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I’ve always been a reader and a lifelong learner. What you might not know is that my roots are actually in research and writing. I studied agricultural marketing communications and print journalism in college, think storytelling meets science and farming.
After graduation, I jumped into agricultural journalism. I wrote for industry magazines, worked on an online newsletter before blogging was even a thing, and eventually managed and edited that newsletter.
Along the way I also picked up two master’s degrees (yep, two—there’s a story there for another time) in agribusiness and higher education. Both involved a lot of research, writing, and digging into how things work in both my courses and thesis research and writing.
That love of learning has never left. Whether it’s reading books, articles, or academic research, I’m always looking for ways to apply what I learn on the farm, in business, and in everyday life. A lot of what I share in my blog and on social media about regenerative agriculture, goats, business and more comes from that process: doing the research, trying things out, and communicating what works.
So here’s a roundup of books I’ve found worth reading. Some are practical, some are thought-provoking, and all of them have taught me something useful, serve as a reference or were enjoyable to read.
Goats + Small Ruminants Books
- Holistic Goat Care by Gianaclis Caldwell: A comprehensive guide to maintaining a healthy herd of goats, whether they are dairy, meat, fiber, or pet goats.
- Livestock Protection Dogs by Orysia Dawydiak: A thorough resource on selecting, caring for, and training livestock guardian dogs.
- Storey’s Guide to Raising Meat Goats by Maggie Sayer: An handbook for both novice and experienced farmers, providing detailed, practical info on goat health, nutrition, and breeding.
- Capturing Sunlight: Book 1 by Woody Lane: Offers practical skills and ideas for intensive grazing, sustainable pastures, healthy soils, and grassfed livestock.
- Capturing Sunlight: Book 2 by Woody Lane: Covers topics for modern graziers, including pasture walks, mob grazing, nutrition, new forages, and toxic plants.
Regenerative Agriculture Books
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer: Combines Indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge while exploring the relationship with plants and the natural world around us.
- For the Love of Soil by Nicole Masters: Provides strategies for farmers to improve ecosystem health and farm profits through regenerative practices.
- Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown: Shares a family’s journey into regenerative agriculture, offering innovative solutions to restoring soil health.
- The Complete Guide to Restoring Your Soil by Dale Strickler: Explains the science of healthy soil and offers practical methods to improve water retention, support microorganisms, and capture more nutrients.
- Managing Pasture by Dale Strickler: A guide for designing and implementing pasture-based grazing systems that improve forage production and livestock performance.
- Backyard Bugs by Jaret C. Daniels: A guide to identifying common insects, spiders, and bugs you’re likely to see in your pastures.
- Field Guide to Wisconsin Grasses by Emmet J. Judziewicz: A comprehensive manual for identifying grasses in Wisconsin and the Midwest.
- Wildflowers of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region by Merel R. Black: A field guide to identifying hundreds of native wildflowers and plants in the region.
- Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster: Covers 500+ plants with medicinal properties, including identification tips, habitats, traditional uses, and warnings.
- Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm: Explores how native plants and pollinators interact.
- Prairie Plants of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum: Covers native species to the Wisconsin prairie.
- Capturing Sunlight: Book 1 by Woody Lane: Offers practical skills and ideas for intensive grazing, sustainable pastures, healthy soils, and grassfed livestock.
- Capturing Sunlight: Book 2 by Woody Lane: Covers topics for modern graziers, including pasture walks, mob grazing, nutrition, new forages, and toxic plants.
Business, Marketing + Time Management Books
- The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan: Focuses on shifting your mindset to measure success by how far you’ve come, rather than how far you have to go.
- Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller: Teaches how to clarify your message so customers understand the benefits of your product or service.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear: Offers practical strategies to form good habits, break bad ones, and master tiny behaviors that lead to big results.
- Stolen Focus by Johann Hari: Explores the reasons behind our declining attention spans and how to reclaim our focus in a world full of distractions.
- Deep Work by Cal Newport: A guide to producing high-quality work through focused effort, despite the distractions of modern life.
- Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport: Advocates for a minimalist approach to technology, helping you create more space for deep work and meaningful living.
- Start with Why by Simon Sinek: Explains the power of defining the why behind your work.
Meat, Cooking, Butchery + More Books
- Butchering Poultry, Rabbit, Lamb, Goat, and Pork by Adam Danforth: A step-by-step guide for processing meat on a small scale. It’s also a great reference guide to help communicate cut instructions when working with a butcher.
- Goat: Cooking and Eating by James Whetlor: A James Beard award winning cookbook focusing on a wide range of goat meat recipes.
- Goat: Meat, Milk and Cheese by Bruce Weinstein: Covers cooking with goat meat and dairy.
- It Takes Guts by Ashleigh Vanhouten: A guide to cooking offal and organ meats, including nutritional insights, how-tos, and recipes.
- Nourishing Broth by Sally Fallon Morell: Explores the nutritional benefits of traditional bone broth, with techniques, science, and recipes.
- The Science of Spice by Dr. Stuart Farrimond: Breaks down the chemistry behind spices and flavor pairing, making it easier to experiment and elevate your cooking.
- The Flavor Matrix by James Briscione: Uses food science to map out ingredient pairings that create extraordinary flavor combinations.
- The Fat Kitchen by Andrea Chesman: Shows how to render, store, and cook with lard, tallow, and poultry fats.
Rural Life Memoirs
- Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn: A moving look at the decline of working-class communities across the U.S., sharing both personal stories and larger insights into social and economic challenges.
- Heartland by Sarah Smarsh: A memoir about growing up in rural Kansas while navigating poverty, family, and the American Dream.
Foodie Nonfiction
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal: A foodie novel that follows a young chef’s journey through the Midwest.
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