Heather Henkel is the owner of Kilwins and D’Light Apiary. Henkel has many hobbies that add to a homesteading lifestyle in the suburbs, with a passion for reading a variety of books, including novels, nonfiction, business books, reference books, cookbooks and magazines. Henkel says she is “usually found with different books in different rooms of my house...or have an audiobook that I'm reading all at the same time.”
The Color Purple
Book By Alice Walker
Film Directed By Steven Spielberg, 1985
Both the book and the 1985 movie production just speak to me when it comes to the power and determination we all possess to continuously overcome the worst of what life can hand us. So, when I'm struggling, or feeling a little deflated or depressed, that is my go-to to flush out the bad feelings and get my head and my heart back in the game.
Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work
By Mel Bartholomew
Living on a standard suburban lot, it is the only way for us to grow the 50+ varieties of vegetables, 10 varieties of fruits and 20+ varieties of herbs and spices that we grow annually.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
By Mary Roach
I haven't read this book for a while, but when I sat down to think of books that I'd recommend to someone, this one comes to mind as I often think of what I learned in the book and find myself still talking about parts of it. I was fascinated by all of the beneficial things we know and have in our lives today as a result of people donating their bodies after death to science and life safety. It was also nice to learn of the level of respect our remains after death receive after donation. It has changed my perspective on the value of our bodies after we're done living inside of them, and how much we have to contribute, even after death.
The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea
By Bob Burg, John David Mann
This quick read business book packs a lot of power in its fictional story to explain the five laws of success. I still glance back at the book regularly to remind myself to be a go-giver in my business practice.
Cultures of Growth: How the New Science of Mindset Can Transform Individuals, Teams, and Organizations
By Mary C. Murphy
This book explains how to shift your culture, and how it'll positively affect your staff and your bottom line. The shift is helpful not only when working with younger generations with a very different perspective on their place in the business world and expectations of their work environment, but also a way to reenergize and reengage people in midlife who are often burnt out in their careers at this stage in life.
Lessons in Chemistry
By Bonnie Garmus
Sometimes you just need to crack a book to escape your own crazy life for a few precious minutes. This was a recent read that was a light, witty, fun-loving novel that made me laugh, cry, cheer and fall in love with every character in the book.
The Beekeeper's Handbook
By Diana Sammataro, Alphonse Avitabile
As a new beekeeper this was the book that was always at hand with multiple bookmarks helping us learn a new hobby. Seven years and four apiaries later this book is still at hand between the bookends on my desk for quick references. You don't have to be a beekeeper to be fascinated by the lives and activities of these amazing little creatures and all the work that goes into caring for them.