Resources for Self-Sufficiency
Thrive Library
We present here a selection of our own, as well as others work, arranged by the below categories. Note that you will need to register an account to access these downloads.
- All
- Animals
- Energy
- Finance
- Food
- History
- Medicine
- Philosophy
- Plants
- Water
Culpeper's English Physician - Complete Herbal & Family Dispensatory (35 MB)
Nicholas Culpeper 1798
Culpeper's English physician and complete herbal, to which are now first added upwards of one hundred additional herbs, with a display of their medicinal and occult properties. Physically applied to the cure of all disorders incident to mankind.
Harvesting Rainwater for Landscape Use
Patricia Waterfall 2004
Harvesting rainwater can reduce the use of drinking water for landscape irrigation. It is also an effective water conservation tool and proves more beneficial when coupled with the use of native, low-water-use and desert-adapted plants. Additionally, rainwater is available free of charge and puts no added strain on the municipal supply or private wells.
Homesteader's Handbook to Raising Small Livestock
Jerome Belanger 1974
Useful information on raising poultry, pigs, rabbits, goats and sheep. Somewhat dated and focused mainly on the USA, but still useful.
Silver Light: Unlocking the Secrets of Stonehenge
Thrive Centre 2020
Silver Light describes how Stonehenge was converted from a typical stone circle calendar, to an early warning system to guard against bronze-age metal invaders.
Constructed Wetlands
Centre for Alternative Technology 2006
This brochure describes how to build a constructed wetland to treat waste water and sewage from a septic tank.
Cheese Making
Schumacher Centre for Technology & Development 2008
This brochure provides a useful overview to the various methods for making cheese. It is not an in-depth guide but it does provide pointers for further instruction.
The Secret Life of Plants (13MB)
Peter Tompkins 1973
This fascinating book explores whether plants have emotions. Fiercely criticized by official scientists, it is therefore recommended reading for all those who know that plants are so much more than what we can experience.
One Straw Revolution
Permaculture Design Course
Bill Mollison 1981
This is a series of 15 pamphlets from Bill Mollison's original lectures on permaculture. A wonderful and most useful reference for all those interested in the field.
Companion Planting Chart
IDEP Foundation 2000
A useful wall chart for companion planting, also with some natural insect repellant tips.
Lost Crops of Africa Vol. I - Grains (43MB)
National Academy of Sciences 1996
Lost Crops of Africa Vol. 2 - Vegetables
National Academy of Sciences 1996
Lost Crops of Africa Vol. 3 - Fruit
National Academy of Sciences 1996
An Agricultural Testament
Sir Albert Howard 1940
One of the seminal works in the history of the organic farming movement, it focuses on the nature and management of soil fertility. Exploring composting, at a time when modern, chemical-based industrialized agriculture was beginning to radically alter food production, it advocated natural processes rather than man-made inputs as the superior approach to farming.