As far as green goes, books aren’t exactly top of the environmentally sound list. But, frankly, a literate society is worth a little more heat and a little less iceberg. I offer up these titles:

Besides being visually attractive - excellent illustrations, well-formatted, clearly organized - The Concise Guide to Self-Sufficiency, by John Seymour, covers the basics of what you need to hurl yourself into the delightfully isolating realm of self-sufficiency. The book is organized into seven sections, designed to get you started with everything from cultivating your own garden to the housing and feeding of pigs. It’s chock-full of practical advice; in fact, I would say it’s comprised entirely of practical advice, and I love that the author takes for granted a certain basic skill level and willingness on the part of his readers. For example: “Building a smokehouse is a matter of common sense and a little ingenuity.” That someone on this planet believes I might actually build a smokehouse is reason enough to love this book. But the author pushes on further and assumes that I’ll not only build it but use it. I suppose anything’s possible.

Two books, The Urban Homestead, (Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen) and Toolbox for Sustainable City Living, (Scott Kellogg and Stacy Pettigrew) fix their environmentally-friendly gaze on city dwellers. For instance, the section on fruit foraging in The Urban Homestead instructs readers on the dos and don’ts of picking from trees that aren’t yours: “The law states that any fruit growing in a parkway strip, or on branches hanging over a sidewalk or alley is in public space and therefore fair game for you to pick. Of course it’s better to ask permission when you can, and of course we don’t need to tell you not to break branches, climb on fences or otherwise behave like a hooligan when you’re picking fruit.” Both of these books look at utilities, gardening and transportation from an urban perspective.

Questioning how design can improve people’s daily lives, Bryan Bell and Katie Wareford map out the growing landscape of architectural activism in Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism. This book looks all over the world, at all kinds of architectural projects, and offers a compelling argument and call to arms for architecture as activism. The essays are fantastic - lively, fascinating, diverse and thorough - and the design of the book is awesome. It’s got a bright, hip and modern aesthetic that actually works, not irritates. I rarely say this about a book of this type, but Expanding Architecture is a do-not-miss title.

So, there you have it. Break out the sickle, spade and solar panels and hoe your way to a more sustainable tomorrow. As the first literate American president in almost a decade says, “Yes, we can!”

Rachel Meier is a used and new book buyer at Bookshop Santa Cruz and the proprietor of the website www.readafuckingbook.com, where she is obnoxious online.