This book is an incredible resource when thinking about the house you want to live in. It breaks up components of towns, buildings and homes that make them good places to be, and lists these "patterns" with an image, a description and references to other related patterns. There are lots of patterns here that help me understand why rooms are either pleasant to be in or not a good space to be. I highly recommend it.

Even if you don't plan to build a cob house, this book shares the authors' thoughts on living simply and close to nature, designing your house to suit your life, and building a personal,  low-cost home. I am interested in cob building, and this book offers the experience of the most experienced cob builders in the US.

In this book Rob Roy outlines how his family built several mortgage-free homes and shares a strategy so others can do the same. Also full of inspiring stories about families all over the US building homes for themselves.

This richly photographed book will make you want to go outside and start building. It covers several natural building methods: cob, strawbale, plaster and lath over stick frame, and cordwood in the building of a small guest house. The authors are enthusiastic about natural building, but are also not hesitant to outline the setbacks of each method, and that's helpful when considering what building method suits your style and site best.

Eliot Coleman is the gardener I want to be when I grow up. In this book he demonstrates how it is possible to harvest fresh vegetables year-round, and he lives in Maine!

This was the first gardening book I bought and it lives in my garden shed. It is hard to come up with a basic garden question that this book doesn't answer. The newest edition has all organic methods, which is an excellent improvement over my old copy.

Last year I deliberately gardened by moon signs and plan to do it again this year. This book guides you to the days best for planting, cultivating and harvesting.

Ah Rodale press, you don't make 'em like you used to! This encylopedia of projects, from planting flats and compost bins to solar food dryers and chicken coops this book is full of things I want to build.