The Hands-On Ranch Book
We are SO excited to share our M5 RANCH SCHOOL BOOK with you! It’s called ‘The Hands-On Ranch Book’ and it teaching you everything from how to tie a knot, start a garden, saddle a horse, and everything else people used to know how to do :)
We are all more capable than we think we are. Whether it’s growing our own food, navigating with a compass, building a fire, or caring for animals - there really isn’t a more satisfying feeling than being capable and knowledgeable in a situation where we need to think on our feet, make decisions, and solve problems.
Living on a ranch means we have lots of opportunities to learn new skills and find ways to solve problems as they arise. We have to be thinkers and doers, and a lot is expected of every member of the family. Raising livestock is a full-time job, and there are no days off.
As a family, it’s our responsibility to care for our animals in the sunshine and rain, at sunrise and after dark, when they are healthy and when one falls ill. No matter how much we plan for, there are always new challenges that arise on a daily basis that we have to solve together or on our own.
It’s a big responsibility and a lot of work, but when we come in after a long day to eat a late dinner (we don’t eat until the animals are fed!) and sit together by the fire, we all feel so satisfied and get to share about our day - funny stories, challenges, and things we are proud that we accomplished.
When we moved to the ranch, my four girls ranged in age from six years old down to one year old - and they had to learn all of these skills out of necessity. We had a lot to do and a lot to take care of. They became independent thinkers and capable ranch hands. They learned to climb a fence, saddle a horse, and use a saw to cut firewood. They learned to bottle-feed a calf and warm a baby lamb by the fire. They learned to care for a home and cook dinner when they needed to.
We’ve all learned so many skills on the ranch, and we are eager to help you learn some of them too - building a campfire, caring for an animal, bottle-feeding a lamb, starting a garden, mending a jacket, saddling a horse, cooking food we’ve grown and raised ourselves, and so much more.
You don’t have to grow up on a ranch to learn new things about animals and the outdoors. We hope you enjoy these skills and lessons we’ve learned along the way that we get to share with you!
See what people are saying about the Hands-On Ranch Book!
“In a world where we are inundated with technology, Mary’s book comes out at a pivotal time - taking kids back to time-honored skills that improve everything from hand-eye coordination to self-esteem. This would make a fantastic gift for all the kids in your life!! Our family particularly loved the candle making information, how to do leatherwork, knot tying, the recipes, and learning about different types of ranch animals.
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“This book is amazing. It teaches so many things people have forgotten about. Things people probably used to learn as children and I’m willing to bet, these days, probably never learn! I really enjoyed reading it and appreciate the fact that it’s written with kids in mind. If you have a kid who can read, it’s a good book. I gifted a second copy to an 8 year old she LOVES it. So does her mom.”
“Absolutely LOVE The Hands-On Ranch Book! In a time when it is hard to get my children off of screens, this book is a great way to get kids interested in the outdoors and learning useful life skills. They are excited to plant a garden this spring and are asking for chickens! I even learned a few things myself. Can’t wait to give this as a gift to friends and family this holiday season!”