Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from March 2002

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from March 2002

Cottonseed not recommended for organic gardens.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I'd like to respond to information found in Richard Rock's article about raised bed gardening in the Jan/Feb 2002 issue. He recommends cotton seed meal as a potential soil improver. I'd like to caution any gardener who intends to...

Kids and butchering letter ruffles some feathers.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: We have been subscribers for a number of years and I have never written before this time, but this could not go unchallenged! I made it to page 17 before grabbing pen and paper to address Betty Kracker's letter. The letter was...

Snakeweed correction.
March 1, 2002... The first Latin designation of the Virginia Snakeweed plant in the Jan/Feb 2002 issue should have been listed as Eupatorium Rugosum. Aristolochia serpentaria is a relatively harmless form.

Renovating a Canadian homestead isn't for the timid.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Your magazine reads like an instruction manual that I can't put down until it's finished. But now, after 14 years, I no longer have to turn green with envy while reading COUNTRYSIDE. We bought a dilapidated farm house (1870s)...

Make your own black walnut stain and bamboo fence.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: When I was a young boy living in a small Southern Ohio town, my mother and I would walk to the local park where I would pick up black walnuts. The experience of a clear fall day and the delightful odor of the green husk that...

Save money and the environment, with cloth diapers.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: In response to the article on cloth diapers in the Nov/Dec 2001 issue, I'd like to mention a few things. First, it was a very good article and had several tips that I appreciated. Second, I'd like to mention that using bleach...

Canning meat requires pressure.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: In response to Leo Muller's question about canning meat: Oven canning, like open kettle or steam canning, is unsafe. Not using safe canning methods is like playing Russian roulette; one might get away with it for years, but it only...

Pumpkin pie: it's all in the processing.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Regarding a question on pumpkin pie in the Nov/Dec 2001 issue: The problem appears to be in the initial processing of the pumpkin, which is easily remedied. I take 10-14 pound pumpkins, poke some holes with a meat fork, then...

Raise Rock-Cornish hens successfully.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Rock-Cornish Game hens can be raised at higher elevations with success. Regardless of your location in the U.S., you must follow this feed restriction program when growing Cornish-Rocks, especially for the higher elevations. Give...

How do you catch semi-feral roosters?
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I live in Riverside County, which has passed an ordinance banning roosters if you live on half an acre or less. I have lots of semi-feral chickens which roost in the trees at night. A long handled net might catch one, but the rest...

"New pioneers" or "pesky natives?".
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Concerning, "Time for a New American Pioneer" in the Jan/ Feb 2002 issue. Funny thing, those "new pioneers" Charlie speaks so highly of at the end of his piece sound remarkably like those "pesky natives" he mentioned getting...

Methane gas information sites.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I would reference Tom Kiley ("Running a refrigerator with methane," Jan/Feb 2002) to two web sites. The "very" optimistic and the "perhaps" more practical, . I have read a bunch about the use of methane which is natural gas...

Make fruit leather with your juicer.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: People who use steam juicers such as the Mehu Maija or the one in Lehman's catalog can make fruit leathers easily with the pulp. Spread it thin on wax paper and dry it in the sun, if you live in an arid climate, or in the oven on...

Mother Earth: one huge petri dish?
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: In the July/August 2001 issue there was an article entitled "Eat your vaccines, they're good for you." It was presented with a very positive spin, which on the surface would sound encouraging to the person unfamiliar with the...

Musings on homes, agriculture, and homesteading.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I'm one of those who came from a rural (mixed farm, largely self-sufficient) background, spent many years in the city earning a living for myself and my daughter, but never lost sight of the wish to go home to the country. Now...

Drying herbs and raising chickens.
March 1, 2002... Countryside: I don't consider myself a homesteader in the true sense of the word, but I am a survivor. I use my microwave for drying herbs. I have basil, sage, oregano, marjoram, thyme, dill weed, lemon balm, peppermint, spearmint,...

Balsam salve ointment was an old favorite.
March 1, 2002... Countryside: My 95-year-old mother-in-law has been searching for a recipe for balsam salve for a long time with no results. She has found lots of old time medicinal remedies in Countryside, but no balsam salve. I would be most appreciative if...

Be careful where you drink.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: In reference to, "Water: Is it safe?" (Jan/Feb 2002), Thomas Tabor is undoubtedly correct. How ever, let me relate some personal experience. I hunted elk and deer on a ranch in the Little Belt Mountains in Montana for a number...

Countryside is right up her alley.
March 1, 2002... Countryside: A few years back a friend of mine named Kim shared the name of your magazine. She told me, "This is right down your alley," and she was so right! In the Nov/Dec 2001 issue, I read a letter from another reader inquiring about...

A better cappucchino.
March 1, 2002... Countryside: Do you like cappuccino but not the sweet "rot your teeth out" taste? Try this: Double whatever coffee grounds you are using to make coffee 1/3 cup vanilla ice cream Sugar to taste Remember, the ice cream will...

Headlice aren't choosy.
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I just read the letters concerning head lice by Marilyn Hunt and others. I sure liked learning how to get rid of head lice in a natural way. We discovered we had lice a couple years ago. It was a shock! Here we were, a...

Countryside contacts.
March 1, 2002... 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.
March 1, 2002... Send your events at least three months in advance to: COUNTRYSIDE Coming Events, W11564 Hwy. 64, Withee, WI 54498; csymag@tds.net April 20, 2002 Sheep Shearing Day at Thistle Cove Farm, Tazewell County, VA from 9:00 tO 5:00. Come see...

April: the most beautiful of months, and the most cruel.
March 1, 2002... When honeysuckle, primrose, violet and celandine go on the rampage, and golden pussywillows explode beside railway lines, pregnant themselves with sun When lambs slide out of the womb, bounce on the green field, and are slain; and the...

Building a dream part 1: building a house while remaining debt-free is the envy of every homesteader. In this two-part series, we'll watch as a home is raised from the ground up ...
March 1, 2002... KEITH BELLINGER BARTERMN@EPIX.NET PENNSYLVANIA The dream of owning a log cabin is shared by thoussands of people. I believe it comes from our forgotten past; our genetic link to ancestors who built their homes from trees cleared for...

Straw bale building in Mexico. (Homestead housing).
March 1, 2002... WILLIAM L. SEAVEY BOX 311 GROVER BEACH, CA 93483 It all began about 10 years ago: Though I'd once been to San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez, it was only in late 1989 or 1990 that I bit on an invitation from an outfit called El Dorado...

Fixing up a house to finance your dreams. (Homestead housing).
March 1, 2002... My wife and I started dating partly because we both wanted a homestead, but wanting a homestead and actually acquiring one are two different things. After a few false starts and wrong turns we decided to move back home to Long Island and try to...

Finding 90 [degrees] angles: (without dusting off that old geometry book).
March 1, 2002... One of the most basic carpentry tasks is squaring off. The shed or barn (or bookcase) you're building should be level, parallel and plumb. You'll also want it in a certain place in relation to a property line, existing building, or other...

Moving an outbuilding.
March 1, 2002... KEN SCHARABOR WAVERLY, TN SCRARABO@AOL.COM My neighbor across the road no longer had a use for a 10'x12' out-building. It had originally been built as a smokehouse, but later turned into a storage shed. Overall, while it needed a new...

Tips for purchasing a used gun. (Homestead firearms).
March 1, 2002... THOMAS C. TABOR PO BOX 754 STEVENSVILLE, MT 59870 Quality firearms are expensive and each year the prices seem to go even higher. As the price tags continue to soar more shooters are considering used, rather than new. Not only are...

Can your garden provide homestead income? Here are several possibilities. (The market garden).
March 1, 2002... SCHARABOK, KEN WAVERLY, TN SCHARABO@AOL.COM A garden can be an excellent way to supplement a rural income if high quality, fresh produce can be provided on a consistent basis. Many operate out of a shed or booth at the front of the...

This gardener found a hobby that pays! (The market garden).
March 1, 2002... CAROLYN ANDERSON ANDERSON FARMS PO BOX 13 CLARK, MO 65243 I had a hobby and over the years it has grow into a summer business. Now I'm looking for it to replace my full time income and retire a few years early. I didn't start...

Marketing your produce.
March 1, 2002... * Identify your customers and target them early in the season, including ethnic groups which may want specialty items. * Visit nearby grocery stores and see fruits and vegetables they carry. Check out their displays. Follow the traffic...

Why grow gourds? (The garden).
March 1, 2002... SAM KELSALL IVSAM@EARTHLINK.NET Why grow goards? The short answer is: be cause they are easy and my good friend, Frank Martin gave me a single gourd plant which had not reached the true leaf stage, in the spring of 1999. When I accepted...

Eating out of your garden. (Notes from the Northwoods).
March 1, 2002... SUE ROBISHAW 770 N Fox Rd. COOKS MI 49817 SUE@MANYTRACKS.COM WWW.MANYTRACKS.COM It's a lot like "Mairzy doats and dozy doats and little lambsy dyvie." A phrase you can recite with no thought, but it doesn't connect with anything....

No sugar? No salt? No sweat! (The herb garden).
March 1, 2002... GAIL REYNOLDS TIMBERLAKES@MYMAILSTATION.COM Let's face it--having to reduce or eliminate salt or sugar from our daily diets can be a tough morsel to swallow. Whether we're confronting this under strict doctor's orders or voluntarily...

In defense of dandelions! (The garden).
March 1, 2002... Dandelions: Their bright yel-low flowers herald in the spring and the promise that summer is almost here. Most people call them weeds but dandelions are really just a persistent perennial herb. Dandelions are not a native species. Early...

The art of espaliering: (The orchard).
March 1, 2002... Increase yields. Simplify pruning, picking and spraying. Espalier. More than merely a decorative technique used on posh country estates, espalier orchards are actually preferred by many commercial orchardists in Europe. Dating as far back...

Additional income from hydrangeas.
March 1, 2002... Growing unique hydrangea species could create niche market for gardeners. Winston Dunwell, University of Kentucky Extension horticulture specialist, said the original intent of the work was to look at hydrangeas as a cut flower for growers...

Bucket verses bottle feeding calves: is one method better than the other? (The cow barn).
March 1, 2002... KEN SCHARABOK WAVERLY, TN 37185 SCHARABO@AOL.COM When I started to bottle feed calves, I just used the standard one-half gallon and red rubber nipple system sold by the local co-op. (See photo.) However, while attending a Stockman...

U.S. hogs are getting bigger, thanks to chemical additives.
March 1, 2002... American pigs are getting bigger by the day thanks to a new feed additive called Paylean that has boosted the average weight of porkers to a record level, university researchers said. Pigs have been getting bigger for years with the average...

Hogs for composting can you dig it?
March 1, 2002... RALPH J. RICE 1485 ST. RT. 307 WEST JEFFERSON, OH 44047 ROADAPPLE@SUITE224.NET Upon leaving home as a young man, I found myself lost without a farm. My first house was located on the outskirts of town on one acre of land. I started...

Could GE goats save millions of lives? (The goat barn).
March 1, 2002... Scientists have created genetically engineered mice that produce a malaria vaccine in their milk, prompting hope that the animals can be used to cheaply immunize around 20 million people a year against the killer disease. Anthony Stowers,...

Dairy goats nurse calves. (The goat barn).
March 1, 2002... According to the December 1993 issue of The Stockman Grass Farmer, near Macon, MS, Tom Miller's primary operation used to be to buy newborn dairy calves and then raise them on milk replacer and pasture to market either as stocker calves or...

Rats!
March 1, 2002... We have tried every trap on the market to get rid of rats, but the very best was a steel trash can with a handful of dog food in the bottom. Place this where they can climb on something, such as a shelf, and get in, but they can't get out. We...

Goat milk fudge.
March 1, 2002... Readers frequently ask for recipes for "goat milk" fudge or "goat milk" soap or cheese or other products made with milk... but specifying the goat milk. One even wanted to know how to make chocolate goat milk. In our experience, milk is...

The quintessential chicken. (The hen house).
March 1, 2002... ED HART SORENTO, IL "They're throwing the baby out with the bath water!" an English correspondent once remarked about the plight of the Old English Game chicken. Even though cock fighting has been banned in the western world for well...

Preventing poultry losses. (The hen house).
March 1, 2002... DR. JOE A. LIPPINCOTT 810 TOWER RD. ALBURTIS, PA 18011 As soon as I receive latest issue of COUNTRYSIDE, I immediately read all of the poultry-related articles. I have a feeling that among subscribers I'm far from alone. Most of the...

A chicken primer. (The henhouse).
March 1, 2002... Q. How do poultry physically copulate? * Basically a rooster will chase down a hen and grab her by the back of her neck. He then mounts her from the back, inserting the equivalent of his penis into the equivalent of her vagina. Release of...

Build a cheap hanging chicken feeder.
March 1, 2002... ERIC STONE ERIC_M_STONE@YAHOO.COM I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I found I had way more chickens than I had planned on keeping initially (and guinea hens... and dogs... and goats!). I found myself in need of an extra feeder...

Small-scale silage your yard can be your field. (Feeds & feeding).
March 1, 2002... Is it possible to make Silage in large plastic garbage bags? I see farmers with these long plastic bags that they are putting silage in, so it seems we should be able to do this on a small scale. Also, can we use the grass that is cut out of...

More elevators are requiring GMO segregation.
March 1, 2002... Many American farmers and grain elevators are re-thinking when it comes to planting GMO varieties of corn. The American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) reports that over half of the elevators surveyed last fall are requiring segregation of...

A glimpse at Morgan history. (The horse barn).
March 1, 2002... I would like to offer my appreciation for the dedication Mr. and Mrs. Hayes have to preserving the Old Style Morgan horse (Sept/Oct 2001). The Morgan horse is America's oldest recognized breed of horse with lines tracing all the way back...

Spring is a good time to renew Coggins test. (The horse barn).
March 1, 2002... Spring ushers in a wide variety of horse activities. It's also a good time to think about updating your horse's Coggins test. A Coggins test is done to determine if your horse has Equine Infectious Anemia, more commonly called Swamp Fever. It's...

Nest boxes in floor can save space ... and babies. (The rabbit barn).
March 1, 2002... When I unexpectedly found myself the proud owner of 10 new does, I had a problem. Lack of funds prohibited purchasing more cages, and even if I did have the money, there wasn't enough room. One of the cages was large enough so it could be...

What is a "false pregnancy" in dogs? (The homestead dog).
March 1, 2002... A friend took her Australian Shepherd to the vet for yearly shots. The vet told her that he believed the dog had had a false pregnancy and if that was the case she would need to be spayed. Being a consumate professional, the vet did not explain...

There's yeast in them there hills: a homesteader's guide to wild yeasts in bread making (The country kitchen).
March 1, 2002... The quest for achieving self-sufficiency can sometimes crystallize in the smallest moments. In bread making, you can grow wheat or other grains and grind your own flour. How many people take it to the next step, and grow their own yeast? ...

Extremely simple whole wheat yeast bread. (The country kitchen).
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I wondered if it is possible for you to find the recipe for "Extremely Simple Whole Wheat Yeast Bread" from Nancy and Peter Andrew (81/1:58)? I have been purchasing back issues and saw a mention of this in the May/June 1997 issue,...

Cheaper than condensed soup. (The country kitchen).
March 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Here is something for the cheap-food recipe file. This mix makes it possible to have the convenience of condensed soups without the cost. 2 cups powdered milk 3/4 cups cornstarch To this base add any or all of these: ...

The term "meat" has a new definition. (The country kitchen).
March 1, 2002... A new definition of the word "meat" comes into force in Britain in 2003. The move is designed to protect consumers and give them more accurate and detailed information about the contents of sausages and cooked and canned meats. The...

Tasty and nourishing chickpeas. (The country kitchen).
March 1, 2002... Neither a pea nor a bean, yet combining the best qualities of both, the chickpea is fast catching on in almost every country of the world. Virtually unknown in North America a half century ago, this delectable legume is today to be found on the...

How about sorghum syrup for a change?
March 1, 2002... Sorghum stalks contain the most juice when the seeds are at the tough, doughy stage. Cut the stalks close to the ground, cut off the seed heads for drying, and the leaves can be stripped and fed to livestock. If you don't have a way to...

Vitamin B and memory loss.
March 1, 2002... Memory loss in people over 60, may be reduced by increasing vitamin B folate in their diets, according to researchers. Researchers wondered if there is a relationship between memory loss and blood homocysteine levels, a by-product of amino...

Please pass the fat.
March 1, 2002... A U.S. scientist has confirmed something most of us have known: it's something in the taste, rather than the smell, of fat that makes rich foods so appealing. Humans given a taste, but not a smell, of fatty foods responded with an...

Would you buy milk from this woman?
March 1, 2002... California milk producers are hoping that a ghost named La Llorona (Spanish for "weeping woman") will entice customers to buy more milk. La Llorna is a powerful symbol in Latin American culture. The legend goes that a young woman bore her...

What wouldn't you want to homestead without? There are a lot of items you need when you begin your homesteading adventure. This month, readers share some of their favorites. (Question of the month).
March 1, 2002... A plan of action (and a strong back) A strong back and a "follow through" attitude is number one on my list of must-have homestead tools. Action is of little use without a plan for the maximum organization of your actions. To develop...

Homesteading in Arkansas: it presents some unique challenges after years in Wyoming. (Country neighbors).
March 1, 2002... BETH BARTON 726 PEACEFUL LN. YELLVILLE, AR 72687 Hello from Arkansas! After several fits and starts, our "caravan" finally pulled out of Rawlins, WY on Labor Day and during the seven day trip (which should have only taken three...

Shepard's heritage. (Country neighbors).
March 1, 2002... DAVE SHEPARD DSHEPARDFAMILY@YAHOO.COM PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA As I sit here by the warmth of the glowing woodstove, it is the early morning hours before daybreak. My wife and children are still asleep as I add another log to the...

What's considered "too old?" At the age of 61, she's just getting started. (Country neighbors).
March 1, 2002... FRANCES GRIEVE 284 LCR 108 MT. CALM, TX 76673 A few months shy of age 61, I finally moved to the country. The city of Waco decided my house of 31 years wasn't beautiful enough and wanted it painted, which I was planning on doing...

Compounds in garlic fight malaria and cancer: leaving the country? Don't forget your garlic.
March 1, 2002... A group of compounds commonly found in garlic may not only be an effective treatment for malaria, the mechanism by which they inhibit the infection appears to be similar to the mechanism they use to fight cancer cells. "Does eating garlic...

Gardening isn't always peaceful ... (Country neighbors).
March 1, 2002... BILL COOLIDGE 2099 GRAND ST. U-18 ALAMEDA, CA 94501 KARENDAY3@MINDSPRING.COM Things fall apart in the spring, in the Carolinas. Still, after years of rebuilding an abonadoned farm, I finally surveyed the newly cleared and seeded...

Pay attention to those power lines. (Homestead safety).
March 1, 2002... Spring is here, but before you start to dig or haul ladders or climb onto large machinery, keep in mind the dangers of power lines. Before starting any project, note any overhead power lines that will be in your path. Keep in mind the...

Greenhouse joy. (Country neighbors).
March 1, 2002... CONNIE PHILLIPS 5245 W CO. RD. 625 N ROYAL CENTER, IN 46978 There has been a plethora of articles written on the benefits of greenhouse gardening: extending the season; the ability to grow pest-free and pesticide-free; the savings...

Use time to your advantage and get off the 21st century treadmill. (Country neighbors).
March 1, 2002... PHIL & DOREENBOYNTON RR 2 Box 12 MARMORA, ONT. K0K 2M0 We notice that one of the great advantages/joys of homestead life is not often mentioned: the use of time. People contemplating life sans side-walks may not be aware of this. ...

Pop a Pepsi. (News from spaceship Earth).
March 1, 2002... Coca-Cola plans on adding nutrients to bottled water, rivaling PepsiCo's Aquifina. The types of Coke's Dasani Nutriwater include Lemon Tangerine, for "bone strength," with calcium, magnesium and B vitamins, Pear Cucumber, for "balancing,"...

Vitamin use continues to rise. (News from spaceship Earth).
March 1, 2002... Eighty-four percent of all households use vitamins, 72% use minerals, and 37% use herbal supplements according to a Natural Marketing Institute's report.

Japan burns stored beef. (News from spaceship Earth).
March 1, 2002... To allay public concerns, Japan's Agriculture Ministry said it would incinerate all 12,626 tons of beef that had been produced before a nationwide screening for mad cow disease began on October 18 according to a Reuters report.

Decaffeinated coffee increases chance of rheumatoid arthritis. (News from spaceship Earth).
March 1, 2002... Older women who drink four or more cups of decaffeinated coffee a day are more than twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than regular coffee drinkers, according to research presented recently at an American College of...

Food intolerance ignored by industry giants. (News from spaceship Earth).
March 1, 2002... Scientists from York Nutritional Laboratories (YNL) in Great Britain have backed claims made by a Government Advisory Committee report that there is a strong link between the microorganisms present in milk and bowel conditions such as Crohn's...

Never eat alone again. (News from spaceship Earth).
March 1, 2002... The Johnny Rockets Rocket-Cam at the Thayer Street restaurant in Providence, the newest of OSO.com's seven web cams throughout the state, offers Rhode Island residents an opportunity to share their Johnny Rockets experience and dine virtually...

Americans and the internet. (News from spaceship Earth).
March 1, 2002... Americans with internet access are watching less television, according to the UCLA Internet Report 2001. The survey of 2,000 households also shows that, as users get more on-line experience, their television viewing declines further. ...

Fish fights depression ... (News from spaceship Earth).
March 1, 2002... Pregnant women and their children benefit significantly from increased fish consumption, according to a new study conducted by the National Institutes of Health. The ecological study showed that seafood consumption and the Omega-3 fatty acid...

... But it may not be appetizing. (News from spaceship Earth).
March 1, 2002... Hermaphrodite fish are on the rise, thanks to the birth control pill and other natural and unnatural forms of estrogen that have made their way into the water. Feminized fish were first found downstream from sewage plants in the United Kingdom....

Lost: 31.4 million pounds of cheese. (News from spaceship Earth).
March 1, 2002... A national marketing group of U.S. dairymen is urging Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman to audit and improve the USDA's cheese inventory reporting procedures to ensure accuracy. In a letter to Veneman, National Farmers Organization...