Hi friends,
My 12 year old nephew has recently been talking about self sustainability, living off the land, and just being a wilderness guru. I really want to get him a book or some books about the historical context behind americas food systems, a guide to living off the land (farming AND hunting/fishing) and I’m getting him a northeast foraging guide.
I really want him to understand why self sustainability is empowering and the systems that made it difficult to be and why! He’s a smarty pants so I think any level that isn’t like a college textbook would be good 🙂
Tysm in advance
by BeeansOwO
4 Comments
It’s fiction and definitely dated but he’d probably enjoy MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN by Jean Craighead George – it’s about a kid his age doing exactly what he wants to do.
The Hatchet series.
IDK how 12 year olds are reading these days but there are a ton of 19th & 20th century writings written mostly by men (Old Dead White Guys™️) that are very highly regarded. So they’re not necessarily *guides* but these books can be considered canon texts on things like “self sufficiency”, conservation, contemplation, developing a conscience, etc.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214614.Desert_Solitaire
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16902.Walden_or_Life_in_the_Woods?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=G8hkbmTOpe&rank=1
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238727.My_First_Summer_in_the_Sierra
Jack London *anything* but especially *To Build A Fire*, this story is essential for any outdoors oriented person.
Also imo self sustainability isn’t actually empowering, it’s alienating, I would maybe suggest something that emphasizes that no man is an island and that the smartest skill one can have is what people these days refer to as “building community.”
As others have said, Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain are stories in this vein. I’d also suggest some more philosophy: Thoreau, Emerson, Wendell Berry. Maybe some Walt Whitman for inspiration.