Recommended Reading
Some of the publications listed below are constantly evolving and getting updated. One of the easiest ways to find the latest information is to do a Web search using the previous edition’s title or organization name.
ABC of Poultry Raising (1977), by J. H. Florea, Dover Publications Inc., 31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501. This book contains many useful plans for poultry feeders, nest boxes, housing, yards, etc., including lists of materials needed for their construction.
American Standard of Perfection (latest edition), American Poultry Association, c/o secretary-treasurer, Lorna Rhodes, 133 Millville Street, Mendon, MA 01756; 508-473-7943;
www.amerpoultryassn.com. This is a necessary guide for those wishing to exhibit and breed poultry, with complete descriptions of all recognized breeds and varieties of domestic poultry.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (2007), by Barbara Kingsolver, HarperCollins Publishers, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022. While I had previously devoured all of Kingsolver’s non-fiction works and loved every one, I enjoyed her description of her family’s yearlong adventure and their attempts at self-sustenance even more. This is an easy read, it’s practical, and there are some great recipes by her daughter Camille and thoughtful essays by her husband Steven L. Hopp mixed in along the way.
Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game (1986), by John Mettler, Jr., DVM, Storey Communications, Inc., Pownal, VT 05261. My copy of this book is threadbare from use. It has butchering techniques for everything from moose to turkey. The illustrations are incredibly helpful if you’re new at this.
Charcuterie (2005), by Michael Ruhlman and Brian Polcyn, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110. This is an all-around great book for salting, smoking, and curing all kinds of meats.
Chicken Tractor (1994), by Andy Lee, Good Earth Publications, P.O. Box 898, Shelburne, VT, 05482. A back-to-the-land approach to raising chickens on pasture to improve your soil and farmstead.
FeatherSite, www.feathersite.com. Full descriptions of hundreds of chicken breeds, often including actual photographs and club and private breeder contacts.
Fields of Plenty (2005), by Michael Ableman, Chronicle Books LLC, 85 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. A wonderful description of Ableman’s journey across the United States as he looks at several different aspects of American agriculture. A great book for people who enjoy growing and eating food.
How to Cook Everything (1998), by Mark Bittman, MacMillan Publishing USA, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Everyone in my family, including my nine-year-old son and the seasonal apprentices who come to the farm to learn how to grow and cook food, sometimes for the very first time, reach for this book. It’s easy to read and easy to follow.
The Chicken Health Handbook (1994), by Gail Damerow, Storey Communications Inc., Schoolhouse Road, Pownal, VT 05261. An in-depth guide to preventing, identifying, and treating diseases common to chickens.
The Fairest Fowl (2001), by Tamara Staples and Ira Glass, Raincoast Books, 9050 Shaughnessy Street, Vancouver, BC, V6P 6E5, Canada. A fun, coffee-table book, with portraits of championship chickens and accompanying natural history facts.
The Field Guide to Chickens (2006), by Pam Percy, Voyageur Press, MBI Publishing Company, Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885. This field guide details more than 60 breeds, with anecdotal history and physical characteristics of the breeds.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma (2006), by Michael Pollan, Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014. Read this book. It will change the way you think about food.
The Unsettling of America (1977), by Wendell Berry, Sierra Club Books, 530 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108. Berry offers a review of agriculture and cultural practices which have lead to the loss of living with the land and steps to return to good farming practices. If you’re new to his writing, this is a great book to start with.
Poultry Press, P.O. Box 542, Connersville, IN 47331; 765-827-0932;
www.poultrypress.com. A great periodical for chicken fanatics.
Poultry Production (1935), by William Lippincott and Leslie Card, Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, PA 19019. This is considered by many to be the definitive source for poultry production. A fascinating read for poultry enthusiasts, comparing modern methods with past production.
Small Farmer’s Journal, Lynn R. Miller, Editor, Small Farmer’s Journal, Inc., 192 W. Barclay Drive, Sisters, Oregon 97759. Subscription information at SFJ, P.O. Box 1627, Sisters, Oregon 97759. This journal’s mantra is “There’s never been a better time to be a horsefarmer,” though the magazine has practical smallfarm information for anyone interested in diverse, small-scale agriculture. Published quarterly, I read it cover to cover when it arrives in the mail.
The author at age 6 (left) and her sister, Anna, holding their Rhode Island Red pullets, Penelope and Hortense.