Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from January 2004

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from January 2004

Is nothing sacred?(From the editor)
January 1, 2004... We've decided to stop printing complete addresses of contributors because good folks are receiving correspondence from some rather unsavory souls, and the practice seems to be growing. (Parents: Please make special note of this! Know who your...

Who gets the farm when you're gone?(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE; I just have to comment on Betty Daniels' retirement worries (page 26, Nov/Dec). Betty writes that she has no kids, has not made a will and does not know who she should leave her farm to. I have no advice concerning part time...

Book helps when processing deer.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Other than the Nov/ Dec 03 issue on processing a deer, do you have an article that tells (and shows) where to make the cuts on the deer? For example, how to get the "back straps" or filet off the back and where to cut the legs...

Cinnamon stops ants in their tracks ...(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I just received the Nov/ Dec 03 issue and was reading about how to get rid of ants. I heard it mentioned on "The Dirt Doctor" radio program that cinnamon would kill ants. When ants got into my dog food, I lightly dusted cinnamon on...

... Boron works, too.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Boron products (or just plain boron) is a good insect deterrent, even for ants. It is also environmentally friendly. You can use it in your home and if you come in contact with it it won't hurt you. I've never heard of it being...

Making the best of a bad situation.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: First, let me say how much I dearly love your magazine. I've only been a subscriber for about a year, but your magazine has already helped me so much in planning my escape from the city. I've lived in the same inner-city...

There's land available in Tennessee.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I am writing because I see ads and articles in your magazine where people are looking for land. We live in the mountains of east Tennessee. We bought our land with owner financing. There is plenty more land available here and we...

"Poor" isn't synonymous with "desperate".(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Although I was a child during the Thirties, I thought it was quite normal that my parents made do on a very low income. Especially since I don't remember us missing a meal--although most of the time we ate the basics, with the...

"Instant" squirrel remedy?(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I'm in a losing war with ground squirrels. I have been unsuccessful using the smoking devices, shooting is out of the question, and I don't have a good terrier or cat. I'd appreciate any methods for killing ground squirrels and...

Japanese beetles bug him.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Thanks so much for a great magazine. I have a problem with a pest eradication that I'm hopeful you'll have some answers. Every year about this time (Sept. 1-Oct. 31), our home in the country is inundated with Japanese beetles...

This radical is cheap.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I just want to put my two cents' worth in... As for those who think they can't have it all, it just depends on what you're happy with. I've been a reader for a couple of years and agree with most of the things I read....

Curious how this holds her interest ...(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I live in the center of a "thriving city--Orlando, FL. I am within two miles of the dead center of this place. However, I found this magazine and it is so intense I must read it in short spaces of time. I care about these men...

Two "pees" in a pot.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Spring was upon us and it was time to start planting our summer crop. As we planted, the area got larger and larger until we ended up with an area of about 60 x 70 feet. All was nice and neat except that each morning some little...

Smaller homes make sense environmentally.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I've noticed that when you picture someone building a house it is usually a big house and looks hard to heat. I've always pictured homesteading as a way to lessen the worry of the high cost of heat and upkeep of that size house,...

Not all cures are good for you.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I was reading with interest the comments on Penetran Plus, especially the letter from Annette Snow. I wanted to respond to that as well as to the information in general, but mainly, it was her comment about wanting to know if...

Even the ads are interesting.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Bless you for sending the sample copy of COUNTRYSIDE. I have gotten soured with magazines by the amount of advertising in them. COUNTRYSIDE has just the right amount of advertising to be helpful and plenty of articles by real...

Cottonwood is too soft for use in buildings.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I have hundreds of 10-15-year-old cottonwood trees on my property. I was wondering/hoping that I could use some of these for a post-and-beam structure along with strawbale infill. I do not know if this will be good/strong enough...

98-year-old signs up for two more years!(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I am 98 years old and want to renew my subscription for another two years. I have been reading and enjoying this magazine for many years. I just wanted to say what a pleasure it is to be able to relive my life from when I was...

The pet vs. meat debate continues.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: My husband and I got the biggest kick out of the article written by the fellow who was trying to make a living on his homestead. Our favorte parts were about getting a pot bellied pig or an emu from the animal shelter to feed the...

Old-fashioned soap recipe.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I was wondering if there are any readers that know any "old" methods of making soap. I have three small children and a lot of animals and I can't bring myself to use commercial lye in or around my home. I have read a few articles...

Is homesteading simply a hobby?(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: In each issue of COUNTRYSIDE I read about the nostalgic adventure of owning a farm, and living off the land. It is time all of you would-be farmers stop, look and listen before you get hit by the Farmers Train. Yes, country...

Wine vs. vinegar mystique unveiled.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I enjoyed Sue Robishaw's reply concerning wine and vinegar that was published in the Nov/ Dec, 2003 edition of COUNTRYSIDE magazine. However, I found some aspects of the discussion rather confusing and thought I would try to...

Is burning corn economical in the long run?(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: In the November/December 03 issue, a person wrote inquiring on more information on corn stoves. (Corn is better, but it still isn't great!) In it, she makes a couple of statements that I feel need to be commented on. I realize...

Cold sore remedy works.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I have a cold sore remedy and it really does work. Of course, it has to be done correctly, or the results will be indifferent. Done well, it's very, very good. Take three regular tea bags (I use Lipton orange pekoe and pekoe...

Homemade shower cleaner.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I was looking for a recipe for homemade daily shower cleaning spray to make when our store-bought bottle runs out. I prefer not to use bleach, so here is an alternative to the spray mentioned in the Nov/Dec issue. Mix equal parts...

Winter reading suggestions.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you for including mention of The Fourth Turning (Strauss and Howe) in the Nov/Dec 03 issue of COUNTRYSIDE. Let me hasten to recommend Wendell Berry's The Art of the Commonplace as follow-up reading. A couple of recent...

Life in a culvert.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: A while ago someone asked about using culverts for underground homes. If he will write to Utah Shelter Systems (PO Box 638, Heber, UT 84032-0638), they can answer all his questions because they sell them. --Joel L. Brown...

What to do with wheatberries?(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I have a question about what to do with the five gallon container of wheat berries that we still have from Y2K. I did buy two grain mills--one manual and one Kitchen Aid. After reading the King Arthur 100th Anniversary...

Pests and pets.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: After reading the letters about munching on "pets," I felt I had to write. First, however, I must thank the person who gave the boric acid ant-killer recipe. I put the boric acid out with citrus soda (Mountain Dew, Crisp,...

You may have a choice of electric suppliers.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I've been living vicariously through you all for several years now, and figure it's about time I wrote to thank you all for helping me keep my sanity (while in prison), and to pass on a few helpful hints as well. If you live...

Thanks for the memories.(Country conversation & feedback)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE; Author Gene Stratton Porter is (was) an awesome writer. I was surprised, and pleased, to see a reference to his books in the Favorite Books section of your magazine. I have his Daughter of the Land (Country Life Press, N Y, 1918)....

A backyard lean-to: for the green thumb.(Homestead building)
January 1, 2004... It has been two years, four months, and five days since we started our homestead. My daughters and I have learned many lessons in that time, but none more important than a successful harvest starts with preparation and patience. Mother...

E-z blacksmithing tongs.
January 1, 2004... The ability to heat and form metal on the homestead can come in very handy. It was very common for old time farmsteads to have a small forge in the workshop. For an easy-to-make forge, see the section on blacksmithing in Reader's Digest...

History of the ride-on garden tractor.(The machine shed)
January 1, 2004... With all the major tractor manufacturers now making garden tractors, the choice for the homesteader is immense, but it hasn't always been this way. The first tractors aimed at the horticulturalist rather than the farmer were a long way...

Soy-based biodiesel offers a potential market.
January 1, 2004... A Kentucky program is giving diesel customers a chance to evaluate soy-based biodiesel, a processed fuel made from soybean oil. For the second year in a row the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board has supplied a handful of distributors around...

Retiree designs & builds a fun hobby.
January 1, 2004... An unexpected wind storm and many years of construction job "left overs" provided a retired union carpenter with the need and necessary materials to design and build a band sawmill for under $100 including blades, v-belts, and a centrifugal...

Identify your wood: do you know what's in your woodlot?(The woodlot)
January 1, 2004... If you have a project involving wood and decide to use the trees from your own woodlot, you need to know which tree species are suitable for your needs. You don't need a forester or someone with a forester degree, it's an additional expense,...

Make an easy fence puller and an easy way to plant seed.(The woodlot)
January 1, 2004... While living in northern Illinois, I bought a 172 acre farm at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, intending to be the farmer of the century. I commuted from my Chicago job every Friday, returning to northern Illinois Sunday night, for 13 years....

Shotgunning for squirrels.(Homestead hunting)
January 1, 2004... The windstorm shook the tall oaks from side to side as if they were just so many reeds of wheat. On an overcast evening, I crossed the fence into my favorite woodlot to take full advantage of the waning days of the Maryland squirrel hunting...

Adventures in tanning.
January 1, 2004... I have been a taxidermist for so long that sometimes I forget the simplest and easiest ways to do things. I recently received a letter from a gentleman who has been tanning hides for 45 years. Mr. Johnny Carcass of California wrote me a nice...

Apples.(Notes from the Northwoods)
January 1, 2004... There are some things on the homestead that are very specific, like the wood pile or a chicken coop. Then there are those that seem to incorporate the entire universe in their being--such is the apple tree. If you don't live in apple country,...

Growing a kitchen garden economize on size.(The garden)
January 1, 2004... I've never seen a yard without space for a kitchen garden. Yet, next to lack of time, the reason most often given for not having a kitchen garden is lack of space. You can double or triple the effective area of a small kitchen garden...

The inter-relationships of plants.(The garden)
January 1, 2004... You may find asparagus helpful in deterring pests when planted near tomatoes or parsley; beets near kohlrabi or onions, carrots near peas; beans near onions or potatoes; strawberries near bush beans, due to the plants' inter-relationships. The...

Trimming hooves: this practice works for goats as well as sheep.(The goat barn)
January 1, 2004... Regular trimming of goat and sheep hooves is important to keep your animals from becoming lame. If you live in an area of the country where the terrain is rugged and rocky, it may not be necessary to trim hooves. But if your animals are on a...

Start your own meat goat herd.(The goat barn)
January 1, 2004... I have been involved with goats for over 20 years, starting with grade dairy goats. My farm currently has over 40 head of registered fullblood, purebred, and percentage Boer goats. Our herd began with one fullblood buck and two very pregnant...

Rabbit raising from a Pakistani view.(The rabbit barn)
January 1, 2004... "COUNTRYSIDE: We came to know you through the Internet. We are very impressed by your articles and would like to contribute to your magazine. I am basically a bio-chemist working in the field of organic agriculture, the effects of...

Raising rabbits in colonies.(The rabbit barn)
January 1, 2004... I'm writing to respond to an article in the Jan/Feb 03 issue about raising rabbits in colonies. Ken's idea sounds wonderful except for a couple of catches; the main one being that rabbits shouldn't be pastured on land where cattle have...

Excessive calcium levels: is it cutting short the lives of your poultry?(The poultry yard)
January 1, 2004... Calcium is a soft, silvery-white metallic element found most widely in rocks such as chalk, limestone, and marble. It is one of our most abundant metals and makes up about 3-1/2% of the earth's crust. It is essential to all living things,...

Are alpacas right for your homestead? An alpaca primer.(Homestead livestock)
January 1, 2004... The alpaca is native to South America and is a member of the camelid family. The camelid family includes the camel, the llama, the alpaca, the vicuna and the guanaco. Alpacas and their cousins, the llama, have been domesticated for some 6,000...

Scenes from a hayfield.(Family album)
January 1, 2004... Ken Scharabok sent more photos (right) taken during his 2001 trip to Croatia to visit distant relatives. (For the original story, see the Sept/Oct 2001 issue.) In the top photo a Croatian woman rakes hay with a wooden rake, which is then...

Breakfast in Croatia.(Snippets)
January 1, 2004... Officials said 38,660 Croats ate polenta, yogurt and apples during an hourlong breakfast in 11 cities in order to be entered in The Guinness Book of Records. "We have to promote our country any way we can," said 49-year-old Olga...

It's locally grown--really.(Snippets)
January 1, 2004... Somerton Tanks Farm in Philadelphia is proving that organic farming can be profitable in just about any setting--even in an urban area. Located on a small half acre, the inner city farm is selling its organic produce and salad mixes to local...

Food security as part of our national defense.
January 1, 2004... Conflicts seem remote for many Americans; battles occur in far off lands with men and women fighting and dying in foreign countries. It is hard for generations of Americans to even fathom that anything catastrophic could happen on our own soil...

One family farm is saved by organics: and provided community jobs along the way.
January 1, 2004... Shortly after Wayne Peters helped found a small cooperative of organic farmers who did everything from producing milk for the coop's cheese to delivering the cheese to the store, Wayne met a creamery owner in Lone Rock, WI who thought Wayne was...

Can your cow make you sick?(The cow barn)
January 1, 2004... I am writing with some advice for homesteaders who own cows now and for those who are planning on buying one in the future. I recently came across something I found to be horrifying. I am the owner of six cows, three Scottish Highlands (for...

Are you prepared? It's been four years since the turn of the century. Are you any more self-sufficient now than you were then?(Question of the month)
January 1, 2004... In the almost 20 years we've subscribed to COUNTRYSIDE, I've intended to write several times, but never found the time. The Question of the Month gave me the motivation I needed. To us, Y2K wasn't necessarily a non-event in that it...

10 miscellaneous homesteading tips.
January 1, 2004... When answering the Question of the Month in this issue, someone gave the following tips that they would like to share--unfortunately we lost their name! 1. Would you like a cup of fresh berries every summer morning? When clearing a spot to...

Homemaking tips from 1887.(Notes from long ago)
January 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I thought readers might be interested in some quotes from Every Day Cook Book and Encyclopedia of Practical Recipes for Family Use, written by Miss E. Neill. I have no idea when it was published, but several owners had signed their...

Starting your homestead business.(Homestead finances)
January 1, 2004... With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season now over, the quiet wintertime solitude in many areas of the country offers an ideal opportunity for the homesteader to reflect upon the four seasons just passed--and to make plans for the fresh...

Menstrual musings for homestead women.
January 1, 2004... Would you believe me if I told you that I actually look forward to getting my period every month? Wipe that disapproving scowl off your face, ladies, I am serious. Menstruation is a special and sacred time. It is an opportunity to give women a...

Deep winter.(Poor Will's Almanac)
January 1, 2004... Observe the daily circle of the sun, And the short year of each revolving moon: By them thou shalt foresee the following day, Nor shall a starry night thy hopes betray.--Poor Richard's Almanack, 1733 Astronomical data for January The Phases...

Germany attempts to increase organic farm numbers--through film.
January 1, 2004... The starting pistol is raised, the hens jump with excitement... and they're off. Half a dozen computer-animated chickens scream down the track--some clearing hurdles, others crashing through them. Only one is fit enough to make the finish...

Retirement success: how do you know?(Homestead finances)
January 1, 2004... Okay, the retirement party/dinner/luncheon is history. The gold watch is safely on your wrist, the pension checks are coming to your account on a regular basis. Life in the countryside seems beautiful. Six months or a few years ago payoff for...

Why choose probate?(Homestead finances)
January 1, 2004... Most of us are familiar with the phrase--the only two things you cannot escape are death and taxes. Since there are several ways to defer and work with tax issues, that leaves one concrete. The only thing we do not get out of is death. We...

The benefits of starting early.(Country neighbors)
January 1, 2004... Homesteading has great appeal to my partner as well as to me. We live in a suburb outside of Austin, Texas with Covenants and Restrictions, neighbors that see everything, deer that eat everything and raccoons that steal everything. ...

They found their homestead in their own backyard.(Country neighbors)
January 1, 2004... Through the years I have read many homesteading magazines and there is one theme that seems to come through quite often. That is one of longing to be on a homestead. People talk about trying to escape the towns where they are trapped. They want...

"For sale: secluded cabin": perhaps some dreams weren't meant to be.(Country neighbors)
January 1, 2004... I have been a subscriber and avid reader of COUNTRYSIDE for a number of years now. I can still remember how thrilled I was when I read my first issue. It was so-comforting to know that other people yearned for the kind of life I did, and...

Memories on the hoof.(Country neighbors)
January 1, 2004... Two years ago almost to the date, Joe Nickerson from the dairy down the road gifted me with a scrawny, scoury, little bull calf. It was only a couple of days old, small enough that Joe could carry him easily in his arms. "You want this...

The story of Alanna: this is a sweet story of one homesteding couple's trials ... and triumphs.(Country neighbors)
January 1, 2004... My wife and I met through a personal ad that I placed in Backwoods Home in 1999. I courted her through letters and visits while I still had my semi-truck. I knew from a vision I had in a dream that we were going to marry. I had just built...

The lighter side of deer hunting.(After chores)
January 1, 2004... I have read Gail, Reynold's article in the Nov/Dec '03 issue of COUNTRYSIDE, "Living on the wild side" and found it very useful and interesting. However, being an experienced hunter I feel it is my duty to forewarn those thinking of taking...