Mrs. Bedford writes with wit. She has done a lot of research, and condensed it into her book. Although I found incomplete information. I was confused by the statements of not purchasing all you need yet brand names and websites freely inserted throughout the book as must haves.
I am not big on the consumerist lifestyle. And have drastically different views on how much food you should have on hand. At times I felt like I was reading a how to on decluttering and organizing your hoarding. The book itself doesn't teach you beneficiary teotwawki skills, only stock up techniques, things to practice before the worst case scenario, and philosophies.
Mrs. Bedford has good intentions, and does appeal to many mothers out there. However if you are a neophyte homesteader, I would stay far away from this one. But if you are a beginning Prepper, this book reads as a good primmer for your education, without bombarding you with doomer philosophy.
As a beginner tutorial on prepping for the suburbs with children, it is a good start.
For more reviews click below.
Good review Phelan. I used to follow Lisa's Survival Mom blog but the information in her book and her blog is really geared toward the extreme beginner.
ReplyDeleteI think that the majority of us feel the same as you do.
ReplyDeleteWhile I still have a lot to learn, I'd say I am beyond the consumer lifestyle!
Thanks for taking the time to review this for us.
Phelan - when i saw the title of your post - i was worried. seriously worried. because i know that the Survival Mom has been touted as the "be all - end all" by the APN and several other sites. and not to put the Survival Mom down at all - i think she is doing a great job doing what she does best - prepping in the suburbs! she has a lot of good information for a beginner prepping mom who is also a heavy consumer and living in the suburbs - and, as there is a need for such information for such people - i say kudos to her.
ReplyDeleteanyway - back to the point. i was really worried when i saw the title of this post. i was scared to open it. you don't normally gush and if i came here and found a glowing commendation for the book, i am afraid that we could no longer be friends.
i haven't read the book, nor will i, as i had perused her blog in the past and although she shares some great information for a particular demograph - it is not mine.
i shouldn't have been worried to read your review - but i was. thanks for always keeping it real and for always being honest - even when it might make you feel crappy and may be something that you do not want to do. i feel that your review is fair and i would hope to be so fair if i were to read and review it.
thanks Phelan. your friend,
kymber
I'm sorry you have to apologize for being honest. Your take on her prepping style is shared by more than one of us. It's not wrong or incorrect just different.
ReplyDeleteMaxine, I will agree. But it is something that is warranted. There are Always newbies.
ReplyDeleteJust ask Jim, I'll be happy to help.
Kymber, I had no idea you were so addiment about it. And I will agree, she was pushed hard in the APN forums, and I did defend her, and will still do so. Her style is wanted, but it is not a lesson to self reliance as prophitised in various places.
Judy, I wasn't actually apologizing. I was making things clearer to why it was a short. I actually have a lot more to say about it. But Husband made a remark that sums it all up nicely. "so her Teotwawki, is what we do on a normal day?"
Phelan - i will defend her, too. but she is not Riverwalker...and her style of prepping is not for a homesteader. we spent years learning from proper homesteaders like you and Humble Wife before we made this jump. and a big mention goes out to Throwback at Trapper Creek - do you read that blog? if not - you will love it Phelan. she is almost as unromantic as you if that is even possible?!?!?!?
ReplyDeleteanyway, i thank you for your honest review again. it is because of reviews like this that i feel that i can trust any other future reviews from you.
Why thanks Kymber. I do try to be honest in my reviews, and this isn't the first one that I didn't care for.
ReplyDeleteYes I know the blog, no I do not read it.
So basically, this book would be for someone like me? I don't consider myself a prepper or a homesteader, although I'm very slowly moving in the homesteading direction (to make things easy on my family so they won't realize it until it's too late, LOL). We're located somewhere between suburban and rural around here. I've been replacing flowers with edible landscaping, planting fruit trees and a vegetable garden that gets bigger and supplies more of our food each year, and canning and freezing food. You have to start somewhere, right? Wearing husband down about chickens, sheep and maybe a goat or 2. He wasn't raised like I was, so this is a big deal for him.
ReplyDeleteYours is the only homesteading blog I read because I think it's probably the only one that doesn't romanticize the experience or try to sell me something. Thank you for that!
Kath doubt it, as you read me ;)
ReplyDeleteif you are moving towards homesteading, then no. This wouldn't be for you. This is for some one just beginning to prep. 3 month food supplies, what you should buy, coupons, lights out practice, getting children ready, suggestions on things you should learn( but no details on how-to) as Kymber said, Riverwalker is one of the better ones to learn from for that type of stuff.
From what you just said, you are past the begining stages of prepping anyway. You could check out her website, for other ideas to help you prep for disasters though. Some things she suggest could be simple things that people tend to overlook, and help spark a few thoughts. But if you wanting to not just be ready, but be in control and active in the going ons, I would keep with homesteading.
And thank you, I am flattered.
I'm sorry this one didn't turn out to be a good fit for you but thanks for being on the tour.
ReplyDeleteIt's ok Heather, it happens sometimes. Thank you for letting me be part of it.
ReplyDelete