Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from July 2002

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from July 2002

Our philosophy.
July 1, 2002... It's not a single idea, but many ideas and attitudes, including a reverence for nature and a preference for country life; a desire for maximum personal self-reliance and creative leisure; a concern for family nurture and community cohesion; a...

From the editor.
July 1, 2002... Sweet corn is one summer treat that just about everyone enjoys. This month we have a number of interesting ways to get the best sweet corn (and anything else you can grow). Green manure (pg. 53), no-till gardening (pg. 57), and a unique form of...

A glimpse at life off-grid. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: The May/June issue prompted me to write at last. I let my subscription lapse for a few years, and have only just returned. It's good to be back, particularly after reading an issue I found full of interesting information pertinent...

Biogas production not unheard of in developing countries. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Alas, I cannot claim to be an expert on biogas production, but this is what I know. I lived in Nepal for three years and it was there that I first came into contact with farmers who produce methane with manure. I knew several...

Locating organic co-ops. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I would like to thank you for a fantastic magazine. I am inspired by the people who write the articles. I have lived in the country for a long time, but never realized there was a better way to live, until I started reading...

Corn gluten and cottonseed meal for your garden. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Are you aware that corn gluten meal is a natural pre-emergent herbicide? Buy it at the feed store rather than a gardening center for a cheaper price. You can find more info at www.dirtdoctor.com. I use cottonseed meal as my...

Boil great eggs and save energy at the same time. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: The other day I noticed my wife, Janet, in the kitchen put a pot of water on the stove full of fresh eggs, then turned on the stove. I came back into the kitchen a short time later and noticed the egg pot just started to boil....

Try "patchwork" carpeting for your kitchen. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Granted, everyone has their own opinion (sometimes extremely insistent) on whether or not carpeting is appropriate in a kitchen. I have found a way to get the best of both sides with as little of the bad as possible from either....

Cloth products are best--for young and young-at-heart. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I picked up the March/ April 2002 issue and came across the letters regarding cloth diapers. I did not read the original article to which these letters refer but I would like to add one other reason for using cloth diapers. I...

Grab some yeast from a Juniper berry. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I truly enjoy your magazine. I was raised on a farm in Iowa and recall doing many of the things in the magazine. In the March/April 2002 issue there was an article about wild yeast. I would like to know how to use or prepare...

Addiction to home improvement shows paid off. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: My roots are in sustainable living. One set of grandparents lived on a nearly self-sustained farm, and my other grandfather was a carpenter who could reproduce anything he saw in the store window. However, neither of my parents...

Life lessons college can't teach ... (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I received my first subscription copy of COUNTRYSIDE yesterDay and as always, read through cover to cover, barely taking time to sleep. I am not new to COUNTRYSIDE. I've faithfully picked up my copies at the local bookstore...

... but livestock can. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I am a homesteader from Rosharon, Texas, and I have been a COUNTRYSIDE subscriber for four years. I work on a touring farm, showing city folk how to milk a cow, candle eggs, grow a garden, etc. People never cease to amaze me!...

At 88, she still enjoys reading about country life. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I enjoy your magazine very much. I have always lived on a farm and have done many of the things your articles describe. I am 88 years old. In the depression (ugh!!) era, we scrimped and saved and it scrimped some more. I send...

Good, things do come to those who wait. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I was a homesteader when I was a little child, I just didn't know the right words for what I was feeling and doing. By the age of six I already preferred roaming the pasture behind our suburban house, where there was a five-acre...

Celosia flowers are profitable and beautiful. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: It was the end of the season, yet customers were wanting fresh, farm raised, long-lasting cut flowers. I had seen the cockscomb from the road. Oh what could it hurt? So I stopped, knocked on the door and inquired about purchasing...

How could we forget a sense of humor? (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: The question of the month last March/April was; "What wouldn't you want to homestead without?" I read the responses and shook my head in agreement so many times, I thought you would hear the rattle in Wisconsin. However, almost all...

Don't forget about water from the air conditioner. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: In order to supplement our precious water, we have been collecting the condensate that drips from our air conditioning unit in a five-gallon bucket. This provides enough water daily to take care of our houseplants and our new...

More meal stretching ideas. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I just received my May/ June issue and will read every word before it leaves the kitchen for the magazine rack. I wanted to comment on Mary Hunter's meal stretching ideas. She said to put leftover meat and poultry in a freezer...

Say what you mean when talking to your horse. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I got a kick out of Hope Holland's "Talk to your horse" article. She has a wonderful sense of humor. There is one thing I might add. I don't think horses are any more hazy about communication than humans. So, when given the...

For the love of Morgans. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I was so surprised and glad to see the article about Morgan history. As a breeder of Morgans, it is always a pleasure to see nice things about our breed. The Morgans have a disposition that is so kind and loving, it's hard to...

The healing effects of nature. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I would love to live this way, but other than my increasing vegetable garden I don't know what I could do now. My husband and sons left two years ago, and I am epileptic to the point where cutting grass or shoveling snow or dirt...

Tips on feeding sourdough starter. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: As a professional baker/ pastry chef I was delighted with the article by Bill LaLonde, "There's yeast in them there hills," in the March/ April issue. Having worked with sourdough off and on for several years I keep both a...

Stay away from chemicals in silage. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: In regards to your article on Small Scale Silage (March/ April 2002), you need to be sure no chemical fertilizer was used because it will kill livestock! This is a voice of experience. Better to be safe than sorry. In regards...

Feeding piglets and themselves. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I will agree with Beth Zaring that eating out of the garden might be challenging and possibly boring for some folks, but I could make a meal of sweet corn and tomatoes, or just a big pot of creamed peas and new potatoes and never...

Check zoning regulations before investing. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Just a comment on unique marketing ideas (May/June 2002, pg. 81). An apple orchard in our area developed many "tourist attractions" to bring people in, including a gift shop, bakery, lunch counter, etc. They ran into trouble...

Chick resuscitation with a hair dryer and a belly rub. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I just received an order of day-old chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery (love those folks!) and had a rather unique "chicken experience" that may help others. The chicks were all healthy and alert and have done great, but as...

How safe is your sea salt? (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Regarding sea salt in the recipe for Garlic Aioli (March/ April 2002, pg. 9), this "sea salt" is concentrated from salty water in mud or sand flats. The water evaporates, is leaving dry "salt." Many salt flats are in ocean bays and...

The fun of finding treasures in the attic. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: My wife and I own a big old farm house. When we moved in, we noticed that the attic was filled with a scattering of junk and papers of all sorts. Recently, I got it in my heart to do something about it and started the monumental...

Experienced homesteaders share tips. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: We are a couple who are older (60s) and live on a couple of acres on the edge of a small city in Southwest Missouri. We are in what is commonly called the Ozarks. We have two gardens and raise and dry or can everything possible. We...

Cheesemaking and pasturizing ideas needed. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I would appreciate any information on home pasteurizing and cheese making. My husband and I are buying a small herd of dairy cows and starring a small dairy on his father's farm. We are hopelessly romantic and want to restore...

Accolades to Abbey. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Abbey Bird's wonderfully articulate article about the uses of dirty fish water really caught my interest. Could you ask her to do some diagrams? Also, mention to Abbey that she should go into journalism. Thanks for a great...

Coming events.
July 1, 2002... Send your events at least three months in advance to Countryside Coming Events, W11564 Hwy. 64, Withee, WI 54498 June 17-21, 2002 Aquaponics Course (combining aquaculture and hydroponics for mutual benefit) Bryson City, NC. For more...

Life in a Domespace. (Alternative housing).
July 1, 2002... LINDA FLETCHER BELRIVER@AOL.COM A movement is taking place all over the world in natural, alternative, sustainable building techniques and architecture. There is an incredible array of building techniques using various materials and...

Understanding biogas. (Alternative energy).
July 1, 2002... RICHARD MATTOCKS VOLUNTEERS IN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 1815 NORTH LYNN ST., SUITE 200 ARLINGTON, VA 22209 Biogas is a by-product of the biological breakdown--under oxygen-free conditions--of organic wastes such as plants, crop residues,...

Thoughts on "high tech" westerners.
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Richard Mattocks (like most "westerners"--I am definitely not having a go at him personally) seems to have a liking for "high tech" and "high efficiency" systems, which means his article tends to emphasize the intricacies of...

Green power in the U.S.
July 1, 2002... Illinois: A coalition of environmental and consumer groups released a "green power" standard to help ensure the integrity of green power products sold in the state's competitive retail power market. To meet the standard, the power must come...

Choosing a grid-intertie battery-free photovoltaic system. (Solar Cowboy).
July 1, 2002... CHRIS LAFORGE GREAT NORTHERN SOLAR PORT WING, WI As we pointed out last time, when we begin the design process we start by trying to know our goals, which will guide the entire process. If you want the most efficient, least polluting...

Walking tractors: easy to use, cheap to restore. (The machine shed).
July 1, 2002... ANDREW BOERGER N6967 LONGFELLOW RD. ALGOMA, WI 54201 Andrew wrote: My parents have gotten COUNTRYSIDE for several years and I have always wanted to send an article in. I am 16 and have been collecting walking tractors for three years....

Pesticide residues show up in popular kids' foods.
July 1, 2002... Pesticide residue results released by the Pesticides Residues Committee in the United Kingdom show that processed food popular with children such as cereal bars often come with hidden residues. Friends of the Earth released a report...

Scarecrows that actually work. (The garden).
July 1, 2002... NATHAN GRIFFITH COBBLEMEAD HCR 68 Box 185 TROUT, WV 24991 WWW.COBBLEMEAD.COM The best yields and the best quality of corn come from planting short-, mid- and long-season varieties all at once, not from planting the same variety...

Heat loving peas: these legumes hold up long after other varieties have wilted. (The garden).
July 1, 2002... NANCY PIERSON FARRIS 95 GRASS HILL ROAD ESTILL, SC 29918 If your aim is to become self-sufficient, your program should include growing crowder peas, also known as southern peas. These tasty legumes grow through the heat of summer,...

The return of the mighty chestnut. (The woodlot).
July 1, 2002... KEN SCHARABOK Hear the word "chestnut" and one of several recollections is likely to come to mind: As a novice blacksmith myself, the Longfellow poem Junior High English students once had to memorize has significant meaning--"Under...

Green manure: grow something good for your soil. (Notes from the Northwoods).
July 1, 2002... SUE ROBISHAW 770 N FOX RD. COOKs MI 49817 SUE@MANYTRACKS.COM WWW.MANYTRACKS.COM Do you yearly shovel your finally finished compost into a pile with enthusiasm, only to step back to behold a molehill instead of the mountain needed...

No-till, permanent bed farming: increase yields with green manure and cover crops. (Crops & soils).
July 1, 2002... KEN HARGESHEIMER BOX 1901 LUBBOCK, TX 79408-1901 The odyssey of my colleagues and I started in 1982, the day Conrado Zavala, a villager in Central America, sheepishly showed us his experiment. Skeptical about the value of the organic...

Tip to the Piiparinens.
July 1, 2002... (The Piipariens' original letter was published in the May/June 2002 issue of COUNTRYSIDE, page 10, asking for tips on gardening on poor soil in Canada.) Your soil needs organic matter and no way can you produce the volume of compost that...

No-till, permanent bed workshops.
July 1, 2002... KEN HARGESHEIMER I train farmers in organic, permanent bed mini-agriculture. What I teach is not new. Organics with permanent raised beds were used from 2000 years B.C. in the U.S., Guatemala, Mexico and other countries. Use no outside...

Ryegrass: control weeds, reduce erosion and improve pasture. (Pasture management).
July 1, 2002... CROW MILLER If you want the benefits of an over-seeded cover crop without the risk, try ryegrass. It's one of my favorite cover crops. After just one season, I bet it will be one of yours, too. With the right timing, this bunch type...

Prevent flowering to control thistles. (Pasture management).
July 1, 2002... Every year thistles can be found across many states and these noxious weeds are often a thorn in the side of hay and livestock producers and land owners. Once established, these weeds are difficult to eliminate but can be curtailed using...

Marketing fresh herbs. (The herb garden).
July 1, 2002... GAIL REYNOLDS TIMBERLAKESF@MYMAILSTATION.COM> Those of you looking to earn a living off the land might very well have an untapped reservoir of augmented income in your personal home herb patch! We discovered--quite by accident--a...

Herb grower recommends her favorite books.
July 1, 2002... BARBARA WALSH NEBRASKA In previous issues of COUNTRY SIDE (Vol. 85, Nos. 2 and 4), I wrote about how I grow and use herbs on our acreage in Nebraska for teas and medicinal purposes. In addition, I sell herbal teas and culinary herbal...

The versatile mint. (The garden).
July 1, 2002... KAY FLOWERS 6320 GREENWICH ROAD SEVILLE, OH 44273 Peppermint (mentha piperita) does a lot more than make a refreshing drink. It's indispensable in my herb garden and so vigorous I can pull handfuls up by the roots and it always comes...

Grape disease remains a mystery.
July 1, 2002... For many years a devastating disease has plagued grapes in California and southern states from Florida to Texas. It is most common in European, or vinifera, wine grapes. Pierce's disease symptoms vary with species and cultivar, but are...

Sanitation can help control bitter rot in apple orchards.
July 1, 2002... One of the most devastating diseases for apples in the summer is bitter rot. Periods of hot and humid weather are perfect conditions for bitter rot, which is caused by the fungus Glomerella cingulata. Usually it shows up as a tan or brown,...

Control oak wilt with proper pruning.
July 1, 2002... April through June is the high risk period for oak wilt disease, which means you should avoid pruning oak trees until at least July, according to forestry specialists. If oak trees are accidentally wounded or pruning is unavoidable, cover...

Amaranth is an important food source around the world.
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Does anyone know where I might purchase amaranth seed? My Encyclopedia Of Organic Gardening says, "It is an annual herb and a vigorous grower thriving in heat and full sunshine. It is an important food source in many parts of the...

Build a wiggler ecosystem. (Just for kids).
July 1, 2002... REBECCA A. RITTER PO BOX 607 WELEETKA, OK 74880 Rebecca has been experimenting with various composting processes for over 30 years and teaching thousands of elementary school children and adults about composting. In 1994 an entire 5th...

Sonic Bloom: music to plants' stomata? (Alternative gardening).
July 1, 2002... PAUL OLIVER W1485 KNUTES ROAD PITTSVILLE, WI 54466-9132 Many years ago it was discovered that plants were affected by sound. Studies involving both organic and inorganic matter show the affects caused by sound that few people ever...

Take a tip from nature: farm wild. (Homestead livestock).
July 1, 2002... GEORGE KOHRMAN WIND RIDGE FARM SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY GKOHRMAN@JUNO.COM I often hear farmers complain of having too much work and not enough time. We, like many, have made farming a hobby and eventually hope for self-sufficiency....

Beware of dog!
July 1, 2002... Because dog attacks have been in the news lately, University of MN College of Veterinary Medicine launched an awareness program to provide information on how to prevent dog bites, and what to do if approached by an aggressive animal. * An...

Magnificent Muscovies: more than just a pretty face. (The poultry yard).
July 1, 2002... BILL LALONDE Some people say if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. Well, what if it looks like a cross between a turkey and a vulture, roosts in trees and sounds like Darth Vader breathing?...

When it comes to flavor, younger is better. (The henhouse).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I have followed the aricles on chicken flavor and tenderness. My father raised commercial chickens in the '30s, Pens were tiered, with each layer holding 100 fryers. He sold 200 a month at 12 weeks of age. The fryers were sold at...

Why aren't duck eggs in the supermarket? (The henhouse).
July 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I'm slowly but deliberately moving toward a subsistance life-style on my 20 acres in central northern Indiana. I'm preparing to keep a few chickens for eggs, but find myself wondering about alternatives to chicken eggs. Why do we...

Rex rabbit basics for beginners. (The rabbit barn).
July 1, 2002... JAN HOADLEY ROYALSCOT_FARM@YAHOO.COM One of the most productive animals on the homestead, pound for pound, is the rabbit. A good doe can produce six to eight kits (babies) every two months. As fryers those will weigh four to five pounds...

Interested in rabbits? (The rabbit barn).
July 1, 2002... You can check out all the breeds at The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) Convention, October 6-10 in Peoria, IL at the Peoria Civic Center. If you're interested in looking at some top rabbits, new varieties, etc., this is the...

Choosing the right trailer for your horse. (The horse barn).
July 1, 2002... HOPE HOLLAND LISBON, MD 21765 There are lots of fancy trailers out there on the market for those of you who are going out solely to horse shows or trail rides, but, since our farm also raises a few steers for personal consumption, we...

Supplemental feeding a bottle calf. (The cow barn).
July 1, 2002... KEN SCHARABOK WAVERLY, TN SCHARABO@AOL.COM Raising a bottle calf exclusively on commercial milk replace is expensive. Even a lower price replacer runs about $17 for a 25-pound bag, and 3-4 bags will be needed before the calf is ready...

Gallon of milk weighs 8.6 pounds. (The cow barn).
July 1, 2002... I have a question about milk weights and measures. How much does a gallon of milk weigh? How much does a pint of milk weigh? Do they really weigh the milk on a scale when dairies buy milk from farms? Why isn't milk sold by volume rather than...

No happy cows? (The cow barn).
July 1, 2002... The California Milk Advisory Board engaged in deceptive advertising with its "Happy Cow" commercials, according to a complaint by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta). They insist that the idyllic...

Chevon demand on the rise. (Goat news).
July 1, 2002... "Consumers of goat meat are practically everywhere except North America and we're working on them," said Char[es Batten, president of the new Sunbelt Goat Producers Cooperative, in Albany, Georgia. Demand for goat meat has risen steadily...

Poor water quality can jeopardize health and production. (The cow barn).
July 1, 2002... An average dairy cow drinks about 25 gallons of water each day, but she'll drink less if water quality is poor. And that will limit her milk production and jeopardize her health. Analyzing livestock drinking water for coliform bacteria and...

Everyone makes a mistake now and then. So last month we asked: what would you do differently? (Question of the month).
July 1, 2002... Answers ranged from "absolutely nothing" to "everything!" From Centralia, Washington: They say hindsight is 20/20, and in our case, it's true! Before moving to our current mobile home on 40 acres and being completely debt-free, we...

Ancient art newly re-discovered: masonry stoves. (The country kitchen).
July 1, 2002... HEIKE HOLTHAUS 2935 COVILLE RD. MIKADO, MI 48745 Much has been written about the construction of masonry ovens. Building plans, materials and the finished products are as versatile as the oven use. Though originally meant to bake...

Creating a fashion silhouette with handwoven cloth. (Homestead crafts).
July 1, 2002... SUSAN LILLY THE WEAVING ROOM 3733 SE 35TH PLACE PORTLAND, OR 97202 One of the joys of home weaving is the creation of simple, fashionable outerwear for family and friends. For thousands of years weavers have produced simple,...

Time and money: make them work for you. (Homestead finances).
July 1, 2002... DORIS DOBKINS DORISD@CREATIVEFINANCES.COM My seven-year-old daughter has a schoolbook called Time and Money. The book is divided into two parts (just as you might think). The first section covers learning to tell time. The second...

Traditional midwifery. (Homestead families).
July 1, 2002... CHANTEL INDEPENDENT HOMEBIRTH MIDWIFE Birth is life's most simple, yet most complicated process. Although "life" and "birth" have been around since the very beginning, it was one of the first blessings God gave to Adam and Eve. There...

How do you homestead with small children? (Homestead families).
July 1, 2002... ABBY STOUT PO Box 62 CALIENTE, CA 93518 I kept wondering, where are all the articles for us moms who are trying to create a homestead and raise children? How do they budget their time? How do you watch over curious kids in the country...

Are you depriving your kids? (Homestead families).
July 1, 2002... JILL COOPER P.O. Box 4252 WICHITA, KS 67204 One of the main questions I get asked about frugal living is, "Won't I be depriving my children if I live the frugal life?" Maybe I can answer that question with a question. How am I...

How did this happen to me? (Country neighbors).
July 1, 2002... CAROLYN ELLIS 16785 CO. RD. 4057 KEMP, TX 75143 I believe the first piece I wrote for COUNTRYSIDE dates back to about 1995. Over the years I have also written about our life in Irving, TX. An underlying theme in everything I have...

As a Countryside family, we just "make do". (Country neighbors).
July 1, 2002... JEAN DANDREA PO Box 186 BURKESVILLE, KY 42717 DANDREA@DUO-COUNTY.COM It has been almost a year since I have last written. The year has been eventful on both a national level and a personal one. It has become evident to me, as I have...

The blessings of being broke. (Country neighbors).
July 1, 2002... JULIE GAUSS ROLLINSVILLE, COLORADO HERBMAMA@HIGHSTREAM.NET Wednesday afternoon, and my husband and I lounge around the warm woodstove, our bellies full from a healthy breakfast of organic eggs and fresh whole wheat bread, playing with...

Lunar power. (Spaceship earth).
July 1, 2002... A physicist in Houston suggests that the earth could be getting all of the electricity it needs using, solar cells--on the moon. A Lunar Solar Power (LSP) System, using arrays of solar cells on the lunar surface would beam energy back to earth....

To avoid the flu: eat breakfast ... (Spaceship earth).
July 1, 2002... The importance of a hearty breakfast has been reiterated by researchers from Cardiff University, who claim that eating the meal regularly-will reduce the chances of being struck by colds or flu. Scientists from the University's School of...

... Just don't have hot dogs. (Spaceship earth).
July 1, 2002... Here's one more reason for people to change their dietary habits: Harvard scientists have reported that a large intake of processed meat, such as hot dogs and bacon, can significantly increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.