Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from July 2003

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from July 2003

Our philosophy.
July 1, 2003... 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...

Another urban legend bites the dust. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: According to the Statesman Journal, last Spring, a California astrologist started a rumor claiming the City of Salem, OR is using satellites to spy on property owners and enforce a new law banning gardens. While adding to an...

The "four-wheeler" plan will make life easier. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Several months ago I wrote with a "challenge" to help my paralyzed brother, Todd (March/April 2003). I would like all of those who responded to know how much my brother, family, and I appreciate all the wonderful suggestions we...

Chaparral sold here. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE; A reader wanted to locate chaparral seed. You might be interested in the following website which lists info on over 7,000 plants: www.scs.leeds.ac.uk. Chaparral is listed and that name denotes three different plants.--Ken...

Which type of calcium is right for you? (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I was reading about the calcium prices. Maybe some people are not asking for the right calcium for their soil. Calcium can be purchased by the ton from a quarry in the form of ground limestone in most places in the U.S. for $8 to...

Her bread was worth a lotta dough! (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: In the Jan/Feb 2003 issue a reader sent in her recipe for "magic bread." My daughter (age 12) entered "Magic Cheese Bread" in the county fair using that recipe. She won Grand Champion and her bread was auctioned off for $325! My...

Ivomec isn't recommended for felines. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I am hoping someone has experience in getting rid of ear mites in their barn cats with a livestock de-wormer called Ivomec. We took one of our cats to the vet and she gave it an injection of Ivomec to kill ear mites. It worked very...

DE works for them. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: We have used natural DE (diatomaceous earth) for 30 years on our animals. We use one tablespoon per head for goats and several tablespoons for cows. It can be mixed with the grain for 10 days and then fed free choice. It has a...

Pygmy goats as guardian animals. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Every morning, just after dawn, a red fox trots by on his way home from a night's hunting. He's a handsome fellow, bright red with a full tail and sharp eyes. He comes from the south, trots past the east side of our 3/4 acre...

Skunk odor eliminator. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I really, really need your help. Would you please tell me which issue has the info on the skunk odor neutralizer? I really need it--I had it put away, but my better half neatened my collection so now I can't find it.--Leo &...

Cheap housing option. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: When moving to a homestead, it has been suggested to purchase a used mobile home. You need to be aware that all mobile home dealers have "junkers" for sale. Most will be under $1,000. You will have to repair them and conditions...

Planting herbs and searching for Debra. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I am new to gardening and am particularly interested in learning about growing and using herbs for cooking and medicines. We moved to a 58-acre farm (my mother's old homestead) last summer and I built some raised beds for...

Free tips from an M.D. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I have had 35 years of experience as a family physician in rural Maine, and offer some suggestions for those who have lost health insurance. 1. First, and most obvious, is to do everything to remain healthy. Don't smoke,...

Elderberry cure. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Ten years ago or more, Haddasah School of Medicine, Hebrew University, Israel, discovered that elderberries will cure any virus, 90% of the time in three days. All my friends swear by it. A 10-year-old was cured from mononucleosis...

Healthy living on Sunrise Farm. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: In response to your question to readers about how they deal with health problems, I'd like to share with you our own personal experiences. It's a long story about how we eventually became homesteaders, but we both started out...

Some types of fencing don't work. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I have received so much help from COUNTRYSIDE and thought I would like to help someone else before they build a garden fence. When you go to the store looking for fencing and see stuff called "Small Animal Guard Fencing" be...

What's with the bugs? (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: What gives with so many folks who have bugs in their gardens? I've gardened for 45 years and for a few years I had a few bugs, until I caught on as to why. I didn't spray water over the top of my plants when I watered. Now I water...

Gardening tips. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I was sitting here thinking about our garden. Do others wonder how they will get it all done and what needs to be in the garden to feed their family for a year? We have a 1/2 acre garden for our family of six. That consists of...

Planting in pots on the patio. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I am addicted to your magazine and truly read it from cover to cover, including the advertisements. I am retired, now living on a very limited income in a small apartment still in the city. For over 50 years of working in cities, I...

Ingenious uses for milk crates and fish nets. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: These are two suggestions which have made daily feeding time so much easier! I have about 12 ewes, one ram, several miscellaneous rescue sheep and approximately 20 babies during lambing season, so every short cut helps. 1. Tie...

Alternatives to the 30-year mortgage. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Please tell readers that they do not have to mortgage their home for 30 years. This seems to be a well kept secret. When I decided to buy a home, I knew absolutely nothing about either finance or mortgage loans. When the real...

Homesteading mentors in short supply. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I read the letter from Clarence about ancestral homes (March/April, 2003) and wanted to write. If Fredericksburg was just a little closer to Katy (west side of Houston), I would be interested in his offer! I have been thinking...

Inexpensive living stateside. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: The last few issues of COUNTRYSIDE have had a lot of information about living in Mexico and Central America. My family and I lived in Guatemala during the 60s and I have traveled the area since then. If you maintain the same level...

Annual Countryside reunion July 3-7, 2003. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Once again we will be hosting a "COUNTRYSIDE family reunion" at our homestead. All COUNTRYSIDE readers are invited to attend. Many homesteading skills will be demonstrated. Last year, skills demonstrated or spoken about included...

Diaper debate continues. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I was reading through some back issues when I came across the article on cloth diapers in the Nov/ Dec 2001 issue. I just had to share what I think is a simpler method. I have cloth diapered seven babies of my own, and here is what...

Foraging articles aren't appreciated. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Your articles about foraging for ginseng (particularly) are very upsetting. Yes, milkweed is common, but Panax is endangered because people are digging it. If the article had been only about how to cultivate it, that would have...

Make your own vanilla extract. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: In one of my older issues I found a recipe for vanilla extract. Now I can't find the recipe for the life of me. This recipe was printed in the July/ August, 1999 issue on pg. 31. (Those handy indexes are available for $10.) ...

On being frugal. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I enjoyed the article on being frugal. My Aunt Ida, deceased many, many years ago, was a master at being frugal. I think the term, "One thin dime" may have been first quoted after someone saw Aunt Ida squeezing one. We all...

Time-saving tomato tips. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I would like to offer a suggestion which greatly shortens the reducing time of tomato sauce or juice processing. I have found that the most time-consuming part of making tomato sauce is evaporating Out the water (which makes up the...

Wanted: outhouse experiences. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I am doing research for a documentary on that vanishing American rural icon--the outhouse (or privy). I welcome letters from those seniors of the "outhouse era" who might have nostalgic memories, comical experiences, photos,...

Miscellaneous tips. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Just a couple of items: * Tall weeds around the garden fence seems to deter deer. I think they hesitate to jump when they can't see where they're landing. * Then there are those sturdy nut cans with the shoulder turned in...

Use your extra eggs and produce. (Country conversation & feedback).
July 1, 2003... This quick, easy-to-prepare recipe from the American Egg Board is great for those times you have an abundance of eggs and garden produce. Omelets are nutritious envelopes that can hold almost any food. A savory veggie filling makes this omelet...

Countryside contacts.
July 1, 2003... 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. *...

Coming events.
July 1, 2003... Send your event at least three months in advance to: Countryside Coming Events, W11564 Hwy. 64, Withee, WI 54498; csymag@tds.net. June 21, 2003 Central New York Dairy Goat Society Annual Show, Syracuse, NY. New York State Fairgrounds...

Jeremiath C. Gettle: his passion for preserving our gardening heritage with heirloom seeds.
July 1, 2003... The following interview took place Thursday, January 23, 2003, between Jeremiath C. Gettle, owner of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and interviewer R. D. Pennell. "Jere" talks about how and why he, a 17-year-old youth, became interested in finding,...

Corn growers faced with decision about proposed StarLink settlement.
July 1, 2003... Farmers throughout the Midwest have received letters detailing a proposed settlement concerning a class action lawsuit against the owner of StarLink corn on behalf of farmers. StarLink was a corn that contained a protein to protect the plant...

Grow a plateful of pods. (The garden).
July 1, 2003... Snap beans produce edible pods. Processing them involves only snapping off each end. Most of the bean goes onto your plate, not to the compost pile or chicken yard. Snap beans might be green or yellow (wax beans); they may grow on short bushes...

Growing and marketing edible flowers. (The garden).
July 1, 2003... ed-i-ble: adj. Safe or fit for consumption; fit to be eaten; eatable--Webster flow-er: n. A cluster of petals; blossom--Webster edible flowers: n.plural. A money-making opportunity for the homesteader--Gail Flowers... eating them? ...

Flea free.
July 1, 2003... My mother's cats have never had fleas because she puts a small amount of brewer's yeast (not baker's yeast) on their fur once a week. They lick this off, and the fleas hate the taste of the cat's blood. Brewer's yeast is cheap at the health...

Sumac: the wild lemonade berry. (Foraging).
July 1, 2003... Sumac is a common, well-known and easily recognized feature of the rural North American landscape. These small trees with thick twigs and an almost tropical appearance are familiar to most country dwellers. Their shape and large cone-like, dark...

Success with cole crops. (The garden).
July 1, 2003... For years I had little success with my broccoli and cauliflower crop. Neighbors would marvel at my ability to bring in a bountiful harvest of melons and eggplants in the short growing season of northern Vermont. But broccoli? Forget it. What...

Make your own rooting compound from willows. (The garden).
July 1, 2003... Store bought rooting compound can be toxic due to the fungicide included to protect plant cuttings from disease. Just as in humans, hormones stimulate various functions in plant growth. The first hormone discovered to cause root growth is...

Get rid of food odors.
July 1, 2003... Place a bowl of white vinegar on the counter for a few hours. The odor will disappear for good.

Antique-looking planters from brake drums.
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: You can make durable, antique-looking planters made of worn out trailer truck brake drums. When worn to a certain point, brake drums cannot be resurfaced and are thrown in the scrap heap. Wire brush them off then slather on a...

Grow mushrooms in your forest. (The garden).
July 1, 2003... One option forest landowners can look at is growing shiitake mushrooms. Growing this type of mushroom can financially benefit the landowner and is an environmentally friendly practice. It's one way to make forested lands generate some income in...

Pre-packaged salads lose nutritional levels. (The garden).
July 1, 2003... A processing technique used to prolong the shelf life of pre-packed salad leaves may remove vital nutrients, according to new research. Research published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggested that bags of salad leaves such as...

Grow your family's popcorn. (The garden).
July 1, 2003... Is popcorn one of your favorite movie foods, late night snacks, or general all around fun eating treats? Have you ever wondered why or how a kernel of this type of corn can pop into the puffy, tasty treats that so many of us enjoy so much, and...

Why kids like sour apple: it's a good sign, nutritionally.
July 1, 2003... According to an article in Nature, sour taste preferences are more intense during childhood. Of the five taste sensations--sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and savoury or umami--sour is the least understood. The preference for salty and sweet...

Lamb in suitcases.
July 1, 2003... My mother was nothing if not inventive. Faced with a summer garden that got out of hand and some ground lamb, which we always seemed to have in the freezer, she would simply combine it all into something tasty. This was a favorite. 6 servings....

Eggplant & lamb.
July 1, 2003... French name for eggplant is "aubergine." Whatever you choose to call it, the purple vegetable has an affinity for lamb. This is a complete meal and very filling. I like to serve this with Pita bread that has been quartered, lightly buttered and...

Growing and making garden salsa. (The country kitchen).
July 1, 2003... There is nothing like the taste of your own, home grown salsa to brighten the day. Salsas, once found only in areas where southwestern or Mexican foods were consumed, are commonly used throughout the United States as dips, garnishes, and...

Let them eat cake. (The country kitchen).
July 1, 2003... Had it not been for the fact that my mother was born in a different century, I would have thought she was within earshot of Marie Antoinette when she proclaimed, "Let them eat cake!" A good Ozark cook, she could prepare almost anything, but...

Build a log 'n' limb fence. (Homestead building).
July 1, 2003... Although my neighbor across the hollow would shudder if he heard me say it, fencing is expensive. My neighbor works at a local mill where fence posts are made for sale to home centers. Unless you make it yourself, split rail fencing is also...

Make a pottery wheel for under $200! (Homestead building).
July 1, 2003... Have you ever been interested in throwing your own pottery? I'm sure that you've seen it done, but those factory-made wheels are so expensive! When I started shopping around, I quickly saw that the only wheels that I could afford were the...

Build an outdoor brick oven. (Homestead building).
July 1, 2003... To make my brick oven I poured an eight-inch thick slab foundation. Using cement building blocks, I stacked them three blocks high by four blocks in length by three blocks wide. Across the top of the block wall for floor support is a three-inch...

Slow building--with stone. (Notes from the Northwoods).
July 1, 2003... Just as there are those who are rallying around the slow-food movement, I'd like to say a few words on behalf of slow-building. Neither of these concepts are new, of course, though in our age of quick-and-dirty-no-matter-the-morrow bullishness,...

Alternatives to treated lumber.
July 1, 2003... Many homeowners use treated wood for landscaping or home construction. Treated lumber contains chemical preservatives (pesticides) that inhibit fungal decay and extend the life of the wood. Some of the chemicals used in treating wood are toxic....

Cordwood livestock housing. (Alternative building).
July 1, 2003... In reply to John and Leslie Swan (May/June 2003, pg. 24), we can share our own experience with cordwood construction. Last summer we built a 17' x 17' cordwood house for our chickens and rabbits. While researching cordwood construction, we...

Trees need healthy bark.
July 1, 2003... Trees have several layers, and each one has a vital function in its health. A large gouge in the bark (from a lawnmower or weed trimmer for example) damages more than just one layer, and can interrupt the supply of food from the leaves to the...

A year-round solar greenhouse: Part IV. (The Solar Cowboy).
July 1, 2003... Now that spring is in full swing, we are fired up to finish the buildings on the homestead. (Please don't laugh, we are dead serious about getting these structures done!) Last year the big success was getting the greenhouse as far as we did by...

Controlling "Sweet Itch". (Homestead pests).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Has anyone heard of a cure for Sweet Itch or a remedy that works to keep gnats off horses?--Cheyenne Summer Seasonal Recurrent Dermatitis (commonly known as "Sweet Itch") is a delayed hypersensitivity to insect bites that...

"Frighten" the flies away.
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I wanted to pass along information about a product that does a great lob keeping flies away without using chemicals or stinky (I think) citronella candles. There is a North Carolina company named "Fly Fright" that I happened...

Bashkir Curly horses: if you have allergies, this may be the breed for you. (The horse barn).
July 1, 2003... There is new hope for people with allergies to horses. Some people suffer allergic reactions to the equine species, but a rare breed of horse with a different hair coat has solved that problem. They are totally different from other horses....

4 ways to get rid of mosquitoes.
July 1, 2003... 1. Lemongrass is a natural mosquito repellent. Depending on the layout of the area you're trying to "de-mosquito," you may even be able to plant some directly into your gardens or borders. Put pots of lemongrass around the deck area in your...

A sale 300 years in the making. (The cow barn).
July 1, 2003... Dutch Belted cattle have a history dating back over 300 years in The Netherlands, and have been a part of the American dairy scene since the mid-1800s. While the breed languished in the 20th century, sustainable practices and grass based dairy...

Don't forget the bull. (The cow barn).
July 1, 2003... Making sure you have a capable bull is a key to a good calf crop from your beef cow next year. That means the bull should have a breeding soundness examination, says Philip Berg, with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Don't...

Heat, humidity & livestock. (The cow barn).
July 1, 2003... Pay special attention to your animal's needs during hot and humid weather. The livestock heat index is different from the heat index reported on local weather reports. A heat index is not the actual temperature, but rather how hot the...

The fundamental principles of rabbit feeding. (The rabbitry).
July 1, 2003... Fundamental nutrition principles form the basis for all successful livestock feeding systems. A better understanding of these principles makes it possible for the raiser to more efficiently convert low-cost raw materials into top-quality meat....

Livestock health alert.
July 1, 2003... As a result of the increased security level, foreign animal disease (FAD) surveillance should be increased nationwide. We encourage each of you, whether you are involved in disease diagnosis, animal movement, or livestock production and...

Keep predators out of the coop: build it eight feet up! (The henhouse).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Is there any way to solicit pictures from Mr. Doerr regarding this article ("Raising chickens," March/April 2003, pg. 34)? I am a weapon system engineer for the Air Force (Yes, I really am a rocket scientist), and I have read...

Feeding chicks. (The henhouse).
July 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Two days ago we purchased four Barred Plymouth Rock pullets, approximately two days old. They are the cutest, funniest, most rambunctious critters I have ever seen! Lucky me, to grab the healthiest at the feed store! (Actually it...

Airline shipping update. (The henhouse).
July 1, 2003... The U.S. Postal Service has decided to enforce the surcharge that was put into law a little over one year ago. This is $.20 per pound for parcels being sent by air. Although all of us would like to hold costs down, the implementation of...

A pork drumstick?
July 1, 2003... Authorities in the United Kingdom are trying to tackle the practice of adding undeclared water and animal protein to chicken. Labels on more than half the samples surveyed claimed to have a higher meat content than was actually the case....

The quietest mowers of all. (The sheep shed).
July 1, 2003... I am a utilitarian. I suspect many readers of COUNTRYSIDE are. Each time I have to get the mower out to mow the grass in the yard around the house, it feels like such a waste. A waste of energy that could go towards a more sensible task. A...

Floating duck nests.
July 1, 2003... Due to losses of duck hens and eggs to raccoons, Ken Scharabok built these floating duck nests out of a light-weight shipping pallet, four empty 2-1/2 gallon plastic jugs and two five-gallon plastic buckets. A ramp on two sides allows ducklings...

Wool makes a unique insulator.
July 1, 2003... Christine Armstrong found a unique way to recharge a sagging British wool economy. Christine is the inventor of Thermafleece, which uses wool from British hill sheep to create an exceptionally efficient insulation material in both new buildings...

Keep your machinery in good condition to help reduce gas bills. (The machine shed).
July 1, 2003... High fuel prices are likely to boost crop production costs during the growing season. However, proper preparation and use of tractors and equipment can save fuel dollars. Several suggestions for getting the most work from each gallon of fuel:...

The worst jobs in America.
July 1, 2003... Training & Development magazine recently rated the 10 worst jobs based on entries to worstjob.com. Here's the list, beginning with the worst of the worst: * Prison guard * Human-remains removal specialist * Grocery-store bathroom...

How to thrive on half your income. (Homestead finances).
July 1, 2003... This eloquent response top and B who will be living on half of their salary once they move to their homestead (86/2:20) will have many of us shaking our beads in agreement, and hopefully will serve as an eye-opener for those about to embark on...

A second life for bluejeans. (Homestead crafts).
July 1, 2003... Bluejeans are standard attire for me; tough and servicable. When my jeans wear out, it's usually due to a "blowout" in one or both knees. While these jeans are still fine for wearing around the garden, I prefer something a little nicer for...

Inexpensive bath oil.
July 1, 2003... Use peanut oil, safflower oil or sunflower oil in a tub of hot water. Put your favorite herbs, lavender, basil or rose petals in a little bag and let the water run over it. You get the oil and the sweet scent for little cost.

Your social security statement. (Homestead finances).
July 1, 2003... A few weeks ago I received in the mail my Social Security Statement. These annual reports are always very interesting to me as I'm anxious to know what the government will send me for my monthly income when I retire. Here's an example of...

More money saving tips. (Homestead finances).
July 1, 2003... * Hang laundry instead of running the dryer. * Drink four fewer cans of soda per week (saving $100 a year!). * Tape 10 pieces of music from the radio, rather than buying commercially recorded audiotapes. o Cut your family's hair...

What if I don't have a will? (Homestead finances).
July 1, 2003... If you do not have a will specifying who will take care of your children, anyone who is interested can ask for the position, and a judge will then decide. If you die without a will or do not use some other legal means to transfer your property,...