Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from January 2001

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from January 2001

Leaking Mirro lids.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Just a note to other Countrysiders with a Mirro pressure canner serial #M0512-11 made 1984 or earlier. If your canner came with the gray rubber gasket and you find Mirro's new black ones leak while canning, there is only one place...

Wood burner and cola tip.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I read your article on wood heat, a very good refresher course. However, there is one slight problem with putting the wood burner in the basement that a friend of mine ran into. They put theirs in the basement, but the heat would...

Primitive cisterns weren't without bacteria.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I'm writing in response to Mrs. Stanko's inquiry on using cisterns without bleach or filters. First of all, I don't think ancient cisterns produced clean, healthy water. If anything, they were probably little short of a cesspool,...

Peat filters might be feasible for filtering water.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I haven't built it yet, but a peat filter seems to have benefits and no downsides. I had been searching for a water filter that I could construct myself, when I got distracted by peat filters. After looking at a few web sites,...

Sweet acorns.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: In the Sept./Oct. 2000 issue there is an article on page 64, "Don't let those acorns go to waste!" The type of acorn is not specified. I remember reading in a book on Native American foods that certain types of acorns are better...

Recycled bread.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Yesterday I wasn't watching closely enough and the bread over-rose. I cooked it anyway and, of course, it came out too heavy. I knew my family wouldn't eat it that way so I came up with this recipe for croutons, bread cubes or...

Saving tomato seeds.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: The seed-saving technique for tomatoes (Sept./Oct. 2000) is what I do too, except to dry the seed I mix it with small-grained sand. When the seed is dry, put it through a fine strainer and the sand goes through but the seeds stay...

What is brewer's yeast?
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: My husband and I recently found an old 1932 issue of Capper's Farmer magazine. One of the articles mentioned the use of brewer's yeast in the grain bucket of calves providing vitamin B, and thus stimulating appetite. The article...

Feta cheese recipe.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I just read the article on Feta cheese and wanted to let you know how I make Feta. Bring 2 gallons of fresh (i.e., not soured) goat milk to approximately 190 [degrees] F. It should have little bubbles under the film. Using a...

Age is just a number.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I am a new subsciber and read with interest the letters in your September/October issue about whether someone is too old to start homesteading. I am 54 years old, but that means nothing as far as being able to do things. In...

Cider press works great -- if they only had apples ...
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I wanted to let you know that I just built an apple cider press based on Steve's plan. Steve was right -- it works like a charm. Only one regret -- I live in Florida where we have an abundance of citrus, not apples. Well, it's a...

Sandwich bags keep canning jars clean.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: This is the time of year everyone is starting to use the food they canned last summer. I have a simple and easy way to keep jars clean. Place fold-over sandwich bags (not zip lock) over the tops of the clean, dry jars. Some might...

An easier way to get "hard-boiled" eggs.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Just a short letter to share a wonderful solution. Whenever I hard boiled my freshly laid brown eggs I could not get the peel off without peeling part of the egg with it. I learned that as fresh eggs get older the air space between...

Alternative power water distiller and potato hint.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: We would like to build or buy a water distiller that uses an alternative source of power, such as a woodstove or propane. The only one we found on the market was too small, and is mostly used for emergencies. If anyone has...

Winter in Missouri.
January 1, 2001... COUTRYSIDE: This is one of the very few magazines I'd really miss. I've been with you off and on since the early 1970s when I lived in Northwest Missouri. My husband is out cutting wood for a future winter right now. We have enough stored...

It's not too early to think about AC.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: My home has the standard central heat and air system, which I normally do not use. Summers in Arkansas are always hot, in the 90s with some lower 100s and the high humidity which is typical of the south. But last August,...

Son thinks this mom's "cool".
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you for publishing my "City Chick" article! My son, Nick, thinks that it's very cool that my article is in a magazine that he has grown up with! I was absolutely thrilled to receive e-mails from readers regarding my article....

The next generation of Belangers carry on.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: My wife and I've been subscribers of COUNTRYSIDE since the 80s. I love all the reader-written issues focusing on homesteading; that's always been the heart of your magazine. I notice, too, that the magazine has been passed to...

Cheese making sources.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I am looking for some sources of products used to make cheese. Would you please let me know if you have any available? Also, we are planning a fireplace in our home. The chimney already exists and we have access to it. Are...

Natural ingredients can be powerful.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: In regard to your advice on how to get rid of fleas and ticks (Sept./Oct. 2000), I am somewhat apprehensive. Tobacco dust is poisonous and might be irritating to a dog's skin, if not worse. I would be afraid to use it. Orris root...

Poor health changes contact writer's plans.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I would like to take this means to thank the many people who replied to my Contact (Sept/Oct). However, a recent hospital stay has changed the whole plan, and I won't be able to stay on my "neglected farm." I'm sorry I can't...

Another use for flower pots.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: We have found that plastic flower pots make great fly trap tops for jars of lure. We use rotten eggs with water and a bit of soap for the lure for the first batch, and just reserve some of the liquid for future uses. We fill the...

Any advice on bartering skills for land?
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I came across your magazine this summer, and loved it. I have always loved country life. I do not like living in town. I have a dilemma though, and was hoping readers might have some advice. For the last few years I have been...

Where's the horse info?
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I would like to make one suggestion for the magazine. I know that my wife and I (and I am sure there are others) would appreciate more information on horses and their use in homesteading along with general tips on caring for them....

His advice: Follow your instincts.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Since I was 13 years old I've wanted to move to a farm and be self supporting, but like many other people, I let life get in the way and fell into the old "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality. No more! I've made up my mind and...

Nightmares in the country continue to be common ...
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I'm not sure how I can express how much each issue of COUNTRYSIDE means to me. Especially the letters of support that every issue seems to have for fellow homesteaders. I am still in the "rat race," and am working hard at saving...

... even in Minnesota.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I can really sympathize with the person from Arkansas who left their nightmare in Florida. I was basically run off my own land in Minnesota because we couldn't afford a several thousand dollar mound system. They are trying to force...

A two-year update on their adventures.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I'm a little sleepy this morning, having stayed up just a bit too long reading my latest issue of COUNTRYSIDE. I awoke feeling inspired to tell you just how we've faired the last two years since we first wrote and shared our good...

Can tires be used as heat source?
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Do you have any information on alternative heating sources ? Here in the state of Kansas, it is permissible to burn old tires as a fuel source. Does anyone know of any affordable alternative heating systems that can handle tires? I...

Getting online cheaply.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: In recent issues, I have seen articles regarding the internet and the affordability of getting online. I just wanted to share with those that might consider going online if it were cheaper. My budget wouldn't allow me to get online...

Web site for septic system technology.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: In reference to septic tanks and systems: National Small Flows Clearinghouse published by the US EPA out of the University of West Virginia has much free literature and a free quarterly newsletter on septic systems, new technology,...

Makestuff.com.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I think a great website is www.makestuff.com. They have all different kinds of recipes and ideas, many of them from simple things that most homesteaders have in stock. Check it out! -- Ron & Jenny Buttke

Tips on squirrels, bees, lamps.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I have a few recommendations: 1. If you have squirrels chewing holes into your eaves, add red pepper to your paint; 2. Take your kerosene lamp outside, then blow it out. You will not have any odor inside. Regarding...

Paper towels make nice wicks.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Roger and I made one discovery that I'd like to share. Probably the whole world already knows this and we are really slow, but... Did you realize that it's possible to make wicks for oil lamps out of good quality paper towels like...

What the heck is it?
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: One of my students Brought this in. Can anyone tell us what this tool is used for? This tool is a hay knife. It was used for cutting hay stacks. -- Bill Schuster

Garden tip.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Homesteaders generally appreciate new ideas that improve productivity, save valuable time or help reduce the amount of waste we produce by the act of recycling. While pondering my problems with prairie and Bermuda grasses in my...

Check codes and zoning regulations when building.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: While your owner-built homes are interesting, I'm guessing the majority were not built to code and zoning regulations. It is very important to investigate before you buy. You must talk to the country officials and not the...

A cord is a cord -- or is it?
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Most folks think a cord is a measure of wood four feet wide, four feet high and eight feet long, and a "rick" is 1/2 of a cord -- two feet wide, four feet high, and eight feet long. Well, that is the legal cord, but there are...

Cider press worked great.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: I found a five-foot base cabinet with a formica counter top and a double stainless steel sink on one end for $35.00 (and the whole thing was really in good shape). I got that $45.00 garbage disposal, and installed it in the left...

Insects and poor soil inhabit this homestead.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: We are senior citizens and own 3-1/2 acres. There are millions of grasshoppers and mosquitoes here. We are overrun with Morning Glory weeds. We have wind and would like windpower, and maybe a windmill for water. Please give us...

The Don and Carla show.
January 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Thought people might be interested in the following information: On August 14, 2000, Carla Emery and Don DeLong launched their mutual dream -- a three-hour, weekday nights (7-10 PM, Mountain Time), live talkshow on the...

Countryside Contacts.
January 1, 2001... Your listing is free; however, please keep the following in mind: * We reserve the right to accept or reject any and all submissions for any reason or no reason at all. * Submissions may be edited for clarity or brevity. * You may...

Make bio-diesel from used kitchen grease.
January 1, 2001... Gas prices got you down? Worried about future reserves? Introduction What is biodiesel? In the early 1990s, U.S. agriculture became interested in the development of nonfood uses for its abundant soybean and oilseed harvests. At...

Are the oil wells drying up?
January 1, 2001... These folks say yes -- and predict it may happen sooner than we might think Technical writer Bruce Thomson, Toronto, Canada, is also the moderator of the Running On Empty website. He and his colleagues have been looking at the possibility...

Solar equipment payback time.
January 1, 2001... Almost all homesteaders want to use alternative energy, for some of the reasons that make us want to become homesteaders in the first place: It's Earth-friendly and sustainable, it provides independence, and the power itself is free. But...

Free hot water!
January 1, 2001... How would you like to have all of the free hot water you could use? I have, and you can if you live in a place you are going to stay for at least five to eight years and have good southern exposure, even if it's just on the roof. The payback...

Truly an unconventional structure.
January 1, 2001... "Unconventional structure." That was how the building inspector described the main room and overhead balcony that Vern Nielson has built into the front living room of his home, which is still in the building process. However, when you venture...

Harnessing the wind.
January 1, 2001... Some say he's a modern day Don Quixote, roaming the countryside, searching the horizons for windmills. Soft-spoken Harry Rose, Jr., is bold but chivalrous -- a gentleman in his quest for landowners to part with these now-silent sentinels of the...

The affordable underground house.
January 1, 2001... I enjoyed Mike Oakes' article "Earth sheltered, Earth conscious" in the July/August issue of COUNTRYSIDE. It's always good to see earth shelter awareness burning brightly. When properly done, earth sheltering does indeed give wonderful savings...

Preventing hypothermia.
January 1, 2001... This year 1,000 to 10,000 Americans will die as a result of succumbing to low body temperature. We know this condition as hypothermia. But while most everyone knows that exposure to harsh winter weather is dangerous, many individuals do not...

Maple syrup -- Mother Nature's candy.
January 1, 2001... "When you sit down to a plate of piping hot pancakes, a golden waffle, or slices of lightly powdered French toast, nothing improves the taste more than maple syrup. When you find pure maple syrup, you can always be assured there are no...

Small-scale grain raising.
January 1, 2001... The thought of raising grain usually conjures up thoughts of huge, expensive equipment and vast expanses of land. Raising grain may seem like it is not practical for the homesteader or small farmer but it is easier than you might think and...

Mid-winter gardening thoughts.
January 1, 2001... Some homestead chores are so much fun you have to worry they might be illegal. Browsing the seed catalogues and putting together your order has to be at the top of that list for wintertime. Now that I grow most of my own seed, I rather miss the...

Effects of double-digging in a backyard garden.
January 1, 2001... In this experiment, the results were a surprise Increasing yields in home gardens is the goal of many new approaches to bed preparation, layout and planting. Sustainability and minimizing impact on the environment has also led to new...

Gardening lingo 101.
January 1, 2001... Acid soil: Soil with a pH below 7.0 -- most fruits and vegetables grow best in a soil pH of 5.2-7.1. Aeration: Free movement of air through the root zone; this is prevented in compacted and waterlogged soils. Alkaline soil: Soil with a...

An easy-to-build tool rack.
January 1, 2001... As I was cleaning up the workshop the other day, I noticed the wide variety of tools needed on the homestead. Since I like to go to auctions and buy used tools (who can pass up a good shovel for a dollar?), I usually just lean them against the...

How to measure bushels of grain.
January 1, 2001... To find the number of bushels of grain or shelled corn in a bin or box: Multiply length by width by depth in feet and divide by 1.25 or multiply by 8 and leave off the last right-hand digit. Example: 100 cubic feed divided by 1.25 = 80...

Tractor tune-up.
January 1, 2001... A simple tune-up can increase the performance and life of your tractor up to 3 hp, and can also make it turn out one to two more hp per gallon of fuel. Check your spark plugs regularly. They are often the major culprits robbing you of...

Be on the lookout for deadly screwworm infestations in livestock.
January 1, 2001... Florida Ag Commissioner, Bob Crawford, is asking all animal owners, private veterinarians and the general public to be on the lookout for screwworm. Screwworm is the common name of a pest native to the tropical areas of North, South and Central...

Let the lambing season begin.
January 1, 2001... Get prepared beforehand Lambing season begins when the rams are allowed access to ewes in estrus. The lambing event will occur in 142 to 152 days, depending on the breed. Dorsets, for example, have a shorter gestation period than...

Highland cattle are making a prestigious comeback.
January 1, 2001... Highland beef isn't exactly "new" but this unique breed of cattle dating back to the 12th century has been rapidly gaining in popularity as the favorite on the chopping blocks of the nation's top chefs. What is new is a program to make it...

Johne's disease threatens dairies.
January 1, 2001... Researchers believe Johne's disease may be the most serious infectious disease now threatening the dairy industry. "Studies indicate that about 10% of US dairy cattle -- and between 20% and 40% of herds -- have Johne's disease," says...

Goats and pneumonia.
January 1, 2001... Dairy goats evidently get pneumonia fairly easily, even with good housing. Beginners might like to know that they don't have to choose between letting the animal die or paying a vet more than the animal is worth. I have brought at least...

Oat hay for older horses.
January 1, 2001... Horse owners are showing an interest in feeding oat hay to their horses. Simply put, oat hay is hay that is made from an oat crop not harvested for grain. "Oat hay is not a commonly used forage in a horse ration," Bob Coleman, equine...

Endangered domestic waterfowl.
January 1, 2001... Six breeds of domestic ducks and four breeds of domestic geese exist in such low numbers as to be considered critically endangered, according to a report of research on domestic waterfowl conducted by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy...

Carpenter bees can be a real nuisance.
January 1, 2001... Do you have any remedies for bees that burrow into the wood on the outside of your house and make their way into the inside? We have used a commercial spray and also have had an exterminator at our house one or two times a year, but they always...

Three-minute bean soups.
January 1, 2001... Full of fiber, totally nutritious, and so delicious! Do your beans take forever to cook? Do old beans refuse to soften even when cooked all day? Or do you refuse to cook them because they just take too long? An easy solution: bean...

Easy-does-it cheese (semi-hard).
January 1, 2001... ANONYMOUS, NEW YORK 4-5 quarts fresh goat milk 1 tablespoon salt 2-3 ounces cheese starter or 1/2 cup buttermilk 1/4 rennet tablet or 1 Junket rennet tablet 1/4 cup cold water. In a stainless steel pan, warm the milk and...

Regluing your wood chairs.
January 1, 2001... It's not as difficult as you may think Our wood dining room set was beginning to show signs of coming unglued. The chair rungs kept popping out of their holes and two of the chairs had one front leg break off. Blame it on wood heat, blame...

Saving for retirement: Starting early in life is the key.
January 1, 2001... Saving for retirement is about the lowest priority for most young people early in their careers. And that's unfortunate, since a dollar saved early in life could be worth $3 to $4 saved later. For example, say you save $2,000 a year from...

A hole in the forest.
January 1, 2001... Sometime in the winter of 1997-1998, we began planning for an early and minimal retirement. Our goal was to sell our present home in suburban Atlanta and retire to the woods of northwest Georgia. Boy did things get complicated after that! ...

Real food -- only for real people?
January 1, 2001... I am certainly no writer and am not in the habit of writing letters to magazines, but a series of events has prompted me to write this. I am hoping it will help others like myself not feel like total strangers in this world and I am hopefully...

A few things that I know for sure ...
January 1, 2001... Plants have always intrigued me. I can remember tending to my own collection of houseplants when other teens at that time were glued to their Ataris (remember those?). I seemed to know instinctively how to care for the plants, i.e., pinching...

Life is good for them in Missouri.
January 1, 2001... ANONYMOUS GALLATIN, MO I live in a small Missouri town about two blocks from country roads in all directions. Life has been pretty good here. I've put in lots of fruit, nut, and berry trees in the past seven years, and have a garden going...

Britain works on preventing asteroid collisions.
January 1, 2001... A British government team is to propose spending up to 25m [pounds sterling] (roughly $26 million) on a plan that would safeguard Britain and the world from devastation by a giant asteroid or comet. The Spaceguard initiative could see...

Mulberry leaves and diabetes.
January 1, 2001... Researchers have found mulberry leaves may be effective in preventing diabetes by suppressing the intestinal absorption of sugar. Mulberry roots and leaves have been used in Chinese medicine as a diuretic and cough suppressant. Tea from...

Drug residues in milk.
January 1, 2001... More than 98.5 million pounds of milk were destroyed due to drug residues between October 1998 and September 1999, according to Todd Prescott, dairy marketing manager for the drug company Merial Limited.

Genetically modified goats.
January 1, 2001... An Australian research institute and a Chinese drug company plan to genetically modify goat embryos with human genes in order to produce the protein albumin, used for the treatment of shock. A base group of up to 600 modified goats will be...

Greenpeace acquitted in GM trial.
January 1, 2001... A jury cleared 28 members of the environmental group Greenpeace of causing criminal damage when they wrecked an experimental crop of genetically modified maize in eastern England. The verdict was seen as a potentially major blow to the...

Irish potato fungus returns.
January 1, 2001... Irish potato fungus shrivels potatoes and has developed more aggressive strains, which are now spreading around the world. (This is the same fungus that caused the Irish Potato Famine which killed one million people in the mid-1800s.) The...

Climbing income.
January 1, 2001... Accounting for inflation, the median income level for the nation's households rose 2.7 percent from $39,744 in 1998 to a record-high of $40,816 last year. The average poverty threshold for a family of four in 1999, also accounting for...

Use caution when aerating older ponds.
January 1, 2001... New aerator can help you do just that Be very careful if you must aerate an older pond having deep sediment which has become anaerobic. You can tell if you have a dangerous condition by stirring up the bottom sediment and smelling the...