Back to Basics: Last Day & Other Offerings

The Back to Basics Living Bundle sale ends at midnight tonight (Central Time), so I thought I'd wind up my week of book reviews by mentioning a couple of other things that I think some of you might be interested in: gluten-free baking and how to make money on your homestead.

Gluten Free

Never Buy Bread Again: 20+ Homemade Bread Recipes by Laurie Neverman isn't a gluten-free cookbook, but does include gluten-free recipes like Coconut Flour Bread, Brazilian Cheese Bread, Gluten Free Sandwich Bread, and Gram Irene's Cornbread. Some of the recipes give the option of wheat flour or gluten free blend. The chapter entitled "To Gluten or Not To Gluten?" really lays out the various problems people have with gluten, and also the problems with so many of the commercial gluten-free products. Extra recipes like Beer Cheese Fondue and Chicken and Dumplings are a nice touch.

In Artisan Bread: The Art of Sourdough author Dana Thompson states that she makes sourdough breads because members of her family are gluten intolerant. Gluten begins to break down in the souring process, so depending on one's type of intolerance, sourdough bread may be an option. She discusses all aspects of sourdough in great detail, and I was also interested in the instructions for dehydrating sourdough starter. That could be useful!

And speaking of bread, you're going to need something yummy to top your next loaf of fresh hot homemade bread and what better than a flavored butter! DIY Homemade Butters by Kristina Nelson has something for everybody: Cinnamon Honey, Herbed, Cranberry, Whiskey Blue Cheese, and Garlic butters plus a recipe for a dry Italian seasoning mix. This little eBook is a nice addition to the bundle.

Earning an Income on Your Homestead

The biggest challenge to homesteading is the reality of money. Most of us have at least a mortgage and so while we work toward self-sufficiency, must still have a job to pay that plus meet other expenses. If you're fortunate to have your place paid for and have no debt, you are fortunate indeed! Even so, money is still a necessity. The Back to Basics Living Bundle offers a couple of resources for those trying to figure out how to make a living from home.

Rural Hobby Turned Business: Take the First Steps to Starting Your Own Business by Leah M. Lynch will take you through the steps to do just that. Starting with assessing your dream and turning it into a vision, the author gives you the practical steps and advice to make it so. Teaches you how to analyze profitability, make hard decisions, and gain visibility to grow your business. 

How To Make A Profit Homesteading by Kristin Duke offers a practical, personalized approach to analyzing and adapting your homestead resources for making a profit from them. It includes two spreadsheets: Profit Projection and Revenue Expenses Tracking. You also get access to online videos that teach you how to use them. You will learn how to trace your most profitable homestead activities and how to predict your ability to earn from them.



For a list of all the eBooks in the bundle, click here. You have several options to purchase the collection:

• Online access: $39.97
• USB flash drive: $64.97 (includes domestic shipping)
• USB flash drive PLUS online access: $69.97 (includes domestic shipping)

If you decide you don't like it, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Click here for more information or to buy.

And remember! If you buy the bundle through my blog, you can choose one volume from my Critter Tales Series eBooks, for free. My Honeybee Tales is included in the bundle, but if you buy the bundle through this link, email me with which other Critter Tales volume you'd like, and I'll send you a link for your free copy. (The first volume in the Critter Tales Series is always free, no purchase ever necessary. You can get a free copy of that here.)

Thank you to everyone who purchased the Back to Basics Living Bundle through my blog; I very much appreciate it. All earnings will go toward finishing the barn! 

Back to Basics: Last Day & Other Offerings © Jan 2018  

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Book Review: Homebrewing Course

The Back to Basics Living Bundle is mostly eBooks, it's true, but it also contains several online courses. Bill Osuch's Homebrewing eBook Package is one of those courses. Bill and his wife Jennifer founded the Self Reliant School which offers numerous self-reliance courses. This was the one they chose to include in the B2B Living Bundle.

The PDF file included in the bundle download is just two pages. The first is the cover as you see on the left, and the second page is a link to the course itself. You sign up with your first name and the same email addy through which you purchased the bundle, and you're there!

Included in the course is Bill's 85 page downloadable, printable eBook, access to 5 homebrewing master class videos, plus a bonus handout with root beer recipes! The videos correspond to the first seven lessons in the eBook.

The course begins with a thorough discussion of the equipment you'll need. Lesson 2 discusses yeast. I've been a bread baker for a very long time, but I learned a whole lot about yeast, its fermentation phases (which explains why you can't make an alcoholic bread), the various types (baking, champagne, ale, mead, wine, and wild yeasts), and tips on making it work well. You learn how to make a ginger bug with wild yeast, proper sanitization technique, three techniques for dechlorinating water, and how to use a hydrometer. 

Then it's off to the kitchen. Lesson 3 teaches you how to make fruit soda, with recipes (watermelon mint soda anyone?) and discusses various additives and sweeteners.

Lesson 4 covers sodas made with roots, herbs, and spices. One of those is wild black cherry bark, which we have growing around! Apparently it's a traditional root beer ingredient and helpful for coughs and colds. He also covers how to bottle soda and troubleshooting problems.

Lesson 5 teaches you how to make hard cider, and lesson 6 shows you how to make your own cider press. Those things are very expensive to buy, so this is great additional information. Lesson 7 covers blending apples, tepache, problems, and how to make apple cider vinegar. The following lessons cover mead, wine, beer, and hard liquors (not to make your own, but how to use them to make your own infusions, such as vanilla bean extract, and liqueurs). 

For my blog post listing all the eBooks in the Back to Basics Living bundle, click here.

You have several options to purchase the collection:

• Online access: $39.97
• USB flash drive: $64.97 (includes domestic shipping)
• USB flash drive PLUS online access: $69.97 (includes domestic shipping)

If you decide you don't like it, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Click here for more information or to buy.

And remember! If you buy the bundle through my blog, you may have your choice of one volume from my Critter Tales Series eBooks - free. My Honeybee Tales is included in the bundle, but if you buy the bundle through this link, email me with whichever Critter Tales volume you'd like, and I'll send you a link for your free copy. (The first volume in the Critter Tales Series is always free, no purchase ever necessary. You can get a free copy of that here.)

Tomorrow is the last day that the bundle is available. So one more Back to Basics Living Bundle post, and then I'll be on to other news. 

B2B Book Review: Homebrewing Course © Jan 2018 

 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Book Review: High Performance Gardening

Dan's and my first garden on the homestead was huge. It seemed like the right thing to do to become food self-sufficient, but eventually we figured out that it was just too much to manage. If the garden was all we had to do, then sure, it would have been great. But we have other things going on: livestock, home repair, building projects, lumber making, field crops, haying, food preservation, and other self- sufficiency projects like expanding our rainwater collection system, etc. Plus my writing and Dan's job. There just aren't enough hours in a day.

We cut back on the size of the garden, and I cut back on the variety of vegetables we were growing. Also I stopped experimenting with new seeds, deciding to focus on what I knew grew well in our little part of the world. I also knew we'd need to learn ways to extend our growing season and garden more efficiently. That's why I was glad to find High Performance Gardening by Lynn Gillespie in this year's Back to Basics Living Bundle.

What is a high performance garden? The author defines it as a garden that grows in harmony with nature, is disease and insect resistant, has few weeds, requires low time and energy inputs from the gardener (and with only a few tools), utilizes all available gardening space, produces huge yields, and is fun! Isn't that everybody's dream garden?

But isn't that what all books on gardening promise? What makes this one any different? Rather than focusing on specific vegetables, the author deals with concepts. Twelve characteristics of high performance gardens are discussed in detail, supported by science and experience.

One concept that was brand new to me was utilizing the Brix Index to measure the nutrient density of what I grow. What's that, you ask? I'll let the author explain...

"There is a meter called a refractometer that can measure the amounts of dissolved solids in fruits or vegetables to tell you which fruits or vegetables are more nutrient dense than others. The higher the reading on the refractometer the better quality the fruit or vegetable. . . a poor tomato would have a Brix index of 4, an average tomato would have a Brix index of 6, a good tomato would have a Brix index of 8 and an excellent tomato that would make you jump for joy would have a Brix index of 12."

Lynn Gillespie, High Performance Gardening

Ch. 4 "High Performance Characteristic #1:

In Harmony With Nature."

A chart of how various grades of vegetables register on the Brix scale is included.

Who doesn't want to grow food like that! The rest of the book tells you how to achieve excellent nutrient density, how to increase bug and disease resistance, and how to decrease weeds and back-breaking work. I'm thrilled because I feel that at last I have a tool with which to measure my gardening efforts and results.

For a list of all the eBooks in the bundle, click here.

You have several options to purchase the collection:

• Online access: $39.97
• USB flash drive: $64.97 (includes domestic shipping)
• USB flash drive PLUS online access: $69.97 (includes domestic shipping)

Click here for more information or to buy.

And remember! If you buy the bundle through my blog, you get your choice of one volume from my Critter Tales Series eBooks, for free. My Honeybee Tales is included in the bundle, but if you buy the bundle through this link, email me with your choice of another Critter Tales volume, and I'll send you a link for your free copy. (The first volume in the Critter Tales Series is always free, no purchase ever necessary. You can get a free copy of that here.)

B2B Book Review: High Performance Gardening  

© Jan 2018 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Book Review: Keys to Successful Homesteading

There are several homestead offerings in this year's Back to Basics Living Bundle, but Keys to Successful Homesteading by Scott M Terry is my hands-down favorite. Some of you may be familiar with Scott from his Christian Farm and Homestead Radio podcasts. I've been on his show a couple of times and can tell you from experience that Scott is extremely knowledgeable and practical about all aspects of farming, homesteading, and agrarianism.

Most books on homesteading are how-to books. Don't get me wrong, these kinds of books are important and extremely useful. They contain skills that people are first concerned about, skills important for self-reliance. But did you know that there are a number of people who get into it, appear to be successful, and then quit? Homestead burnout really does happen. But it doesn't have to. Scott's book will help you avoid it. 

His book is probably one of the most practical books on homesteading out there, because he tells you what other homesteading books omit - the bottom line make-it-or-break-it stuff that is only learned from years of observation and experience. What he teaches you is how to have the proper mindset, realistic expectations, and make good choices. These skills don't come naturally in the modern world, which is why this book is an important addition to the library of everyone interested in homesteading: those still in the research stages, those just starting out, and those who've been at it awhile. Highly recommended.

For a list of all the eBooks in the bundle, click here. If you are interested in any particular one and would like me to review it, just ask!

You have several options to purchase the collection:

• Online access: $39.97
• USB flash drive: $64.97 (includes domestic shipping)
• USB flash drive PLUS online access: $69.97 (includes domestic shipping)

Click here for more information or to buy.

And remember! If you buy the bundle through my blog, you get an additional bonus! Choose any one volume from my Critter Tales Series eBooks and receive it for free. Buy the bundle through this link, email me with which Critter Tales volume you'd like, and I'll send you a link for your free copy. (The first volume in the Critter Tales Series is always free, no purchase ever necessary. You can get a free copy of that here.)

B2B Book Review: Keys to Successful Homesteading 

© Jan 2018  by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Book Review: Heritage Cooking

I know most of you have probably seen this before

Heritage Cooking by Lori Elliot is the cookbook to go with it! Her book is a collection of carefully updated heritage recipes from cookbooks just like our grandparents and great-grandparents used to use.

Heritage recipes really appeal to me. Growing our own food means growing our own ingredients, so it is the traditional skills for preparing, preserving, and cooking them that I want to master. Modern substitutions aren't bad, but knowing how to take the simple foods we grow on the homestead and turn them into wholesome, 100% homegrown meals is a goal. So after taking a look at Going Herbal, this was the second book from the Back to Basics Living Bundle that I looked at.

The introductory chapters introduce you to the featured cookbooks, all originally published in the 1800s. Then she discusses how to source ingredients, make substitutions, and includes a measurement conversion chart (very useful) for converting old-fashioned measurements like saltspoons, gills, wine glasses, and teacupfuls.

Then the recipes. These are divided into sections including Breakfast Dishes (like Cinnamon-Sage Sausage Patties and Spiced Rose Water Pancakes), Breadstuffs (such as Sourdough Graham Bread and Indian Bannock), Soups and Stews (how about Spring Soup or Hodge Podge Stew), Side Dishes (the Bacon Fried Potatoes look yummy), Main Dishes (Ham Apple Pie), Desserts (Baked Carrot Pudding or maybe Chocolate Jumbles), and Cakes and Confections (like Cathie's Gingerbread or Cider Cake and Glaze.)

All recipes include the original version and I think the author made excellent choices in her substitutions for modern ingredients. One of the things I find interesting is that a number of the recipes call for part whole wheat flour and part sprouted wheat flour. There is also a recipe for "Homemade Yeast," i.e. sourdough, as well as some recipes for it.

I would love to have a paperback version of this cookbook, but unfortunately there isn't one!

For a list of all the eBooks in the Back to Basics Living bundle, click here. If you are interested in any particular one and would like me to review it, just ask!

You have several options to purchase the collection:

• Online access: $39.97
• USB flash drive: $64.97 (includes domestic shipping)
• USB flash drive PLUS online access: $69.97 (includes domestic shipping)

Click here for more information or to buy.

And remember! If you buy the bundle through my blog, you may have your choice of one volume from my Critter Tales Series eBooks - free. My Honeybee Tales is included in the bundle, but if you buy the bundle through this link, email me with whichever Critter Tales volume you'd like, and I'll send you a link for your free copy. (The first volume in the Critter Tales Series is always free, no purchase ever necessary. You can get a free copy of that here.)

B2B Book Review: Heritage Cooking © Jan. 2018  

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Book Review: Going Herbal

For a book lover like me, opening my Back To Basics Living Bundle was like opening a Christmas gift filled with lots smaller presents inside. Where do I begin? What do I look at first? Actually, it wasn't that hard. The first one I wanted to look at was Marie Beausoleil's Going Herbal: 30 herbs you can start using today for food, cleaning, personal care & health.

Marie's A Cabin Full of Food was in last year's B2B bundle, so those of you who bought that bundle likely understand why I chose her book first. She writes the kind of books that you really want hard copies of, books you'll use as a reference as well as a resource.You can read my review of that book here, and I can tell you that Going Herbal didn't disappoint.

What makes this book different from other books about herbs is her chapter entitled "The Common Active Components of Herbs." Most books give you a list of culinary and medicinal uses for herbs, but in this chapter Marie explains why herbs work. She gives you a brief history of herbs in western culture, also on the safety and quality of herbs including a discussion of misleading information online. The next several chapters discuss growing your own herbs, harvesting and storing, and how to set up your own kitchen pharmacy. If you are unable to grow your own at present, there is an excellent discussion on how to purchase good quality herbs: how to evaluate the company's website and products. The next chapter discusses essential oils and how to choose quality oils.

The bulk of the book is devoted to the herbs, "30 Herbs & How to Use Them." Each herb includes a section on cultivation, tips on growing, medicinal uses, and several recipes. Recipes like Aloe Vera Shampoo, Burdock Hair Conditioner, Dandelion Coffee, Elderberry-Echinacea Syrup, Ginger Oil, Hawthorn Jelly, Basil Insect Repellent, Cayenne Tincture for Relief of Joint Pain, Garlic Antibacterial Ear Drops, Lavender Body Lotion, Licorice Candy, Marshmallow Salad, Nettle Beer, Potato Plantain Soup, Clover Blossom Tea, Rosemary Foot Scrub, Sage Incense, Spearmint Essential Oil, Thyme Facial Toner, Turmeric Juice, and Valerian Tea.

Needless to say, I'm really happy with this book and if it comes out in paperback, I will likely purchase a copy.

For a list of all the eBooks in the bundle, click here. If you are interested in any particular one and would like me to review it, just ask!

You have several options to purchase the collection:

• Online access: $39.97
• USB flash drive: $64.97 (includes domestic shipping)
• USB flash drive PLUS online access: $69.97 (includes domestic shipping)

Click here for more information or to buy.

And remember! If you buy the bundle through my blog, you get your choice of one volume from my Critter Tales Series eBooks, for free. My Honeybee Tales is included in the bundle, but if you buy the bundle through this link, email me with which other Critter Tales volume you'd like, and I'll send you a link for your free copy. (The first volume in the Critter Tales Series is always free, no purchase ever necessary. You can get a free copy of that here.)

B2B Book Review: Going Herbal © January 2018  

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

The 2018 Back To Basics Living Bundle

The Back To Basics Living Bundle is a project I love and this is my third year to participate. I love it because it's a collection of valuable information written by people just like me; people seeking a simpler, more natural way of living. I feel like I fit right in, because this is why I write too, to encourage others who are seeking a simpler, more natural way of living. Not everybody is a writer, but most of us are readers. As writers bundling our eBooks we can offer folks a whole lot of resources for a whole lot less than buying them individually.

So what resources are being offered in the 2018 Back To Basics Living Bundle?

Resources for simplifying your life

• 31 Days to Simpler Living by Merissa Alink
• Back to the Basics: Small Space Living by Kayla Kamp
• Electronic Budget Worksheets by Charisse Merrill 
• Handmade Gift Planner And Organizer by Jennifer Osuch

Resources for Gardening

• Edible Landscaping in The Desert Southwest by Catherine Crowley
• Get Growing: Five Easy-to-Raise Vegetables by Gabe Wright
• High Performance Gardening by Lynn Gillespie
• The Art of Gardening: Building Your Soil by Susan Vinskofski

Resources for Natural Cooking and Baking

• Artisan Bread – The Art Of Sourdough by Dana Thompson
• Heritage Cooking by Lori Elliott
• Never Buy Bread Again by Laurie Neverman
• How to Make Gouda Cheese at Home by Corina Sahlin
• DIY Homemade Butters with Herbs, Nuts and Fruit by Kristina Nelson

Resources for Home Food Preservation

• Canning for Beginners by Heather Harris
• Freezer Meals To Feed The Hungry by Jodi & Julie
• Homemade Dried Fruits & Vegetables by Carol Murphy 
• Batch From Scratch by Lisa Barthuly

Resources for Herbal Living

• 100 Essential Oil Diffuser Blends by Meghan Nowlin
• Edible and Medicinal Flowers by Kami McBride
• Going Herbal by Marie Beausoleil
• Herbal Teas for Winter Health by Carol Little
• Delicious Dandelions: A Recipe Collection by Annie Coombe

Resources for Planning your Homestead

• Keys To Successful Homesteading by Scott Terry
• Modern Homesteading by Sheri Ann Richerson
• Provident Homesteading by Julie Gropp
• Pioneering Today – Faith and Home the Old Fashioned Way by Melissa K. Norris

Resources for Preparedness

• Food Storage Made Easy by Jodi & Julie
• Pantry And Food Preservation Planner by Kim Mills
• Your Shelf Stable Pantry by Misty Marsh
• The Modern American Frugal Housewife Book #4: Emergency Prepping by Jill Bong
• Your Own 72 Hour Kit Plan by Misty Marsh
• Living Off Grid by Sheri Ann Richerson

Resources for Keeping Livestock 

• Pasture Raising Livestock- A Beginners Guide by Jenna Dooley
• Raising Chickens Naturally by Mindy Wood
• Honeybee Tales by Leigh Tate

Resources to Learn New Skills

• Make Maple Sugar in 3 Simple Steps! by Michelle Visser
• Homebrewing eBook Package by Bill Osuch
• Hot Process Soap Making by Heidi Villegas
• Natural Soap Making How-To And Recipe Book by Kelly Cable
• Make Your Own Vinegar for Pennies by Kathi Rodgers
• The Guide To Primitive Survival Traps by Blake Alma
• Rags to Rugs by Kim Brush
• Green Your Clean by Gabe Wright

Resources for Home Income

• Rural Hobby Turned Business by Leah Lynch
• How To Make A Profit Homesteading by Kristin Duke

Resources for Inspiration and Preventing Burnout

• Homestead Management by Quinn Veon
• How to Handle a Crisis by Dennis Evers
• Joyous Home Journal by Theresa Powers
• A Heart Of Gratitude – 30 Day Thankfulness Devotional by Sara Jordan
• Everyday Gratitude Journal by Sara Jordan
• Mom’s Quiet Time Journal by Sara Jordan
• Dreams From God, A Glimpse of the Future by Susan McDermott

Resources for Kids and Grandkids 

• Kid’s First Homestead Recipes by Deborah Olsen
• How to Afford Homeschooling by Selena Robinson
• Parenting Your Differently Wired Child by Sallie Borrink
• Preschool: At What Cost? by Susan Stewart
• Your Homeschool Blueprint by Ana Willis
• Zero to Hero Nutrition: How to Actually Get Kids to Eat Healthy Food by Christina Kamp
• 9 Easy Steps to Homeschooling by Michelle Curren

Plus

• Over $100 in bonus offers.
• My private bonus offer. Buy the bundle through my blog and get your choice of one volume from my Critter Tales Series eBooks, for free. My Honeybee Tales is included in the bundle, but if you buy the bundle through this link, email me with which other Critter Tales volume you'd like, and I'll send you a link for your free copy. (The first volume in the Critter Tales Series is always free, no purchase ever necessary. You can get a free copy of that here.)

Price?

• Online access: $39.97
• USB flash drive: $64.97 (includes domestic shipping)
• USB flash drive PLUS online access: $69.97 (includes domestic shipping)

The selling point is that bought separately, all of these resources would cost $529.85. Of course, no one would buy every single one individually, because not all of it is relevant to every one of us. What you have to figure out, is whether there's enough good stuff in there to make the 92% discount worth it for you.

So, while the sale is in progress (Jan. 17 - 23) I'll run a series of book reviews on the bundle contents. That way I don't have to try to talk you into anything and you can see for yourself whether the bundle is a good investment for you. If you're curious about any particular eBook on the list, just ask. I'll review it or at least try to answer your questions.

So here's the link to purchase the bundle ⇨ Click Here.

Even if you aren't interested in buying the bundle but enjoy book reviews, come on back! There are some excellent books on offer and if you are interested in homesteading, simple living, and preparedness, you will enjoy learning about these authors and resources.

The 2018 Back To Basics Living Bundle © Jan 2018

 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Coming Soon

The 2018 edition of the Back to Basics Living Bundle.

Sale starts tomorrow. If you aren't interested in buying a collection of eBooks but enjoy book reviews, then come back throughout the week. I plan to run a series of daily book reviews on bundle contents covering natural cooking, gardening, preparedness, various homesteading and simple living skills, etc.

Kids!

If everything is going according to the dates circled on my calendar, kidding starts next month!

Jessie will be first with a tentative due date of February 5.

Violet would be about the same time - maybe.
She had a second visit with a buck at a later date.

Daisy is a first freshener who is due in mid-February.
She's already starting to bag up which is a positive sign.

Stay tuned!

Coming Soon © January 2018 by Leigh

at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

AUTHORS STILL NEEDED

The upcoming Back To Basics Living Bundle is still looking for authors who would like to participate! This is an eBook bundle loaded with resources on topics such as:

• simple living
• basic living skills
• homesteading
• DIY
• gardening
• food preservation
• cooking from scratch
• herbs
• livestock
• natural remedies
• natural living
• frugal living
• homeschooling
• etc.!

If you've written an eBook on any of these topics and would like to participate, click here! Please use my name as your referral.

Haven't written a book? Maybe you have a how-to blog post or series of posts on any of topics. Copy and paste them into your word processor and export to pdf. You have an eBook! Or maybe you have a video, an online class, or a downloadable you can offer. If so, you can participate too! Click here to sign up and please use my name as your referral.

What's in it for you?

• New authors (never been in a B2B bundle before) receive a 50% commission for each bundle they sell plus + 20% of the author bonus pool.
• Returning authors to B2B receive  a 45% commission for each bundle they sell plus + 20% of the author bonus pool
• Affiliates receive a 40% commission for each bundle they sell (link to sign up as an affiliate here.)

Honestly, I'm not at all a salesy person, but this product is such that you don't have to give a hard sell or try to talk folks into buying it. The bundling allows for the cost of each book to be very economical and the information is the kind of thing that folks can use. It's one of the few things I participate in because I think it's a service to others. 

So, if you're interested, click here. Or if you know someone you think might be interested, have them come take a look. As always, I'm happy to answer questions. 

AUTHORS STILL NEEDED © Dec. 2017 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Would You Be Interested ... ?

... in participating in a huge basics living resource project? The upcoming 2018 Back To Basics Living Bundle is looking for eBook authors and affiliates.

I don't host advertising on my blog and I don't participate in many affiliate programs, but I do participate in this because I love being part of it. It's a chance to get my homesteading how-to books out there, meet other authors, make a little money, plus add to my own homesteading resources.

The bundle is organized by the Self Reliant School, and if you're uncertain about how a program like this works or how to promote it, I can tell you that these folks are great. They are encouraging, supportive, and offer free training and materials to help you get started, have fun, and be successful.

Authors! There isn't much time to get eBooks submitted, but if you've got one ready or in the works and want to participate, click here. Please use my name as your referral!

Affiliates! If you'd simply like to be an affiliate and make a little extra money, you should sign up now too! Click here to sign up!

Back To Basics Living Bundle 2018 will be available Jan. 17 - 23, 2018 and that's it! Those dates are approaching quickly so if you'd like to join us, now's the time!

Would You Be Interested ... ? © Nov 2017 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

September is National Prepared Month

Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month? I don't usually pay much attention to designated months and days, because mostly they're all too commercialized. However, anything with "Preparedness" in it catch my eye, and it did when I received a wrap-up email from the organizers of the Back To Basics Living Summit.

The Summit was wildly successful, with something like 250,000 page views and 20,000 video viewers during its free week. Reviews were excellent. (These videos are still available with the lifetime access "Superpackage," click here for that. But I warn you, now that the two introductory discounts are past, it's pricey! Unless you look at it as per video, which only comes to about $3.75 each.)

Anyway, Summit participants were asking about the Prepper Bundle. Some of you may remember my blogging about that eBook bundle back in June.

The questions from Summit goers was, "is it still available?"  Like all the Back To Basics Living bundles, it was a limited-time download offer. But I suppose because of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, plus continued activity in the Atlantic and Pacific, people have preparedness on their minds and were asking about it.

Because of that interest, the Prepper Bundle is going to be offered once more in a three and a half-day Flash Sale beginning Friday, September 22 at noon (Central Time) and ending Monday the 25th at midnight.

Some of the resources included in the PrepperBundle

Topics include:

• Prepper checklists
• Prepper kits
• Preparedness specifically for city and suburban folks
• Preparedness for children
• Food preparedness
• Basics of food storage
• Basics of food preservation
• Food Foraging: plants and trapping
• Alternative cooking and baking
• Seed saving course
• How to make survival tools from household items
• Preparing for basic medical care
• How to build a cob rocket heater (video)
• Off-grid power and living
• Home security
• Water security
• Plus an interesting comparison between the U.S. and a modern country whose economic system made a devastating crash in recent years. Are we following in their footsteps?

My own offering is the eBook version of my How to Bake Without Baking Powder.

Prices?

• Prepper Bundle Online Access Only: $29.97 
• Prepper Bundle Online Access plus USB Drive: $69.97

I have to tell you that there are some really excellent books in this collection with equally excellent information. If you missed out the first time, you might want to reconsider adding these resources to your homesteading and preparedness library. Seriously, because things certainly don't seem to be getting better in the world, do they?

So those are the basics. While the sale is in progress, I'll recap some of my favorite reads in the bundle. Or, you can click here for more information or to purchase.

September is National Prepared Month © Sept 2017 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Summit Starts Sunday!

Just a quick reminder that the free Back To Basics Living Summit starts tomorrow, September 10th!

You should be able to click the image for an enlarged, easier to read view.

These are free video courses, but you must sign up for the times and access code. Another "but," they will be free only for the scheduled date and time. You can register by clicking here.

The other option is to buy lifetime access to the entire summit. The best discount will be available until Sept. 12. Click here for more information on that. It includes almost $185 in bonuses as well. If these are like the bonuses offered with the eBook bundles, they will be pretty good.

Yes, you can find a lot of similar videos on YouTube, but let's face it, so many of those videos are rambling (sorry, I'm interested in your dog's fleas!), poorly edited (great footage of the ground!), and talk more about doing something than how to do it. The presenters for the B2B Summit are experts and teachers. It will be worth finding the time to watch those topics that are catching your eye!

B2B Summit Starts Sunday! © Sept. 2017 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Something You Might Be Interested In

What might that be? It's the Back To Basics Living Summit.

This is an online webinar which will run September 10-16, 2017. It's being organized by the same folks who do the Back To Basics Living and Prepper eBook bundles. This new venue looks to be an excellent resource.

The B2B Summit will be for seven days (Sept. 10 - 16) with different videos every day. Topics will include:

• Saving Money and Getting Out of Debt
• Achieving Real Health Naturally
• Growing Your Own Food
• Being Prepared for Crisis
• Food Storage
• Seed Saving
• Canning
• Off-Grid Lifestyle
• Cooking
• Cheese Making
• Backyard Livestock
• Urban Gardening
• Homebrewing
• Herbs

You need to register, however, to reserve a spot and receive sign in details. Click here for more information and to sign up.

If you can't make it during the scheduled video times, there is also options to purchase lifetime access to the webinar.

• Door Buster Discount: Aug. 27 - Sept 12  - $59.97 for lifetime online access, $99.97 for that plus the videos on flash drive.
• Early Bird Sale: Sept. 13 - 16 - $99.97 for lifetime access, $139.97 for online access plus flash drive.
• Regular Price: after Sept. 16 - $119.97 for lifetime access, $159.97 for lifetime access plus flash drive.

You'll find those options by following the above link as well. But it's free if you can make the scheduled video times, which is my kind of webinar!

Something You Might Be Interested In © Aug 2017 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Book Reviews 6: Videos, Courses, Memberships, & Bonus Offers

Are ya'll getting tired of book reviews? I've had a lot of fun writing them, but only scratched the surface. I didn't even touch on the gardening, natural parenting, simple living, livestock, or cooking from scratch books included in the bundle. I'm out of time, however, because the Back To Basics Living Bundle sale ends tonight at midnight. After that, it all goes away, and tomorrow will be back to homesteading blog posts as usual. 😌

Since this is the last day, I thought I'd do something a little different and discuss some of the other resources that come with the bundle. So besides all those eBooks, you get:

VIDEO. How To Make Lye Soap with Constance Beck. The thing I like about videos is that I can see what's going on while it's being explained. This one is a very good introduction to making basic soap, and exclusive to the bundle.

E-COURSEs. I haven't taken these courses yet, but I certainly plan to. With the B2B Bundle you get login and access codes for the following:

• How To Make Hot Process Soap by Lindy Sellers (regular price $23.99)
• Discovering Sourdough by Teresa Greenway (includes her book - total value for the two - $30)
• Grow More Food by Jason Matyas ($120, yup, regularly one hundred twenty USD)

MEMBERSHIPS. Either one of these two offers will cover the cost of the bundle:

• A one year membership to MollyGreen.com online magazine (regular price $29 per year). Features articles and product reviews in the areas of  HOMEsteading, HOMEkeeping, HOMEschooling, and HOMEindustry.
• A three-month membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com ($12.95 per month) is a gold mine of information for homeschoolers. Check out that link for everything they have to offer. This special expires April 22, so be sure to take advantage of it quickly. 

BONUSES: There are 12 bonus offers to take advantage of. These are discount codes to products and services of interest to preppers and homesteaders. So if you're already in the market for some of these things, these offers are especially nice. In fact, if you're in the market for some of these things, the discount will more than cover the cost of the bundle. For example:

• If you're interested in solar cooking, you will want to look at the offer from Sun Ovens for $133 off their bundle deal. I have one of these ovens (which you can read about here), and I absolutely love it. It's one of those "must haves" for anyone interested in preparedness, off-grid, or green cooking. 
• You also may have heard of Titan Ready USA. Their emergency home preparedness products include the HERC XXL non-electric Oven (cooks with tea candles - seriously! $80 off with B2B Bundle code), the Helius Rocket Stove ($50 off), and their Hydrant Water Storage System ($60 off). I have no experience with their products, but those are some good offers.

Two bonuses I plan to take advantage of:

• Seeds for Generations is offering a 20%-off coupon code, and who doesn't like seeds, especially heirlooms! These are the same folks who are offering the Grow More Food eCourse (mentioned above). Do check out their website because they have a lot of gardening resources on offer.
• I'm also going to mention LPC Survival (The Berkey Guy) because I buy my Tattler reusable canning lids from him (if you're not familiar with these, check out my blog post here). He already has good prices for them (with free shipping) and the 10% off code means I'll probably be buying more. (We have a Berkey water filter as well, blog post about that and water preparedness here.)

Even if you weren't planning to purchase the bundle, do take a look at all the bonus offers, here. If you're already in the market for one of the products mentioned, then the over $800 worth of bundled resources would be your bonus, either free or even more deeply discounted than they already are.

PLUS, I'm offering a bonus of my own. If you buy the Back To Basics Living Bundle through my blog, I'll gift you with your choice of one eVolume from my The Little Series of Homestead How-Tos. After you place your order simply email me at 5acresandadream @ mail. com, and let me know which one you'd like. I'll send you a link to download a free copy.

I'm a bargain hunter as well as a collector of traditional-skills information, so I think you can see why I am willing to participate in and promote this project. I'm a researcher as well, and can tell you that while there's a lot of free information on the internet, not all of it is worth the time it takes to find it and weed through it. To have a library of good, usable information at the ready is a treasure.

Sale ends tonight at midnight. To get it before it's too late, click here.

B2B Book Reviews 6: Videos, Courses, Memberships, & Bonus Offers

 © Jan 2017 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Book Reviews 5: DIY and Frugal Living

Yesterday I reviewed two of the low-tech and off-grid living resources in the Back to Basics Living Bundle. Today I'll show you some of the "do it yourself" and frugal living offerings in the bundle. My readers know that Dan and I do for ourselves whenever we can, but even so, this year's Back To Basics Living Bundle has some new how-tos for even us.

Like this one by Caleb Harris, The Broke Bladesmith: Acquiring the tools to begin making knives on a budget. I love that this book busts the myths of needing expensive professional equipment to make superior quality knives. You'll learn about vises and clamps, hammers and tongs, forges, grinders, the quality of various woods for knife handles, wood shaping tools, how to find an anvil for cheap or free, and where to get steel for knife making. He also discusses shop safety and where to find more information including links to his website and videos.

I also like The Complete Guide to Using, Laundering, and Sewing Reusable Cloth Products, by Danielle Pientka. About a year ago I was discussing replacing plastic storage bags in my "Eliminating Plastic: Part 1 - In the Fridge" post. In it I linked to a post on making reusable food wraps. Well, this book is right up the same alley: cloth diapers for children, adults, and pets (well designed ones, including cloth swimming diapers, not just the cloth rectangles I used to use), cloth wipes, nursing pads, unpaper towels, Mama cloths (menstrual pads), handkerchiefs, napkins, wet bags, refrigerator liners, reusable snack bags, and fabric gift bags. The author presents some very convincing arguments for switching from disposable to cloth products, how to make them, and how to clean them (including how to clean without electricity). Includes some nifty storage ideas and a recipe for homemade diaper rash spray.

100+ DIY Projects to Make with Fruit Scraps: An Old Fashioned “Waste Not, Want Not” Recipe and Resource Book by Jes will warm the creative, frugal heart in every one of us. This is not simply "waste not want not" but kitchen crafting at its finest.

The author begins with how to stock your kitchen-crafting pantry, useful supplies, labeling, bottling, and beautifying (for gifts), and then details a master list of dried ingredients and infusions to keep on hand and how to make them. Recipe sections are divided into bath and body, cleaning closet, embellishing the home, kitchen table, medicine cabinet, pantry, and miscellaneous. Those 100+ recipes include things like: lemon honey bee balm, mulling spice soap bars, citrus disinfectant spray, orange peel roses, moth repellent sachets, herbed citrus butter, poor man's popsicles, haymakers punch, four thieves antibacterial vinegar, vitamin C elixir, apple jewel jelly, spicy seasoning blend, and banana peel fertilizer (to barely scratch the surface.)

The Back To Basics Living Bundle will be available through midnight tomorrow and includes 73 homesteading, self-reliance, DIY, and preparedness resources plus about a dozen bonus offers. You can choose online access to download the bundle for $29.97, the flash (thumb aka USB) drive option for $54.97, or both for $59.97 (one for you and the other as a gift).

Click here for more information or to purchase.

BONUS: If you buy it through my blog, I'll gift you with your choice of one eVolume from my The Little Series of Homestead How-Tos. After you place your order simply email me at 5acresandadream @ mail. com, and let me know which one you'd like. I'll send you a link to download a free copy.

Tomorrow is the last day the bundle will be available, so I'll touch on some of the eCourses, memberships, and other extras included in the purchase price.

B2B Book Reviews 5: DIY © January 2017 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Book Reviews 4: Low-Tech & Off-Grid Living

Yesterday I reviewed a few of the preparedness books in the Back to Basics Living Bundle. Today I'd like to share the following for those of us trying to be less dependent on the grid and a high-tech lifestyle.

A Cabin Full of Food by Marie Beausoleil could have been reviewed in my food preservation and storage book review post. While I fully agree with investing in a fully stocked pantry, I also believe that our best preparedness tool is our lifestyle. This off-grid author focuses not only on preparedness, but on a lifestyle of simple, local, sustainable living. I really like that. The author admits that this book is not geared toward beginners, and it's what I would call next-step information for those of us wanting to further develop our skills as well as our pantries.

The introduction includes a harvest and preservation calendar plus an extensive glossary of terms. The first section is "Make Your Own," and details things like vanilla bean syrup, lemon curd for short term canning, and how to make a ginger bug and fermented ginger beer. "Herbs and Spices" lists a well-stocked spice shelf and includes recipes for making your own allspice, pickling spice, seasoned salt, etc. "Grains" covers a variety of grains and how to store long term, plus recipes such as a mixed coffee substitute and war yeast bread. "Vegetables" has intriguing recipes such as Mixed Vegetable Cake, Rumblethump, and a vegetable spread to can. Then there's "Legumes," "Dairy and Eggs," "Trees and Fruit," and "Meat," and that's just the tip of this 349-page iceberg. Currently available from Amazon.com.

Some of you might already be familiar with Tammy Trayer through her podcasts and webinars. Being a bibliophile myself, this is more up my alley. How To Embrace An Off-Grid Lifestyle begins by telling her story, discusses what it means to live off the grid, and then helps the reader evaluate whether the lifestyle is right for them. She looks at evaluating property, how to begin, and how to evaluate your current power consumption. The chapters which follow discuss everything you need to consider: tools, heating, water, sewage, appliances, laundry, cooking, baking, food growing and foraging, food preservation and storage, living without refrigeration, sickness and injury, protection, plus phone and internet. Finances, budget, and making money while homesteading round out this excellent book.

The Back To Basics Bundle will be available through January 22 and includes 73 homesteading, simple living, and preparedness resources, plus about a dozen bonus offers. You can choose online access to download the bundle for $29.97, the flash (thumb aka USB) drive option for $54.97, or both for $59.97 (one for you and the other as a gift).

Click here for more information or to purchase.

BONUS: If you buy the bundle through my blog, I'll gift you with your choice of one eVolume from my The Little Series of Homestead How-Tos. After you place your order simply email me at 5acresandadream @ mail. com, and let me know which one you'd like. I'll send you a link to download a free copy.

Tomorrow I'll review three books in the categories of DIY and frugal living.

B2B Book Reviews 4: Low-Tech & Off-Grid Living

© Jan 2017 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Book Reviews 3: Preparedness

It seems that more and more people are becoming aware of the need to be prepared. Not only because of economic and political uncertainties, but for times of joblessness or natural disaster when resources are slim to none. Being prepared for hard times only makes sense, and the Back To Basics Living Bundle has some good offerings on this subject.

There are several really good preparedness plans in the bundle, but for those just getting started I especially like Melissa K. Norris's 30 Days to Preparedness: Old-Fashioned Skills to increase self-sufficiency. It starts with a preparedness checklist, and is divided into weekly sections. Week 1 discusses things to keep in your car, alternative light sources, keeping warm without electricity, and an introduction to bulk food storage. Week 2 addresses food storage mistakes to avoid, storing and purifying water at home, growing and foraging for food, seed saving, and introduces raising backyard chickens and other animals for meat. Week 3 discusses home butchering of meat, dehydration, canning, choosing a grain mill, and sourdough starter. Week 4 gets into cooking without power, starting a fire without a lighter or matches, bartering, herbs, and old-time natural remedies that work. This book doesn't claim to take you to full preparedness, but between it and the rest of the B2B Living Bundle, you will have the tools and information you need to get there.

Food Storage Made Easy: a three-part program by Jodi Moore and Julie Weiss obviously focuses on food preparedness. It can help the beginner get started, as well as help the rest of us evaluate, organize, and fill in the gaps. Part one includes weekly checklists for goal setting. The checklists give you things to do, things to buy, and recipes to try (included in the recipe section). Part two is an encyclopedia which covers emergency preparedness, shelves (where to put it all is something one doesn't usually think about at first), water, the 3-month supply, and long term planning. It goes on to cover grains, legumes and meats, baking ingredients, fruits and veggies, comfort foods, and non-food items. Part three is a huge selection of recipes utilizing the foods you've stored in your pantry.

While the two eBooks above are good examples of general preparedness, One Second After the Lights Go Out: How to Survive in a Post-EMP World by Lisa Bedford addresses preparedness for the extreme. Most of us would like to think that an electro-magnetic pulse (EMP), coronal mass ejection (CME), or cyberterrorism are simply the stuff of books and movies and therefore highly unlikely. The author begins by explaining what our power grid is, how it functions, and what experts say about the actual likelihood of extensive damage to it. By assuming a worst case scenario she takes you through the consequences of such an event and actions you can implement to be better prepared. Such a catastrophe may seem sensationalistic, but the information in this book is very common sense and practical. If you're prepared for this, you'll be prepared for almost anything.

The Back To Basics Bundle will be available through January 22 and includes 73 homesteading, self-reliance, DIY, and preparedness eBooks, courses, plus about a dozen bonus offers. You can choose online access to download the bundle for $29.97, the flash (aka thumb or USB) drive option for $54.97, or both for $59.97 (one for you and the other as a gift).

Click here for more information or to purchase.

BONUS: If you buy the bundle through my blog, I'll gift you with your choice of one eVolume from my The Little Series of Homestead How-Tos. After you place your order simply email me at 5acresandadream @ mail. com, and let me know which one you'd like. I'll send you a link to download a free copy.

Tomorrow I'll review two books on low tech and off-grid living.

B2B Book Reviews 3: Preparedness © Jan 2017 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

B2B Book Reviews 2: Food Preservation & Storage

This year's Back To Basics Living Bundle is truly a gold mine of information on food preservation and food storage. It's a comprehensive collection of information covering canning, dehydrating, fermenting, freezing, and pickling, as well as planning and pantry organization. You'll find forms, checklists, and recipes included. It was hard to pick just a few to review for this post.

Jennifer Osuch's Dehydrating–Charts and Basic Methods caught my eye because I've pretty much fallen away from dehydrating. However, I've recently learned a technique which has renewed my hope for drying more foods. (I'll tell you about that technique in an upcoming post.) Jennifer does an excellent job covering the basics in this book, including foods like watermelon, berries, corn, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and odorless onions; how to make powders including pumpkin flour, how to make "quick cook" dried beans, plus an introduction to meals in a jar.

The charts include conversion charts which give pre-dehydrated weight and volume, method of preparation, and dehydrated weight and volume for an extensive list of vegetables. The time chart includes temperatures and drying times based on humidity. Humidity makes a difference! As a bonus you get a printable page to create your own Dehydrating Journal plus printable labels.

Many of you know Patrice Lewis from Rural Revolution. This year's B2B Bundle includes her Introduction to Canning, which is actually three booklets in one: Introduction to Water-Bath Canning, Introduction to Pressure Canning, and Canning FAQs: 100 Basic Questions About Canning. Includes a thorough discussion of safety and equipment, altitude charts, tips, and how-to basics for canning fruits, vegetables, and meats. The FAQ section discusses alternative heat sources, what not to can, and trouble shooting.

There are quite a few other food preservation and storage offerings, but the last one I'd like to mention is Oh Lardy’s Guide to Fermenting Fruits & Vegetables by Kelly Liston and Tamara Mannelly. Regular readers of my blog know that I am a fan of fermenting, and for me this guide is a next step into more fermenting adventures. It covers basics for vegetables and fruits, equipment, health benefits, how to use, and answers common questions. The recipe section includes a nice variety of recipes for fermented veggies, sauerkrauts, fruits, drinks, dips, condiments, salsas, and salad dressings. It also includes a nice list of resources.

The Back To Basics Living Bundle will be available through January 22 and includes 73 homesteading, self-reliance, DIY, and preparedness resources plus about a dozen bonus offers. You can choose online access to download the bundle for $29.97, the flash (thumb aka USB) drive option for $54.97, or both for $59.97 (one for you and the other as a gift).

Click here for more information or to purchase.

BONUS: If you buy the bundle through my blog, I'll gift you with your choice of one eVolume from my The Little Series of Homestead How-Tos. After you place your order simply email me at 5acresandadream @ mail. com, and let me know which one you'd like. I'll send you a link to download a free copy.

Tomorrow I'll review three of the bundle offerings on preparedness.

B2B Book Reviews 2: Food Preservation & Storage

© Jan 2017 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/