Other books that might interest you

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  Lismore - The Great Garden

  Robert Hay

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  This island of Lismore boasts a remarkably rich heritage, both in terms of historic monuments and of an unbroken tradition of Gaelic culture. From their first sight of Tirefour Broch, dominating approaches from the mainland, visitors to the Isle of Lismore can explore an outstanding heritage of monuments to the past - Bronze Age cairns, medieval castles, the Cathedral of Argyll, carved graveslabs, deserted townships and watermills, not to mention a Stevenson lighthouse. Because of its strategic position at the mouth of the Great Glen and its fertility, the island played an important part in the prehistory and early history of the West Highlands and Islands. In this book, Robert Hay tells the story of Lismore from earliest times to the present day, providing fascinating insights into the islandapos;s history, as well as that of the whole area.

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  The Lean Micro Farm - How to Get...

  Ben Hartman

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  “Ben Hartman is a true innovator for the small farm.”—Curtis Stone, author of The Urban Farmer It’s time to think big about small farms. Award-winning author and “green leader” (Grist) Ben Hartman shares practical how-to tips, personal stories, and surprising examples of cutting-edge farmers and innovators around the world to show us how. In the early 1970s, US Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz infamously commanded farmers to “get big or get out.” In The Lean Micro Farm, author Ben Hartman rejects that disastrous suggestion and instead takes up the charge of the late agrarian thinker Gene Logsdon: “Get small and stay in.” Taking inspiration from the groundbreaking ideas of E. F. Schumacher and Mahatma Gandhi, The Lean Micro Farm shows how small, hyperlocal farms can be both ecologically and economically superior to industrial-scale operations geared toward export and commodity markets. The Lean Micro Farm details the author’s remarkable journey to downsize his farm from one acre to a third of an acre in an effort to prioritize family and community over work, all without taking a pay cut. In addition, Hartman profiles six innovative farmers from across the globe who embody this “get small” mindset. These pioneering farmers show all of us a path toward resilience in the face of supply chain disruption, globalization, and climate change. They model a gentler, more ecological approach to farming that produces less waste and uses less plastic, petroleum, and fertilizer. Like his previous two books, The Lean Farm and The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables, Hartman’s The Lean Micro Farm doesn’t just explain why smaller is better, it shows readers exactly how it can be done with step-by-step guides on how to turn a profit from a tiny, but productive, parcel of farmland. Readers will find not just philosophical justifications for a minimalist approach to agriculture but also actionable information for starting your own profitable micro farm, including: - A description of the “deep mulch” method for building fertility - Instructions on two-step bed flipping to increase production on a small footprint - A guide for choosing essential tools and technologies “with a human face” - An easy-to-follow process for making your micro farm lean and efficient - A detailed plan for selling $20,000 worth of produce from your backyard It’s time, Hartman makes clear, to pivot to a new kind of farming—one that builds upon ancestral knowledge, nourishes communities, and puts human joy, not technology, at its center. “Hartman has revolutionized his methods, cut down his work hours dramatically, and shrunk the size of his farm, all while making a better income.”—Civil Eats

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  Quilt As-You-Go Made Modern -...

  Jera Brandvig

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  Learn to create modern quilts more quickly and easily than ever with this popular method, featuring thirteen projects and twenty-five bonus ideas. Do you believe rules were meant to be broken? If so, this improvisational quilt-as-you-go technique is for you. Instead of dealing with precise paper patterns and cutting measurements, you’ll learn how to piece fabric onto small, manageable batting blocks. Let your creative juices flow as you quilt directly on the blocks (not the whole quilt!), whether in large abstract zigzags or small structured stitches. After the blocks have been joined, all you need to do is add backing fabric and binding, and—voila—it’s finished!   A modern approach to quilting that’s fresh, fun, and simpler than it sounds; it will change the way you quilt (for the better) Great for moms or anyone with a busy schedule—these thirteen projects are easy to transport because they make it simple to pick up where you left off Go your own way: This method allows you to use a pattern or improvise, creating a wide variety of design options Save money! Learn how to finish your own quilts without the use of a longarm professional “Quilting is easier than ever with Jera Brandvig’s modern spin on the popular quilt-as-you-go technique.” —Modern Quilts Unlimited“Quilt-as-you-go (QAYG) is one of those techniques that every quilter is curious about trying, but can be daunting as the process is so different to the traditional process of making a quilt top and then quilting it. . . . The book introduces the technique very thoroughly, so you can clearly understand the difference between traditional piecing and quilting and QAYG. Then there’s a great selection of gorgeous quilts that are sure to appeal to the modern quilter. A must if you’ve ever thought about trying QAYG and haven’t had a clue where to start.” —Make Modern Magazine

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  Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue...

  Gary Kinder

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  “Titanic meets Tom Clancy technology” in this national-bestselling account of the SS Central America’s wreckage and discovery (People).  September 1875. With nearly six hundred passengers returning from the California Gold Rush, the side-wheel steamer SS Central America encountered a violent storm and sank two hundred miles off the Carolina coast. More than four hundred lives and twenty-one tons of gold were lost. It was a tragedy lost in legend for more than a century—until a brilliant young engineer named Tommy Thompson set out to find the wreck.   Driven by scientific curiosity and resentful of the term “treasure hunt,” Thompson searched the deep-ocean floor using historical accounts, cutting-edge sonar technology, and an underwater robot of his own design. Navigating greedy investors, impatient crewmembers, and a competing salvage team, Thompson finally located the wreck in 1989 and sailed into Norfolk with her recovered treasure: gold coins, bars, nuggets, and dust, plus steamer trunks filled with period clothes, newspapers, books, and journals.   A great American adventure story, Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea is also a fascinating account of the science, technology, and engineering that opened Earth’s final frontier, providing “white-knuckle reading, as exciting as anything . . . in The Perfect Storm” (Los Angeles Times Book Review).   “A complex, bittersweet history of two centuries of American entrepreneurship, linked by the mad quest for gold.” —Entertainment Weekly   “A ripping true tale of danger and discovery at sea.” —The Washington Post   “What a yarn! . . . If you sign on for the cruise, go in knowing that you’re going to miss meals and a lot of sleep.” —Newsweek

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  Manskills - How to Avoid...

  Chris Peterson

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  Your prep guide to this test called life—from outdoor skills to taming the urban wild, car care to cooking, handy manning to managing a hangover. 
   
  Armed with the proper set of skills, there is no beast a man cannot tame, no problem he cannot solve, no wine he cannot appraise, no meat he cannot grill, and no woman he cannot amaze. All that lies between you (or your man) and becoming uber-evolved is mastering the wisdom contained in this humble book called Manskills. 
   
  But you must learn these lessons well. When that angry she-bear lunges, you won’t have time to Google “surviving animal attacks.” When your boss’s wife offers you a morsel of cave-aged Gorgonzola she’s not expecting you to wolf down that hunk of blue mold and say “Cheesy!” 
   
  With instructive illustrations, the skills are organized by categories such as:Shelter Savvy—remove a stripped screw, handle a jackhammer, stop a toilet from running . . .Wild Ways—Build an igloo, stitch your own wound, catch a fish without a rod and reel . . .Social Graces—sew on a button, order wine like you know what you’re doing, ease a hangover . . .Emergency!—save someone from drowning, use a fire extinguisher, bust down a door . . .Romantic Prowess—plan the perfect romantic dinner, meet her parents, pick a diamond . . . 
   
  to name just a few 
   
  By developing your manskills, you’ll avoid life’s pitfalls and become a complex, sophisticated person of confidence, competence, and vigor. Good for you!

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  Collecting Toy Soldiers in the...

  Mark Hastings, James Opie

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  A completely updated edition of the classic guide, by a leading authority in the field: “For the toy soldier collector, an absolute must have.”—Miniature Wargames   James Opie’s highly popular Collecting Toy Soldiers was an inspiration for anyone involved in the hobby. Decades later, this is a completely new companion updating the experience for the twenty-first century collector. James now gives the reader the benefit of his long experience as one of the world’s leading authorities on toy soldiers, figures, and models, and a lifetime as a passionate collector himself.  Collecting Toy Soldiers in the 21st Century contains comprehensive advice on all aspects of collecting, fully illustrated with new pictures. Guidance for every budget includes price trends and pitfalls to avoid when buying or selling at auction, at shows, online, or privately. Sharing informative and often-amusing anecdotes, James illustrates just how satisfying it can be to explore this blend of history, tradition, nostalgia, and play, whether on the grandest scale or with the most limited of funds.

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