This winter has been really cold and seemingly unending. While the bad weather has been less than an ideal, I've been actually been glad that I've gotten more time than usual to read for leisure lately. Here are some of the best books that I've been reading this winter.
The Good Life Lab: Radical Experiments in Hands on Living by Wendy Jehanara Tremayne
Part How-To book, part memoir, this book is about the author, Wendy Jehanara Tremayne's, journey to find a more meaningful life. Wendy is the founder of the Swap-O-Rama Rama, and this book details her journey from working in marketing in New York City to living off the land in New Mexico. Inside this book there are also detailed and inspiring instructions on techniques you can use to live more in tune with nature, from making salves from herbs to building your own papercrete dome. In addition to being a great read, the book itself is a work of art with delightful illustrations inside and an unconventional but beautiful stitched binding.
The Drunken Botanist: The Plants that Create the World's Best Drinks by Amy Stewart
This book is more than just recipes for cocktails, it gives you stories and history of how humans have used plants to create the alcoholic beverages consumed today.
Garden Anywhere by Alys Fowler
As the title of this book suggests, it is all about creative ways for you to create your own garden anywhere. Whether you have a fluorescent lit office, a window box, or a small patio that you can use for a small container garden, this book shows you creative ways to make the most of your space. To get you started, there are tips on how to test your soil and what to do to compost your food waste to put nutrients in your soil without fertilizers. Once you've got your no garden garden alive and prospering, you can learn from this book how to harvest your crops and make sure you can keep your garden coming back every season.
Fashion Geek by Diana Eng
If you're interested in the current trend towards wearable technology and want to try your hand at making your own, this is a great book for you to check out. It's full of electronics projects that bridge the gap between the sometimes confusing world of DIY technology and fashion. Inside there are detailed instructions and patterns for each project, so even a novice can get started with DIY electronics. Projects inside include how to make your own sparkling ruby red slippers by hacking a pedometer and making a light up purse.
You can find the book here, and it is currently available to borrow for free with a kindle and amazon prime.