Complete self sufficiency book by John Seymour 

I started in Leicester and read this book and decided to do it and bought a 2.5 acre holding in Ireland near New Ross and found out that John Seymour was my neighbour. 10 years later I moved to Suffolk... and found out that was where he started from.

I had this book for years until it fell apart. Then I moved a couple of times and totally forgot the name and author and needed to find it again. I typed into Googe..."Gardening Deep Bed English Illustrated" and then hit the imagines button on Google and this was the second image in. I FOUND IT! I found it used and ordered it. I'm on the lookout for additional quantities as this book is always well used! Great book and thanks for your review. I'm in the states by the way.

EL LIBRO DE JOHN SAYMOUR HA SIDO PARA MI COMO UNA GRAN PUERTA PARA EL CONOCIMIENTO PARA LA VIDA EN EL CAMPO. NO TEORIA Y MUCHAS COSAS LAS HE EXPERIMENTADO TAL COMO LO PLANTEA EL AUTOR Y RESULTA POR LO CUAL LO FELICITO Y CREO QUE LAS AUTORIDADES DEBERÍAN DARLO A CONOCER A LOS AGRICULTORES DE LA AGRICULTURA FAMILIAR CAMPESINA DE TODO EL MUNDO, ESPECIALMENTE EN CHILE MI PAIS.

Great video and an excellent book. Your video is a great way to introduce people to the book and self sufficiency.

Greatest insperation ever on self-sufficiency.You see , the charter represent cycles for a veriaty of crop.Now the illustrations is the layout of the grounds in proportion to one's own property. You may use that for circulation or rotation.

That's a remarkable presentation, simple and yet wholeheartedly, thank you very much. Definitely getting me one

This is a wonderful book. I bought it in 1978 and have referred to it countless times over the years in my suburban life. But it is an unfortunate truth that self-sufficiency is another word for poverty. My grandparents were self-sufficient.

Hi Stephen, not sure you have time to check comments on old videos like this, just wanted to generally comment on how much I enjoy your channel, and on this book video especially. This book was originally printed in the US as "The Guide to Self Sufficiency" and has been "revised" and reprinted and is now titled "The Self Sufficient Life and How to LIve It". I found a copy of the the first printing in my local library some time in the early 1990s and it changed the course of my life. In hindsight, I would say that the book doesn't actually explain how do truly do most of those things written on the back cover, but very beautifully illustrates the idea that they can be done and are WORTH DOING. I remember opening it up and being totally fascinated, and the beauty of the illustrations were a huge part of that. I'm now a farmer/homesteader, with many of those things as a regular part of my life, and I don't know if that would be true at all had I not picked that book up in the library that day, so? I definitely agree with you 100% about the beauty and quality of the original art and illustrations being more beautifully detailed than necessary, and Dorling Kindersley seems to agree as they've completely reworked them in the reprinting/retitling (The Self Sufficient Life) and simplified them in a way I find to be "dumbed down", but maybe I'm just opposed to changing a book I love so much. I don't really use it as a reference for anything, but I do sometimes use his book "the Self Sufficient Gardener" that way sometimes. If you read this, thanks for the great channel, especially the grafting videos and the variety reviews. Be well.

Being a minimum wage worker (that has a degree at that), doing this stuff effectively can save me from having a grocery bill. I currently have a garden going and it's hardly taking up any of my labor time at all. But come August and September, I'll have a harvest. I'm not so worried about money at this point and seeing that our governments are in bed with the major corporations and the bankers are on the verge of crashing our economy again, it makes sense to do this for me.

Very good to listen. Thank you Stephen. Regards.

I have decided to go to the five day course run by Will Sutherland. I want to go either this or next summer because I know that self sufficient life is the way forward. Thanks for this video and all the other, much helpfull in keeping the inspiration alive

This is my favorite book on these subjects 🐸🍺🔪🔥

Stephen, also want to thank you for your recommendation of The Fruit Garden Displayed - fantastic book !!! Love it!!! Thank you! :) Joanne

Generally because all your time and labor go into attaining your self-sufficiency and none is left to be used for gain.

@agentgooner007 yes I have that book too John's last book was a post-oil apocalyptic novel, 'retrieved from the future' very dark but also hopeful, got my copy from Amazon last year.

@WillEyedOney Yes we have that too, very good. Best IMO to read many books and compare, but this one book I loved so much over the last 30 years that I wanted to recommend it particularly

Very good. Thanks a lot. Raquel from Brasil

Thanks for the great inside view & insight into this book. Have you considered installing any solar polar or other off-the-grid systems into your own home? Also, with all of that apple wood at your fingertips do you ever smoke (barbeque) with it?

great book!

My fiance bought me the book, and permaculture designer manuel by bill mollison! Two wonderfull books! ;)

I have that book and agree wholeheartedly with your comments. Another great book is Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom.

reading it at the moment... just wanna say that you possess a magnificent beard, sir

i have "The Self Sufficient Life And how To Live It" bybthe same author, it is basically the updated version with the same drawings. it is my second most read book Bible being first.

nice video thumbs ups buddy

@mukwah1111 we store all our prunings ver 1 inch diameter and use in a wood burning stove in our home. Apple wood is excellent for cooking over barbecues, I kee meaning to build a food smoker but have not done so yet, but I have done some rough cook smoking with apple wood, excellent

Thanks for sharing another excellent video!! The idea of a British self-sufficiency movement seems so unusual to me....you're such an urban & "civilized" nation. Here(Ontario) in the country it's not unusual for people to have big gardens & do canning & freezing(a lot a families have a "cold cellar" or "fruit cellar" too.And I know that's the case in much of the US too. (But I don't know any family who's off-grid,except the Amish, in our township.) But it just seems so un-English to me...

Part 1 - Having a garden is a good thing for a great number of reasons. I have had a garden most of my life, but it is hardly the self-sufficiency life that this book is about and that I wrote about. America was full of self sufficient farms in the 19 century and before. Much of the world is full of them now. These people live fairly decently, but it is a historical fact that almost none of them have ever been able to build wealth. This is poverty.

gotta love pbay :)

@stephenhayesuk I’ve just finished reading 'retrieved from the future' and found it very good. I’ve seen a lot of people online saying it was a great concept but badly written and such like. Myself however, I think it’s a brilliant read all round. He does a really good job of bringing not only the characters but also that part of the country to life.

What I would like to know is whether or not John Seymour is a believer in rototiller and/or turning your garden soil?? I am hoping not, but would like to know before buying. Thanks so much for your review!

@ggmorvaj Its true we are a very urbanised nation, but not all of us.

@whenthestormbrakes Yes, I realize my mistake now, but I suppose it's just a reflection of how little I've travelled (I'm in central Ontario, Canada.) The ex-pat British I've met have (all !!) been former urbanites & I guess that's what made me think that way.

too shaky... I hope you make a flip through video for this book

How do you come to the conclusion that self sufficient = poverty?

Part 2 - To build wealth, one must engage in economic activity beyond one's current needs. There being only 24 hours in a day, self-sufficient farmers are unable to do this. As to the politics of the economy, you may be poor now, but if you wait for Barack Obama and Ben Bernanke to make your life better, you will die poor. To get beyond minimum wage and build your own wealth, you have to go out and get it yourself. Quit blaming politicians.