1940s Homesteading Book - The Have-More Plan by Ed and Carolyn Robinson - 1980s Reprint
But I feel, somehow, that in the years to come, the U.S. is going to need all the help it can get towards happiness and peace and security. Ed Robinson
{HISTORY}
In the 1940s, a husband and wife and their three-year-old baby left their New York apartment lifestyle and moved to the country in Connecticut to establish a homestead. They weren't experienced in land management, homeownership, or self-sustainability but they were eager to learn all three so that they could guarantee a healthier, more rewarding lifestyle for themselves and their little one. Meet the Robinsons - Ed and Carolyn and their little boy Jackie.
In an effort to get this whole country life started, Ed and Carolyn read hundreds of books on farming, home-keeping, equipment maintenance, gardening, and animal husbandry before they left the city so that they would have rudimentary knowledge on where to begin once they found their ideal country locale. In doing all this research, they discovered that there was not a lot of practical, hands-on information on how to establish a gentleman farm or small acreage living. The Robinsons had no desire to start a full-scale farming operation, keep up with hundreds of acres, or care for a plethora of farm animals. Their country living dream was much smaller, much simpler - self-sustainability. Growing their own food, raising some chickens, tending a garden, and utilizing all the benefits of a small parcel of land and home were their only true goals in moving to the country. So that's what they did. They moved to Connecticut, an hour's drive outside of New York City and they got to work realizing their dreams. Then they wrote a book about it.
In The "Have-More" Plan, Ed and Carolyn laid out all that they had learned in establishing their own small acre homestead in hopes to be of service to other people who might be interested in embarking on the same sort of adventure. They covered all angles of this country living project from the initial house hunt to offering practical advice on gardening, home canning, small barn building, useful workshop layouts, poultry care, beekeeping, berry gardens, fruit orchards, tools, equipment, and living life in harmony with the seasons. All with the 1940s sensibility of a couple who lived through both the Great Depression and World War II.
Selling hundreds of thousands of copies, the Robinsons quickly became mini-celebrities and trusted authoritarians on country living. Their Have-More Plan was consistently reprinted throughout the 20th century and became a go-to resource for anyone searching for a more self-sufficient lifestyle. This is a 1980s reprint of the original 1940s booklet.
{SPECIAL FEATURES}
- 1988 edition
- 70 pages
- Includes building plans, troubleshooting charts, animal buying guides, time saver tactics, planting tables, tool checklists, acreage layouts, and landscaping tables
- Illustrated throughout with black and white photos and line drawings
- Loaded with practical information that is still so relevant, other than the mention of pesticide applications to plant life (a typical 1940s method to handle garden pests and problems), this book has traveled the years well as far as offering useful information.
{CONDITION}
In lovely vintage condition. The pages are bright and clean. Some minor wear at corners on cover as to be expected of a vintage paperback booklet. Stapled spine. All pages intact.
{SIZE}
Measures 9” inches (width) x 12” inches (length)