Books: Back to Basics

While I’m not completely finished on my blog posts about the spiritual aspects of meat, I thought I would take a little break to mention some books that I think could be of interest. Some of them are witchy, and some of them are not. The following one is not a traditionally “witchy” book, but it contains information that is useful to Pagans and non-Pagans alike.

Back to Basics has been on my parents’ bookshelf for as long as I can remember. This book is a wonderful resource for the homesteader, as well as those who are just interested in living a bit more simply and frugally. I think that’s something we’re all more interested in these days, what with the job market and economy in the shape it is.

Back to Basics provides practical information on buying land, building, generating your own energy (heating with wood, using solar and wind energy, etc.), growing and preserving your own food, and even has sections devoted to skills and crafts such as hooking rugs and making natural dyes. There is also a section on entertainment, with instructions on crafting your own dulcimer and celebrating holidays.

I Any of this information can be incorporated into the life of even the urban Pagan. If you have access to a farmers market, make homemade preserves or can beans and tomatoes for the winter. What witch wouldn’t be interested in making his/her own broom? And think of the spells you could work into your own homemade quilts (protection, love, fertility, etc.).

I have to admit that there are times when I cannot wait to return to my home country so I can finally settle down and start gardening and maybe even raising an animal or two. Confession time: I want to settle down and get married to a man who knows how to work the land and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and even reconnect with his primitive self by going hunting once in a while. I guess I really am one of those “Monster Truck Pagans” from the ecauldron list. *L*

I have a lot of memories of helping my parents pick and can green beans and tomatoes. I can still smell the aroma of peppers frying before being canned in a sweet tomato sauce, and I still love shucking corn! I’ve done my share of fishing and chicken plucking too, but there are still so many things I haven’t learned. I am anxious to get back to my family and learn those things from living, breathing, experienced people while I still have them in my life. But I digress (no surprise there).

Anyway, if you see a copy of this book at your local library, take a peek. Buy a copy if you like it, or just copy what interests you. Just make sure you aren’t copying so much that you violate the copyright laws. And if you get caught, don’t tell them Z said to do it! ;)