Customer Reviews
Good for inspiration, but short on detail - By: Mr. Paul A. Diamond, 04 Jan 2009 
I opened the book, dipped into its pages & immediately started dreaming of changing my way of life. This book really can inspire you to re-think how you do things, but it can be short on detail ( I build Drystone walls & Stone faced earth banks (Cornish or Devon Hedges)and if you followed Mr Seymour's guide they would soon fall down! I also keep some poultry & we would probably disagree on some his idea's here too. That said many areas are coveredin sufficient depth to encourage you to have ago (I am going to attempt home made bread). As per other reviews if the title did not include the word 'complete' it would be more accurate reflection of the contents. Overall well worth the money & a good read....
Sloppy, wrong and dangerous. - By: Glaikit Stirk, 11 Dec 2008 
The subtitle of this book - "The classic guide for realists & dreamers" - is barely half right. It is a coffee table book for idle dreamers, not a practical guide for realists. Essentially it is lifestyle porn for city dwellers.
The book covers a lot of topics, but fewin any depth. There are many glaring ommissions. Most worryingly is the complete absence of information about legislation & regulation. Most shockingly the book recommends feeding pigs on kitchen waste. THIS IS ILLEGALin the UK. I checked this morning with a government vet at my local Animal Health Office: even if you are keeping pigs domestically for your own consumption this is wrong. The 2001 Foot & Mouth outbreak was caused by kitchen waste being fed to pigs. The farmerin question was prosecuted for this. I realise legislation & regulation is a big area that is constantly changing but I was still surprised that a book that encourages complete novices to buy cattle & sheep makes no mention at all of eartags, passports, movement licences or BCMS.
And it is not just the ommissions - there are plenty of passages that made this reader have a sharp intake of breath. A couple of random examples :- Page 298 advises telling your accountant that you want to claim as much money as possible for taxi fares as business expenses so you can fiddle your income tax bill. Page 96 " Most of Britain's beef comes from the Dutch Friesian.... They are hardy...." to which all I can say is " ! ". The section on irrigation recommends sticking one end of a hose into a stream & connecting the other to a petrol powered pump, & just sucking water out onto your land. If you try thisin the UK not only will you have quite a line of conservationists & government officials coming to knock at your door, but any neighbouring farmers who have had to apply for, & pay for, abstraction licences may want a word as well. The fact that the authors think this is an acceptable practice destroys any possible Green credentials this book may have.
Parts of this book look as if they have not been proof read - some of the imperial/metric measurement conversions are wrong, which is pretty unforgivable. Page 125 "...all Africans know how to chop open a hollow tree with bees inside & get out the honey." Really ? ALL Africans know this, do they ?
In short, this book is sloppy, wrong & dangerous. If you are serious about buying 5 acres & a cow, or indeed if you already have 5 acres & a cow, don't waste your money on this book.
This book is my bible!! - By: James P. Palmer, 19 Oct 2008 
I found this book on a friends shelf & had to buy my own immediately. It inspired me so much that I have moved to New Zealand & bought a ten acre small-holding which is run using John Seymour's principles.
This book is approachable & amusing, it is not everything you'll ever need to be self-siffient buts it a bloody good start & always the first place I look for information.
the best book I ever bought - By: A. S. Gilbert, 10 Jul 2008 Genuinely, this book has enriched my life. This sounds very strong language, but a glimpse of how achieveable a degree of self sufficiency can be is a great stress-buster & very uplifting.
Practical, useful, full of ideas & inspiration, this book will motivate anyone to take a step or two towards self sufficiency, wherever they live.
Every chapter is interesting, well written, & well illustrated. The craft skills are useful & practical & whilst a compost-toilet is not quite the thing for our gardenin the suburbs, all the practical projects are well described & amply illustrated.
A great reference book, a comfort on a cold winter's night, I recommend it to anyone.
review - By: Marie Costello, 27 Jun 2008 A must have for all small holders.Not a full complete guide but nonetheless full of great info & knowledge. A book i reread & reread from one season to the next.
