Holiday Gift Guide: Favorite Homesteading Books

How to Make Nut and Seed Oil

This beautifully illustrated guide is perfect for anyone curious about making their own cooking oils at home. Bevin Cohen walks readers through growing, foraging, harvesting, and pressing more than 40 types of seeds and nuts—from sunflower and flax to walnuts and even okra. 

You’ll also learn the difference between cold-pressed and commercial oils, plus simple ways to get started with affordable equipment. It’s an inspiring resource for homesteaders, gardeners, and DIY food lovers who want fresher, healthier, homemade oils.,

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden

This updated edition is an eye-opening guide for gardeners who want healthier plants without relying on pesticides. Jessica Walliser introduces readers to the incredible world of beneficial insects—ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps, fireflies, and more—and explains how these tiny predators naturally keep pests in check. 

The book features gorgeous photos, easy plant profiles, and science-backed strategies for creating a garden that welcomes and supports these “good bugs.” It’s a perfect pick for anyone interested in organic gardening, biodiversity, and letting nature do the hard work.

Raising Rabbits for Meat

This comprehensive guide is perfect for anyone curious about producing their own rabbit meat—whether for the family table or as a small business. With decades of experience, Eric and Callene Rapp walk readers through choosing the right breeds, setting up housing, feeding, and understanding the breeding cycle (including the surprising #1 cause of infertility in does!). 

The book also highlights heritage rabbit breeds and offers practical advice drawn from raising thousands of rabbits. It’s an invaluable resource for homesteaders who want a sustainable, space-efficient, and budget-friendly source of high-quality protein.

Build Your Own Farm Tools

This hands-on guide is perfect for farmers and gardeners who love to tinker, customize, and create smarter systems for their land. Mechanical engineer and farmer Josh Volk shares step-by-step plans for 15 useful tools—from seedling benches and drip-tape winders to mini barrel washers and germination chambers—explaining not just how to build them, but why they make farm work easier. 

He also dives into workshop setup, materials, design principles, and even spreadsheets and workflow systems that boost efficiency. Whether you’re running a market garden or improving a small homestead, this book offers practical, DIY-friendly solutions that save time, money, and frustration.

Homestead Cows

This comprehensive guide is perfect for anyone dreaming of adding a family milk cow or a small beef herd to their homestead. Callene and Eric Rapp walk readers through everything new cattle owners need to know—from choosing the right breed and understanding land requirements to fencing, housing, feeding, and safe handling. 

The authors share real-world insights on common beginner mistakes (including the challenges of owning a bull!) and explain practical alternatives like artificial insemination. Whether you’re after milk, meat, or regenerative grazing, this book offers clear, beginner-friendly guidance to raise healthy, happy cattle on a small farm.

The Artisan Herbalist

This beautifully photographed guide is perfect for anyone who wants to use herbs for more than just seasoning their dinner. Bevin Cohen walks readers through how to grow, identify, and harvest common herbs, then explains the differences between infusions, decoctions, tinctures, and infused oils—making each method easy to understand, even for beginners. 

The book also highlights simple, safe recipes for teas, salves, balms, and herbal oils, along with helpful tips on foraging and avoiding common beginner mistakes. Whether you have a backyard garden or just a few pots on a balcony, this book gives you the confidence to craft your own herbal remedies at home.

First Time Beekeeping

This beginner-friendly guide is perfect for anyone curious about keeping bees but unsure where to start. Kim Flottum—longtime beekeeper and former editor of Bee Culture—breaks down everything new beekeepers need to know, from choosing a location and providing water to managing hives safely and gently. 

The book is filled with step-by-step photos, practical troubleshooting tips, and surprisingly helpful insights (like how to prevent your bees from visiting the neighbor’s pool—or becoming a midnight snack for skunks!). With clear explanations of equipment, hive setup, pests, and honey harvesting, it’s the ideal first book for anyone dreaming of their own backyard bees.

The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook

This incredibly useful guide helps gardeners identify and solve pest problems before they get out of control—without reaching for synthetic chemicals. Susan Mulvihill breaks down integrated pest management in a friendly, approachable way, showing readers how to recognize pests, support beneficial insects, and use simple organic strategies that actually work. With clear photos, quick-reference charts, and practical DIY solutions, it’s easy to figure out what’s eating your plants and what to do about it. 

Whether you’re dealing with flea beetles, squash bugs, leaf miners, or mystery critters, this book gives you confidence to grow healthier vegetables while protecting pollinators and the garden ecosystem.

Fresh Eggs Daily

This classic guide has helped thousands of new chicken keepers raise happier, healthier backyard flocks—naturally and without unnecessary chemicals. Lisa Steele, a fifth-generation chicken keeper, shares her gentle, time-tested approach to coops, feed, treats, herbs, and holistic flock care, all explained in simple, doable steps. She also covers common beginner questions—from choosing breeds to understanding laying cycles—plus how to safely spoil your hens with treats they’ll love. 

Whether you’re dreaming of your first flock or want to improve the one you already have, this beautifully written book is a reassuring, down-to-earth companion for every chicken keeper.

No-Waste Composting

This smart, approachable guide shows you how to turn everyday household scraps into rich, usable compost—even if you live in an apartment or have only a tiny outdoor space. Michelle Balz walks you through simple indoor and outdoor composting systems, from classic worm bins to clever DIY setups made from terracotta pots, old trash cans, and even repurposed buckets. 

She also tackles common fears—smells, pests, and “what goes in?”—with clear explanations, safe methods for composting tricky items like pet waste, and plenty of beginner-friendly tips. Whether you’re new to composting or want to up your zero-waste game, this book proves that anyone, anywhere, can turn waste into “black gold.”

The Art of Natural Cheesemaking

This would be the perfect gift for someone who has cows, goats, or sheep and wants to learn how to make cheese without the use of commercial starters.

Epic Tomatoes

When its cold outside, reading this book will help you think ahead to summertime and warmer weather. It would be perfect to have on hand while flipping through seed catalogs and comparing different varieties to try in your garden next summer.

The Herb Lover’s Spa Book

This makes a great gift for someone who deserves a little pampering. You could also pair it up with a gift certificate to a local massage therapist.

The Holistic Orchard

For anyone thinking of starting their own orchard or looking for ways to improve their growing techniques, the simple and cost effective methods covered in this book would be very helpful.

Homegrown Pork

This comprehensive guide to raising pigs will endear many people on your gift list to these intelligent and entertaining animals if they’re not already. It includes guidance for purchasing, feeding, and handling pigs as well as delicious recipes for homegrown pork.

Mycelial Mayhem

Many homesteaders, gardeners, and foodies would likely be delighted to receive this book. It’s an excellent guide for growing interesting and delicious types of mushrooms beyond the white button and portobellos typically found in grocery stores.

Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide

If you know someone who wants to get started with using herbs medicinally, this is the classic beginner’s guide.

Temple Grandin’s Guide to Working with Farm Animals

For the animal lover in your life, especially if they happen to own large livestock or are thinking of getting started with cattle, sheep, goats, or pigs.