Books That You Can’t Go Without on the Farm
I’m sure by now you know that knowledge isn’t free. And you need a lot of it to start and do anything well. It can be extremely overwhelming to start anything while your brain is being pulled in 10 directions and your body is being pulled in 10 more. That’s why I’ve created a list of all the EXTREMELY helpful books I have read through out the years that have not only allowed me to start this farming dream of mine, but to keep going and to flourish. From raising goats, chickens, and other livestock, to caretaking your gardens and nourishing your family with raw milk… you won’t want to pass on these good reads. I’ve added the Amazon link to each item in the image of each book to make it easier for you to find. I hope you find them as helpful as I have!
-Bean
The Raw Truth About Milk
By William Campbell Douglas II, MD
This book has been a game changer for me and my family. William Douglas does a phenomenal job in his research to shed light on false claims of the dangers of raw milk, the history of pasteurization, and to open our eyes on how far we’ve all actually strayed from the truth about what is safe and healthy and what isn’t when it comes to consuming animal’s milk. It is both mind blowing and very easy to read, you won’t want to put it down!
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Natural Parasite Control for Livestock
By Wendy Lombardi
This book is a must have for anyone who owns ANY kind of livestock. Wendy Lombardi does a very thorough job in not only teaching you about the life cycles of parasites, but she teaches you what herbs and plants you should grow on your farm in order to treat these parasites and take of your beloved animals. She leaves no stone unturned, and your livestock and pets will be thankful for it. Another easy one to follow along with while also being a deep well of knowledge.
ADR II: The Animal Desk Reference 2nd Edition
By Melissa Shelton DVM
Dr. Shelton covers so many things in this one. While Wendy Lombardi talks about the facts about healing herbs, Dr. Shelton talks about the nitty gritty scientific details behind each essential oil and carrier oils, and has her own medical degree to back it all up. If you are trying to be more holistic in your approach to healing and care taking your animals, this too is a must read. The length she goes to in describing every single oil and method of use makes this the most comprehensive and easy to follow manual for animal husbandry.
You can never have too many guides to herbal remedies. And this one is for you and your family in the home. There are so many editions of this book because the information written inside is so timeless, and has the power to bring healing to each and every generation who reads it. Not only does it cover the which herbs to use and the dosage amount, it also teaches proper identification of herbs as well. Dr. Christopher is extremely knowledgable on the subjecting I have not been able to find a more informative book on herbal remedies that pertain to mankind.
Natural Goat Care
By Pat Coleby
This book covers just about everything you need to know about taking care of your goats. Another great resource for goat husbandry, it not only covers herbal and holistic remedies for goats, it also addresses plant and soil health, considerations about breeding, their housing areas and so much more.
Raising Animals by the Moon
By Louise Riotte
The most important thing to do while managing yourself, your farm, and your animals is flowing with Mother Nature, not against her. Just like the moon phases affect the low and high tides of the ocean, we, animals, and plants included, are all affected by the moon phases too. This book goes over the practical advice of when and how to make decisions for your livestock based off of the moon. Talk to any old timer around and they’ll ask you “Are you treating them with the signs?” (moon signs that is), and there’s a good reason for it. This book unlocks the mysteries behind our beautiful moon and how we can harness its energy in order to care for our animals in a much more efficient and successful way.
