Mastering the Art of Self-sufficiency in New Zealand
Carolann Murray
New Holland - $39.99

Many only dream of it, but ex-city slickers Carolann Murray and her husband decided to leave their urban life behind, acquiring a 10-acre block just outside Wellington. Disenchanted with the consumerist attitudes of modern living, Carolann wanted to get back to basics and be self-sufficient. ‘Mastering the Art of Self-Sufficiency in New Zealand’ is Carolann’s humorous and candid account of ten years perfecting the art of living sustainably.

When they started out on their journey, it was only through trial and error that they found how to address the challenges. As a self-confessed ‘townie’, Carolann was constantly asking questions like, “How long does it take a cow or sheep to have their young?” and “Can you preserve with honey instead of sugar?”

After years of experimenting, they are proficient in a number of areas, including: wine and spirits; dairying, milking, making butter and cheeses; keeping chooks; sheep; bread-making; renewable energy; vegetable and fruit growing; beekeeping and making soap.

Carolann writes honestly about how and where they went wrong, as well as sharing the knowledge they learnt along the way (and the information she found difficult to obtain at the start). Her mixture of science, practicality and sheer bloody-mindedness has resulted in plenty of escapades, documenting their journey along the way.

In ‘Mastering the Art of Self-Sufficiency in New Zealand’ Carolann points out that living sustainably can be achieved on a variety of levels whether you live in a city apartment, a quarter acre or a smaller section. She offers tried-and-true recipes and techniques for those who want to try it themselves. Line illustrations by Lisa Allen show equipment and demonstrate techniques .The only things that might have to be left to the lifestyle block include milking a cow, growing bulk amounts of vegetables and testing tractors on alternative fuels: Carolann has even managed to work out how to run a tractor on ghee (the clarified butter they produced), when no-one else knew how!


About the author:
Before moving to the country, Carolann Murray enjoyed a busy urban lifestyle and worked as an organic beauty therapist. She is now an expert wool spinner, cheese maker and bee-keeper and regularly welcomes WWOOFERs to the 4-hectare property she shares with her husband in Whitemans Valley, just outside Wellington.