Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from July 2001

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from July 2001

Country conversation & feedback.
July 1, 2001... Contact us at W11564 Hwy 64, Withee WI 54498; e-mail csymag@tds.net Get excellent results with these feed recipes COUNTRYSIDE: I've heard from quite a few of my COUNTRYSIDE "family" members regarding the article on reducing our...

Technology for country folk.
July 1, 2001... Log on: Making a wood stove hot Log off: Too much wood on fire Monitor: Keep'n an eye on the wood stove Download: Gitten the farwood own the truck Mega hertz: When yer not keerfull gitten the farwood Floppy disk: Whatcha...

Countryside contacts.
July 1, 2001... Flooding I have a stream running along one side of my property. With rain or spring thaw it floods and is eroding my property. Any ideas on how to stop this? There is a lot of tree litter, could this be used? Randy, 21220 W. St. Rt. 51 Lot...

Selecting and starting your ideal home business.
July 1, 2001... The first step is often the hardest: What will you sell? Here are some points to consider If you want to start a home business, the first task is one of the most important, and the most difficult: You must decide what goods or services...

Thinking about a homestead enterprise?
July 1, 2001... Here are some ideas When thinking about a homestead enterprise, bear in mind everyone has unique capabilities and needs, as does each community. What may work one place at a particular time, may not in another. Sometimes it is very...

Italians lease sheep.
July 1, 2001... For $154 Italians can lease a sheep. Included in the package is a year's supply of wool (or four pairs of wool socks and two pairs of leggings if you don't want to knit your own), cheese, photos of your sheep and adoption papers, according to...

Do you really want to go into business for yourself?
July 1, 2001... If you think it's hard to come up with a good idea for a business, write a business plan and finance a startup, just wait until you encounter the hurdles that will show up in your path! While some of these vary by "first dollar" to hang on your...

Making money on the homestead.
July 1, 2001... We have dabbled with various ways of making extra cash on our homestead with less than stellar results. Our projects have included: Selling eggs We had a dozen hens and we had lots of eggs so we sold them to friends, neighbors and...

Question of the Month: Can you really live off your homestead?
July 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Do all the people who write articles talking about "homesteading" and "living off the land," make their entire living doing just that, or do they somehow manage to work other jobs, away from the farm, and still find time to...

I quit my job!
July 1, 2001... Hooray! I have quit my "day" job and by the time you read this, my husband will also be retired. Tom just turned 55 and I am but a youngster at age 50. We're now ready to devote full time to our homestead. It would be nice if I could say...

Cash at the county fair.
July 1, 2001... Everyone is always trying to find a little extra cash and ways to make ends meet, and I'm going to share one of my ways--I exhibit things at local fairs, I enjoy knitting and crocheting during the winter months and in my leisure time year...

Marketing your crafts.
July 1, 2001... If you are a craftsperson interested in the possibility of marketing your crafts, the following is provided as a resource list: Shops A listing of shops which purchase or take on consignment hand-crafted items can be obtained from: ...

Discover the art of old-fashioned Whistle making.
July 1, 2001... Department stores, mall and kid's stores overflow with toys flaunting computer chips that make them talk, cry and even wet themselves. They buzz, whiz, whirr and light up. But, it wasn't long ago when a child's favorite toy was a whistle of...

How do you measure a log?
July 1, 2001... How do you figure out bow many board feet art, in a log? A standard board foot (bf) is 1' x 1' x 1". Measure the length of the log in inches and the average diameter. Then figure out the square inches in a 1" section in the middle, multiply...

Small fruits offer income potential.
July 1, 2001... Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, grapes and other small fruits provide a good marketing potential for growers. Interest in small fruit production is increasing as farmers look for alternative sources of income from tobacco...

Milking sheep for money.
July 1, 2001... Sheep milk can be made into over 50 types of cheeses and the U.S. imports large amounts of them each year, predominately from Europe. Most come from the East Freisland breed, considered to be the Holstein of the sheep breeds, prized for the...

Build your own garden pond.
July 1, 2001... What can be more refreshing than the sight and sound of water? Water garden, water feature, pseudo-pond--call it what you will, this landscape addition is a hot (cool?) item. There are plenty of how-to's around--slick "do-it-yourself"...

Pros and cons of weed control with grass card.
July 1, 2001... An alternative to the chemical treatment of a pond which has become weedy is to stock it with fish which thrive on weeds. The white amur, more commonly known as grass carp, are native to two river systems in Eastern Asia. Their diet is...

Pyrethrum.
July 1, 2001... Pyrethrum (perennial) is a member of the Chrysanthemum family, and is widely used to make an organic insecticide. It is non-toxic to mammals and is considered a safe alternative to chemical insecticides. However, it can be harmful to beneficial...

Fishing is a great summer pastime.
July 1, 2001... And fish makes a good meal, too In many instances the sportsmen who are almost fanatical in their care of venison and other forms of wild game sometimes take little or no effort whatsoever when it comes to caring for the fish they catch. In...

Project management and the weekender.
July 1, 2001... Jeffrey Jacob studied COUNTRYSIDE readers and wrote about us in his book New Pioneers. Jacob classified COUNTRYSIDE readers according to how they attempted to solve what he calls the time-versus-money dilemma. People cannot spend time working...

Garden trivia.
July 1, 2001... Hollyhocks were often grown around the outhouse. The tall flowers helped hide the unsightly structure, while the fragrant blooms acted as a natural air freshener.--Heirloom Seeds, www. heirloomseeds.com

Tackle those tomatoes!
July 1, 2001... This time of year everybody seems to have an overabundance of tomatoes. If you're running out of ideas as to what to do with the extras, here are a few recipes from Julie Hunter, of Mammoth Spring, AR, to get you started. All of these recipes...

Hot-weather tips.
July 1, 2001... * Use the fan above your stove whenever you cook--not just when something starts smoking. The stove produces heat whenever it's used, so the fan will help draw out some of that heat. (Especially useful when canning!) * Open the door to...

Dehydrating foods is a great way to save space.
July 1, 2001... Here are a few tips you might find helpful Tips from: Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Cookbook, by Mary Bell, $15.00 plus $2.50 S&H.(*) Drying tomatoes Tomatoes are 90% water and are superb dried. Select red tomatoes that are ripe...

Authentic old-fashioned recipes.
July 1, 2001... Stuffed Tomatoes Ripe tomatoes Chopped ham Cracker or bread crumbs, fine Butter Salt Pepper Cut off the tops of tomatoes, hollow the inside, and mix the inside that you take out with chopped up ham; bread crumbs or crackers...

Here's some old-fashioned household advice.
July 1, 2001... Watkins Household Hints, Whitman Publishing Co., Racine, WI, 1941. Tighten knife handles To fasten a loose knife handle, fill the opening with finely powdered resin, heat and press the metal prong on knife into the opening. Let dry....

Bannocks.
July 1, 2001... Just one way the Scottish and Irish stretched meager wheat supplies COUNTRYSIDE: I was just reading the article on bread in 85/3:61, and I noted something interesting. The recipe for Bannock states that it originated in the "north country."...

Prevent watery-tasting drinks.
July 1, 2001... (The trick is in the ice) To make sure that nice tall glass of (fill in the blank here) retains its flavor, make flavored ice cubes by pouring iced tea, lemonade, orange juice or whatever into ice cube trays and freeze. The next time you...

Tips on saving your eggs.
July 1, 2001... COUNTRYSIDE: Three cheers for Skip Goebel's positive Y2K article in 85/ 2:20. In regards to Donna Miller's request for a way of keeping eggs (85/ 2:14), I found this information in a book titled The Forgotten Arts, by Richard M. Bacon,...

Make your own mixes.
July 1, 2001... Now that the busy harvest season is coming, any time-saving tips for quick meals are a blessing. Want to cut the cost of convenient mixes by at least 50%? Make your own delicious bread, cake, muffin, frosting, salad dressing, sauce,...

Vertical diversification.
July 1, 2001... In his time, D. Howard Doane was considered a forward thinker. A series of magazine articles turned into the 1950 book, Vertical Farm Diversification. In it, Mr. Doane stressed that increased profit for farmers did not necessarily lie in...

Fennel: Aromatic and flavor-filled.
July 1, 2001... Fennel shines in the spotlight of our Timberlakes Farm as one of my personally favorite herbs--not only because of its graceful (and almost regal) beauty in the herb patch; but because of its crisp aroma, delicate flavor and unprecedented...

Well water.
July 1, 2001... Make sure water is safe if your well gets flooded. You need to assume the water is contaminated if your well or basement floods. And to be safe, water should be boiled before drinking, cooking or mixing drinks. "Have the water from the...

Protect your home from wildfire.
July 1, 2001... A thought occurred to me after watching two scenes from TV footage of one of the major brush fires in California. The first was a guy hosing down his roof while his neighbor's house burned. The second was of Sean Penn and Madonna's mansion...

Your herbal medicine cabinet.
July 1, 2001... Herbs to grow now in preparation of those winter colds In an earlier issue (85/2) I wrote about four herbs that I grow and use for my family: Calendula, German chamomile, spearmint and purple coneflower. I've received such a positive...

How to raise the perfect flock of chickens.
July 1, 2001... In preparation for Y2K, we bought our place beyond the sidewalks. In anticipation of our first flock of chickens I spent months reading everything I could find on their care. I had never raised chickens before so I had a lot to learn. ...

Butchering day.
July 1, 2001... BEV CARNEY Butchering day September 2000 in southern Wisconsin. We have an assembly line of sorts: Caleb and Nathan Hataj catch and deliver the chickens to their dad David. Dave chops off their heads, my husband Tom Sinks hangs the birds...

LaFleche chickens.
July 1, 2001... This old, dual-purpose French breed is worth considering A chicken well worth a second glance is the unique LaFleche. Recently featured in an issue of the Bulletin, the SPPA (Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities) newsletter,...

Build your own rabbit hutch.
July 1, 2001... I recently saw a Contact in COUNTRYSIDE from a lady who was seeking plans for a rabbit hutch. After sending her the plans for my design, I realized that some of the other readers out there may find it useful as well. I came up with the...

Alternative marketing for hogs.
July 1, 2001... As a homestead enterprise have you considered raising market hogs, but don't want to try to complete against the big boys cranking them out by the thousands? Well, here are some examples of people going different routes to market their hogs....

There's a market for natural and organic pork, economist says.
July 1, 2001... The potential markets are there for smaller-scale hog producers considering niche marketing of natural and organic pork, according to a University of Minnesota study. "Between 40 and 80% of all consumers is the potential market for organic...

Choosing and caring for your dairy goat.
July 1, 2001... A dairy goat should be angular and not round, hip bones prominent, thighs thin, with considerable length of neck and long body. (See charts at right.) Any tendency to be short and thick of body, short of neck, thick in the thighs or in any way...

How to castrate bull calves.
July 1, 2001... If you are going to fatten a male calf for the freezer beyond about six months of age it is generally recommended the calf be castrated. This not only improves the flavor of the beef, but a steer will put on weight faster than a bull and is...

Dehorn steers before they're yearlings for faster growth.
July 1, 2001... A recent study at the University of Wisconsin found yearling Holstein steers that were dehorned and then put on feed gained weight much more slowly than herdmates that had been dehorned as calves. Dehorning calves at younger ages will minimize...

Traditional cattle options.
July 1, 2001... Traditionally cattle raising has been divided into three areas: cow/ calf operators who supply weaned calves, stockers who raise the weaned calves until they are ready to go into a feedlot and the feedlot operation. Sometimes these areas become...

Create your own corn silage.
July 1, 2001... It's not just for the "big boys" Anyone can make corn silage--you don't need big expensive equipment and 100s of acres. I live on five acres in Coast Range Mountains of Western Oregon. I planted only 1,000 feet of row corn and used a...

How long will a tractor last?
July 1, 2001... According to the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, you can expect a tractor to be good for 12,000 hours (compared with 2,250 for a pickup truck). Tillage tools--plows, harrows, discs, etc.--last an average of 2,250, as do mowers,...

Should you farm out that job?
July 1, 2001... Consider the benefits of owning your own machinery as opposed to hiring the work done. Being able to time field operations properly can make a big difference in yield and quality. Bad weather can really put you in a bind if you're relying on...

Apples with a nice red color may not taste the best.
July 1, 2001... Those bright red apples may catch your eye, but those with a greenish-yellow background color are apt to taste better. When selecting apples, look for fruit that's well colored for its variety. Red overcolor isn't as important as the...

Finding a horse for work or pleasure.
July 1, 2001... While the use of horses for farm labor has declined with the advent of faster machinery here in the U.S., horses still have merit as farm animals for those looking to reap this incredible animal's benefits. A horse can navigate in areas...

A free college education?
July 1, 2001... Are you planning to relocate? How about to a state which offers free college scholarships! In Georgia the proceeds from their state lottery go into a fund which provides scholarships to Georgia students who maintained at least a B-average...

Eeeeee! Ticket to ride!
July 1, 2001... WINTERSTAR WINTERSTAR3@HOTMAIL.COM I should know better by now. This has happened too many times before. Born in California, I know how these things go, from the ones in the L.A. area, to the Loma Prieta. Then the one in Satsop, WA, two...

What to do before a disaster.
July 1, 2001... Included in the rash of April 1998 tornadoes in the Southeast was one which hit the city of Nashville, TN. In their reporting on it, The Tennessean included the general post-tornado damage advice: - Contact your insurance company/ companies...

Trash-picked treasures.
July 1, 2001... Jaunts around the neighborhood help keep her sane within the sidewalks The nice weather for Northern gardening has finally arrived and I'm still stuck here in a big city. The spouse still won't relocate and COUNTRYSIDE is the only source...

Homesteading not a trend--it's a way of life!
July 1, 2001... I was introduced to your magazine about four years ago, and my first thought was: "Thank God, I'm not alone!" I was raised in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, long before it became destroyed by ski resorts and honeymoon havens. We had...

Family meetings can help homesteads run smoothly.
July 1, 2001... Most homesteads have several family members contributing. That means regular family meetings can help an operation run smoothly. Family meetings provide an opportunity for family members to share opinions and points of view and know that...

The benefits of thrift.
July 1, 2001... As a stay-at-home mother of seven, I have at least that many reasons to maintain a thrifty lifestyle! I spoke to a group of young women recently about household thrift, and to get thrift out of the box labled "deprivation," I shared the...

The Bread Builders.
July 1, 2001... The Bread Builders, by Daniel Wing and Alan Scott; 253 pp; $35; Chelsea Green Publishing Co., White River Junction VT; 1999; ISBN 1-890132-05-5 This is actually two books in one. The first is about bread--specifically, good old-fashioned...

Lessons From Under A Tractor.
July 1, 2001... Lessons From Under A Tractor, Karen Kendig, 1994 Pakaradokia Press, PO Box 292, Kiowa, CO 80117 Homesteaders are used to doing for themselves: Seeing value in keeping busy, whether tending livestock, mending fence, cooking, cleaning, or...

Homemade hair conditioner.
July 1, 2001... Would you have a recipe for homemade hair conditioner? I would appreciate reading about it if so. -- Frances Neuils, 377 Larkspur Cir., Zusolle, LA 71486 For homemade hair conditioner, comb mayonnaise through dry hair, coating evenly....

How do we make baking powder?
July 1, 2001... We were hoping there was someone who could give us a recipe for making baking powder from scratch. We can't find anything without aluminum in it except at the healthfood store, and that is cost prohibitive. Also, lately we can't find any...

Keeping pets out of flower beds.
July 1, 2001... Please help! The cats think my lily bed is a highway and the dogs think that it is a recliner. I tried a repellent spray, but the pets are still crushing the emerging flowers. Is there anything natural that I can put in the flower bed that will...

Diatomaceous earth is unique stuff.
July 1, 2001... What is diatomaceous earth? -- Amy, WA Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a fine powder made from ancient, fossilized, microscopic seashells formed by single-celled algae (called diatoms). Each tiny particle has very sharp edges. These can pierce...

The "stinkless" (kitty litter) toilet.
July 1, 2001... About halfway through building a minicabin in the California coast mountains (www.minicabin.com) we got tired of grabbing a shovel and heading for the woods all the time, so we took time out to build a privy. Since my cabin was so small, I...

Eat your vaccines, they're good for you.
July 1, 2001... "We have opportunities with plant biotechnology to deliver `edible vaccines' without the need for any complicated handling procedures, without the need for refrigeration or sterile equipment, and we can deliver them in a sustainable manner...

Catastrophic floods, droughts, forecast.
July 1, 2001... Parts of the Atlantic coast are likely to be lashed by storms and rising sea levels due to global climate changes, according to a recent UN report. Ice on mountain tops in Africa, Peru and Tibet seems to be disappearing. Freak weather...

Water everywhere where ... at the right price.
July 1, 2001... T. Boone Pickens of Mesa Petroleum has made millions pumping oil. Now he wants to pump water. "Water is the lifeblood of West Texas," said Mr. Pickens, 72, who is courting Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio and El Paso as potential customers...

Florida drought brings water plans.
July 1, 2001... Florida is experiencing its worst drought in 50 years. With its population projected to grow to 20 million from 15 million over the next 20 years, forecasts say that without new sources of supply Florida will face a water deficit of as much as...

Mis(sed)labeling.
July 1, 2001... As many as 25% of the dozens of food companies investigated by the US Food and Drug Administration failed to list common ingredients that can cause potentially fatal allergic reactions, according to an April report in The New York Times.

Hello, Earth: I spy a weed in field 7x.
July 1, 2001... A new University of Illinois laboratory that promises to create "real world" applications of remote sensing for agriculture was dedicated in April. "Precision farming makes both economic and environmental sense, but it has been oversold,"...

Boom times are over for some high fliers.
July 1, 2001... Hammered by plunging stock prices, wealthy Americans are raising cash by unloading vacation homes, jets, jewelry and other goodies snapped up during their 1990s shopping sprees. * Pawn shop Collateral Lender, with stores on ritzy Wilshire...

So soon we get old, so late we get smart.
July 1, 2001... "... Raising small stock is something you can enjoy all your life, and more with each passing year. "When I was in grade school, some of my best friends were pigeons. I still raise them, I enjoy their beauty, their personalities, their...