyllic. It's uhm, not

Writing that book was the best act of self sufficiency he ever did id say(for himself )

jinghong

johngalway wrote: »

I have that book, thought it sounded familiar. Would agree he makes life sound overly simple and rather idyllic. It's uhm, not

I see your point, but I'm not totally convinced..The introduction by EF Schumacher warns that it would be foolish to try everything in the book. It covers a vast amount of stuff, but little in detail, that would be impossible for one book. Separately, if city folk run into problems, thats, well their problem. You see it happen all the time, rose tinted glasses, especially from within the green movement, some of who insist that a €500 course given to you by someone with no previous experience, is all you need to sucessfully brave the wilds. I dont think people need Seymour's book to start jumping to conclusions.

What I do like about the book is the philosophy it promotes throughout, which I think is in keeping with any environmentally sound small holder, such as: "Make the windows in your house small, you will be outside most of the time anyway, and they leak too much heat". This is the back to basics common sense type of advice we need.

I find it useful as a way to know the possibilities. There are lots more specialist books available if you want to go into detail

blue5000

Yes have to 'fess up to having a copy too, love the 'how to kill and butcher a pig' bit. Bet if you went at that nowadays you'd have the neighbours reporting you.....

mountainy man

I got one too, it's handy to pick bits out of but it's no bible or even close to it , mabey this forum will be, I certainly think the info here will be more realistic and not so romanticised

johngalway

mountainy man wrote: »

I got one too, it's handy to pick bits out of but it's no bible or even close to it , mabey this forum will be, I certainly think the info here will be more realistic and not so romanticised

That's often the case, on a (good) forum the warts and all expediences do tend to be shared freely which is a great thing to be able to learn from other peoples mistakes, or indeed pick up on their successes.

regi

The copy I have talks about how its for dreamers too - its probably served to encourage a lot of people to look into the subject more.

CJhaughey

blue5000 wrote: »

Yes have to 'fess up to having a copy too, love the 'how to kill and butcher a pig' bit. Bet if you went at that nowadays you'd have the neighbours reporting you.....

You are still allowed to homekill pigs. not like beef and lamb...

colrow

CJhaughey wrote: »

You are still allowed to homekill pigs. not like beef and lamb...

Is that really true..I thought you had to take them to a slaughter house.

Another good book is "5 Acres and Independence" US book written about 1930's

I think thats the name, I'll check it up when I'm next home