Living the Country Life Books

An ever-fascinating, surprising and humorous tour down the highways and byways once trod by the Country Gent

Move over, shabby chic: The new farmhouse look is all about clean lines and modern shapes, paired with rustic textures and clever upcycled decor ideas from the country life. With Modern Farmhouse Style, you can now achieve that farmhouse aesthetic in your own home, no matter where you reside. This collection of more than 250 gorgeous yet attainable farmhouse-inspired decor ideas, organizational tips, and DIY projects is everything you need to make your modern home perfectly rustic--or vice versa! With chapters on entryways, living spaces, kitchens, dining rooms, family rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces, you'll learn how to countrify any area of your home so it's charming yet refined, homey yet chic. You'll learn how to select the proper mix of contemporary and rustic furniture, pick raw materials, build out unique DIY projects, and add attractive and inspired personal touches. Whether you're a city or a country dweller, Modern Farmhouse Style will bring the you the best of both worlds.

Many people are choosing to downsize to tiny houses that don't require huge mortgages or upkeep. Through inspiring photos, Country Living showcases a coast-to-coast collection of sustainable homes. From charming cottages to transformative trailers, these diminutive dwellingsreveal why going small is so satisfying--while clever decorating tips, smart finds, and storage solutions help anyone implement this simple, fulfilling lifestyle.

The experts at Living the Country Life magazine show how to reap fresh vegetables, delicious fruits, and essential herbs from a garden of any size, in any space, no matter how small. Bring organic produce to your table and create delicious hand-crafted gifts with the bounty from your back yard or windowsill! Edible Garden is the complete guide to growing a bountiful, edible home garden. With over a hundred years of experience, the editors of Better Homes & Gardens special-interest publications know gardening from the ground up! In this beautiful, photo-laden book the authors show how any space can yield a bounty of tasty vegetables, fresh fruits, delicious herbs, and more. Whether you re working with a rooftop hideaway, a suburban backyard, or even a tiny window box or all-indoor container garden, it s easier than you think. Highlights include: Detailed step-by-step instructions for creating the garden of your dreams in the space you have. All the basics, as well as unusual crops, such as edible flowers, bonsai berry bushes, and a piquant pepper garden. All-organic, chemical-free solutions for fertilizer, pest control, and more. Simple recipes show how to use your bounty and what to do when your garden produces more than you ever expected! Covers a wide range of topics, including: Starting from Seed: Save money by growing from seeds including those you save yourself from your everyday meals. Making the Plan: How to assess the space at hand and plan to use it most efficiently. Including seasonal tips for different environments, and how to create cold-hardy planting strategies for snowy winters. Organic Solutions: Raise the healthiest food and protect the environment with these handy hints, including all-natural pest repellants, weed control, and soil enrichment. Container Gardening: Grow food for your table on a balcony, patio, or other small space. Special tips on how to grow some basics even if you ve only got a window box to work with. Rooftop Paradise: Have rooftop access? Then you can have a garden, growing everything from lettuce to heirloom tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, and even sunflowers. Raised-Bed Gardens: All the rage in suburban front and back yards (and in some green urban areas as well), this results-intensive gardening method yields amazing results. Yard-to-Table: Recipes for your backyard bounty focusing on just-picked delights such as a fresh tomato and mozzarella salad or a tisane of chamomile and lavender blossoms as well as canning and preserving techniques." -- provided by publisher

Once upon a time, people had a real connection with the land. Instead of being mere consumers, they were producers and makers. Traditional skills were learned to eliminate a reliance on others, enabling the self-sufficiency that's at the heart of the Do-It-Yourself movement. And this artisanal wisdom was passed on to family and friends.