Known and respected as the 'Father of Self-Sufficiency', John Seymour's worldwide experience of husbandry and the benefits of rural life was unparalleled. After studying at agricultural college, he worked on farms in England and then spent ten years in Africa, where he managed a sheep and cattle farm and acted as a livestock officer for a veterinary department.

On his return from Africa, he dedicated his life to teaching and promoting self-sufficiency and established the School of Self-Sufficiency in Ireland. His best-known work is THE COMPLETE BOOK OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

A concise edition of the classic COMPLETE GUIDE TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. An easy-to-follow guide with an emphasis on practical things which busy people in cities, towns and villages - and those who don't have the wherewithal to take the whole plunge - can do to change the way they live. Featuring a comprehensive guide to planting and harvesting, it shows how to gather food from the wild and from the garden, and includes chapters on traditional crafts and skills, cutting waste and generating power.