Homemade Living Series by Ashley English

Today is a special treat because I am partnering with Flower Patch FarmGirl to bring you this very special review & giveaway. So after you have read my review and entered to win these two fabulous books by Ashley English, head on over to Flower Patch FarmGirl for a real treat!

Keeping Chickens / Canning Preserving

by Ashley English

Homemade Living Series

Lark Books/Sterling Publishing

ISBN 13: 978-1-60059-490-8 / ISBN 13: 978-1-60059-491-5

Today's lifestyle movements are all about sustainable living, eating local, growing your own, making your own, restoring, recycling and repurposing. I love this Homemade Living series by Ashley English and so will you.

Keeping Chickens: Thanks to Martha Stewart, I thought owning chickens would be glamourous. Thank goodness I read Ashley English's Keeping Chickens. This book keeps it real. I found the information included in this book to be incredibly resourceful, informative and actually a delight to read. I found myself on several occasions spouting off facts to my husband in amazement (Did you know that cannibalism is common among chickens??). I also loved that in the midst of all the instruction & supply list are these great human interest stories: Portraits of a Chicken Owner.

This book covers all details of keeping chickens under these main subject chapters: What to Consider, Selecting a Breed, Obtaining Chickens, Housing, Feeding, Hatching Eggs, Raising Chicks, Health & Wellness, Eggs and Recipes.

I honestly can not say enough about this book and how well written it is. If you are considering chickens then you must read this book!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Canning & Preserving: Canning to me has always been intimidating. I always thought you either needed a degree in chemistry or you needed to be born in the 1920's. I can remember my Grandmother Tucker canning in her small kitchen in Alpharetta, GA. Canning brings back memories and traditions in my mind. I would love to learn canning so that I could preserve my garden all year around. I believe Ashley English is going to help me learn canning with this book.

Ashley has such an easy way to her writing. I honestly believe that nobody writes about homesteading like Ashley. Of course, this book does not disappoint.  The book is divided into the following chapters: Why We Can, Tools of the Trade, Canning Concepts, Ingredients, A Jam/Jellies/Preserves Primer, A Pickle/Relish/Chutney Primer, A Whole Fruit/Vegetables Primer and Seasoned Recipes. Again, Ashley adds human interest stories in her Portrait of a Canner, Canning parties and Trouble Shooting.

I honestly believe that this is the only book you need to learn canning - Yes, it is that good.

Both Books: 5 Stars

~GIVEAWAY~

Now for the GIVEAWAY!! Lark Books/Sterling Publishing (Thank You Meaghan) has graciously offered one lucky commenter a copy of Keeping Chickens and Canning & Preserving. How to enter (any of these entries will work):

1. Leave me a comment with your email address. +1
2. Tweet, Facebook or blog about this giveaway. Leave me two comments that you did, no need to leave me the link. Suggested Tweet: (#giveaway #bookreview Keeping Chickens/Canning & Preserving http://bit.ly/b8mrd0 @steringbooks @ashley_english @beachbrights). +2
3. Open to US, No PO Boxes.
4. Contest ends Fri. July 9th.

Resource Links:
Ashley English's Blog
Facebook
Twitter

~XOXO~