With more and more city dwellers and suburbanites embracing the notion of getting back to basics and living simpler, more rustic lives, it’s no surprise that the popularity of backyard chicken keeping has skyrocketed in recent years. Whether for enjoyment as pets or for the convenience of farm-fresh eggs right outside your door, chicken keeping can be an easy and fun step on the road to more sustainable, ecologically friendly living. Written by Kristina Mercedes Urquhart, The Suburban Chicken shares the author’s knowledge on general chicken husbandry, profiles of 20 suitable breeds for suburban living, how to provide your birds with optimal accommodations, and the healthcare needs of chickens, among other important topics about which prospective chicken owners should be familiar. INSIDE SUBURBAN CHICKEN: •The benefits and enjoyment of keeping chickens as pets. •Considerations for would-be chicken keepers, including local ordinances, space requirements, initial and ongoing expenses, and preparing the home and family. •Favorite standard-size, bantam, and egg-laying breeds for metropolitan and family living. •Hatching eggs and raising chicks. •Coop styles and descriptions of all equipment that a budding chicken keeper needs, as well as a chapter dedicated to keeping chickens safe from predators. •Preventive care and optimal diets for healthy, hardy birds. •Raising chickens for eggs: the science behind egg production, how to properly handle and store fresh eggs, and the differences between store-bought and homegrown eggs, as well as some exciting recipes for your bounty.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 224

Dimensions: 178 x 230 mm

Give Your Sentiments the Personal Touch This big papercrafting book is bursting with creative inspiration for handmade cards that are as delightful to give as to receive. Making Your Own Greeting Cards & Gift Wrap shows how to make a host of impressive cards, boxes, bags, tags, wrapping paper and envelopes. Creative craft author Vivienne Bolton presents more than 50 fun and unique projects that use all of the wonderful materials now available to cardmakers, including stickers, transfers, napkins, wire, foam, rivets and punches. With these practical ideas for all occasions―birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, new baby, new home and more―you may never want to buy a card again! Inside Making Your Own Greeting Cards & Gift Wrap · 50 exciting projects for a wide range of beautiful and fun cards, boxes, bags, wraps, and pouches. · Each project includes step-by-step illustrations and beautiful color photographs of the finished pieces. · Advice on choosing materials and decorative items to make the most of your cards. · Handy templates to assist in both the card and gift wrap-making process. · Practical instructions guide you through all the techniques used throughout the book. · Inspirational galleries illustrate how one design motif or tool can be used to create a variety of different results.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 224

Dimensions: 175 x 225 mm

Publication Date: 08-04-2019

Grow Healthy Winter Produce Grow your own keeper crops for the chilly days of winter―and you'll be sure of putting the freshest, tastiest produce, packed with goodness, on your kitchen table! Growing Winter Food is the essential gardening guide for those who want to enjoy their garden's output all year round. This easy-to-follow book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes detailed cultivation advice on each crop, along with nutritional value, recipe ideas, and storage suggestions. Inside Growing Winter Food · How to choose crops that you can grow and preserve so you’ll have fresh vegetables over the winter. · Practical information and growing advice for all the most commonly grown winter foods: roots, legumes, green vegetables, herbs and fruits. · Easy-to-follow instructions for sowing, maintenance, harvesting, and general gardening techniques. · All the basic techniques you need to know, from preparing soil to using cloches and containers to dealing with pests and diseases. · Handy plant profiles cover how to grow, plant, care for, save seeds, harvest, and preserve. · Perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 178

Dimensions: 178 x 229 mm

Publication Date: 12-03-2019

Learn everything there is to know about cacti and succulent care in this newly updated, easy-to-use volume! Jam-packed with insight on more than 200 types of succulents and cacti, each plant profile contains gorgeous photography, botanical and common names, must-know advice, and more. Also included are simple, step-by-step instructions on choosing the right plants and helping them thrive, plus tips on how to propagate succulents and cacti, repotting, grooming, and pest control. This updated edition features all new photography, a new garden profile, updates to scientific names of original plants based on current standards, 70 new cacti species, and 20 new succulent species. Author and award-winning researcher Gideon F. Smith previously served as president for the International Organization of Succulent Plant Study and has published over 500 scientific and popular papers on the taxonomy, biology, and evolution of succulent plants.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 178 x 228 mm

Publication Date: 25-05-2022

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is known for having the first and last word as the official source for all things dog related, and The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd Edition is the AKC's "Bible" of dog books that is trusted by veterinary schools, dog training professionals, groomers, breeders, and owners. For the past 88 years, it has been the ultimate breed resource-the one book that no purebred dog aficionado and expert can live without. With over two million copies sold, this guide is also the longest continually published dog book in history. This revised and updated 23rd edition contains new American Kennel Club initiatives and programs, recently recognized dog breeds that have been added to the seven main groups, revised breed standards, and changes in breed classifications. Dog owners, breeders, and clubs will find the most current information here on AKC registration, competitive events, and programs. A celebration of every breed of dog recognized by the American Kennel, this newly updated edition is a must-have that belongs in every dog enthusiast's and professional's library.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 940

Dimensions: 203 x 254 mm

Publication Date: 23-01-2024

Is there a tiny four-pawed furry creature in your near future? Adding a puppy to your home and life can be very exciting and a little scary. At once personable, dog-smart, and reassuring, author Tracy Libby offers new owners reams of great advice in The Ultimate Guide To Puppy Care And Training, covering every topic under the canine sun - from selecting a new puppy, household safety, and vaccinations to house-training, remedying common puppy problems, and first aid. In nineteen information-packed chapters, this colourful guide provides everything a new puppy parent needs to know to raise a smart and healthy puppy. First-time puppy parents and experienced dog owners alike will find detailed up-to-date information on: *Selecting a puppy from a reliable source and establishing a daily home routine *Positive dog-friendly training techniques, including using clickers *House-training, socialisation, and puppy games *Grooming, feeding, exercise, and activities *Puppy health, vaccinations, and veterinary care *Teaching basic commands and solving behavioural issues *Common canine maladies, allergies, natural health care, and first aid The Ultimate Guide To Puppy Care And Training is the most comprehensive manual available for the dedicated new dog owner seeking to make the most of his or her puppy's first year of life.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 240

Dimensions: 185 x 235 mm

Worried about ever-rising fuel bills and longing for the day when you can be off-grid and independent? Anxious about the quality of the food you eat and planning to go organic? Yearning to get back to the way it was but don't know where to start? This book will show you how to achieve the eco-friendly good life. The authors cover the ecological gamut from geothermal heating to crop rotation to soap making. They answer important questions like how much land is really needed to be self-sufficient, whether or not to depend entirely on natural forms of energy, and which farm animals will best meet your needs. There’s practical information here on building an insulated flue pipe chimney, identifying edible wild plants and composting with worms—as well as recipes for jams, rhubarb wine, cheeses and more. Packed with full-colour photographs, helpful illustrations and diagrams, The Self-Sufficiency Handbook will appeal to urban dwellers who want to adopt certain aspects of greener living and to serious adherents of back-to-basics living.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 240

Dimensions: 178 x 229 mm

Publication Date: 10-11-2017

Clicker training isn't just for dogs! An interesting and informative guide to train your rabbit, hamster, gerbil, rat, or other small animal, learn how to teach them tricks and follow commands with a click. Also included are clicker training methods to conquer a pet's particular fears or manage certain stressors. You'll also understand which exercises are most suitable for each animal. Organised according to the level of difficulty, this training manual is the perfect resource to unlock a side of your pet you've never seen before!

Bind: paperback

Pages: 96

Dimensions: 178 x 228 mm

Publication Date: 28-02-2023