Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from March 2007

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from March 2007

Homestead progress arrives--albeit slowly.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: Just a quick note to tell you how much I appreciate your magazine. Pre Y2K I discovered your magazine at the local library. Since that time our family has realized our dream to purchase debt free a small piece of land in the...

A firewood storage system that works.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: We use firewood on our homestead in Colorado. Our passive solar home gets about 75% of its heat from the sun and about 25% from our woodstove. Heating with wood can be messy and cumbersome, as we found early on. We developed a...

Another twist on a kindling bundling system.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: I read with great interest the article by Mr. Gregory Lawrence about a kindling bundler (90/6). I have evolved to almost exactly the same system, only without the bundler, which I will make this spring before the cutting season....

Keep blister beetles and rats at bay.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: I once had a terrible plague of blister beetles on my Irish potato vines--they looked black when you looked down the row. I set up my old blender and put about a cup of water in it, then got a coffee can with a little water in it...

Research comes before poultry (or at least it should).(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: I am in the beginning stages of a small poultry business. Sure, I grew up in the country, I've raised chickens before--and goats--and a few other farm stock. But, before I went into this, I did my research. No, this does not mean...

Correction.(Country conversation & feedback)(Correction notice)
March 1, 2007... The alpaca photo on page 89 in the Jan/Feb 2007 issue was misidentified. It actually belongs to Mike and Debby McCandless (www.owning-alpaca.com, mikeanddebby@elltel.net). We apologize for the error.

Reader disputes history of Mini Jerseys.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: I disagree with the article regarding homesteading with livestock (90/1). I have raised registered Miniature Jerseys and take offense when people write articles and don't know the facts. Although it is true that some people do...

Any advice for hardier cattle?(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you for such an enjoyable magazine and so many delightful comments and articles from readers. I live on 300 acres in Oregon, situated on a rocky mountainside that has heavy clay, wherever there aren't rocks. It's mostly...

Put an end to "lead bread".(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: "How to choose a grain mill," by Jd Belanger (90/6), was an interesting article but didn't address why "the other loaf made from fresh-ground whole wheat, yeast and water--period" was what I call "lead bread." I began grinding my...

Homestead tips to live by.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: Now, more than ever I believe, people need to grab hold of the land and maintain a good grip. My family and I moved way up north in Maine in 1981. The kids survived and prospered and moved on into the mainstream with a far better...

Is bucking the permit system worth it?(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: This letter is in response to John and Cindy Pitonyak's question concerning building without permits (91/1): My wife and I retired to 84 acres of bare land and built our home from scratch four years ago. Like most, we were on a...

NAIS website updates.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: I have been working on the questions of public policy as related to sustainable communities, and have been reading with interest your articles on National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Has anyone checked out the Community...

In search of a reciprocating mower.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: Do all of your contributing writers live in the northern part of the USA? Does anyone live in or around Texas? I really love your magazine, but the information seems targeted mostly to northern and northeastern readers. I am trying...

Uninvited guests? Many readers have advice for this dilemma.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: I read Angora's article (91/1, pg. 25) and had to chuckle. We found ourselves in the same predicament with uninvited guests about 15 years ago. Our dairy/sheep farm called out to family, friends, and school children... all whom we...

Keep your cool without electricity.(Country conversation & feedback)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: Responding to a letter in 90/5 on how to cool an apartment without electricity, I do not have answers to all of his questions, however I can try to help Mr. O'Connor with the following. Cooling an apartment without...

Reusing water filters.(Country conversation & feedback)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: While filter cartridges are sold as disposable at least some can be reused. I get my water supply directly from a spring. I have used either the paper or string cartridges. When they are changed I simply put them in an old,...

Coming events.(Calendar)
March 1, 2007... Send your event at least three months in advance to: COUNTRYSIDE Coming Events, 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451 or e-mail: csymag@tds.net On-going: * Solar Energy International: Solar energy and sustainable living:...

A log cabin adventure: they built their cabin in the woods in New York--and hauled the logs from North Carolina.(Alternative housing)
March 1, 2007... ANONYMOUS NEW YORK STATE The dream It was with a lot of hard work and enthusiasm that I planned to build a log cabin on the 14 acres I had bought. I planned, I cut logs, then I went flat broke and had to simply wait... and wait some...

Mortgage vs. home improvement loan: moving a house may be cheaper than buying or building.(Alternative housing)
March 1, 2007... Ever since I received my first copy of COUNTRYSIDE magazine, I've wanted to share this in hopes that it will inspire someone to fulfill their dream of affording a place in the country. After raising our six children (his-and-hers), my...

The quest for homestead land: and tips in retrospect.
March 1, 2007... When we decided we were ready to buy property again, we had only a few ideas of what we were looking for. We did not have Internet at that time (10 years ago), nor a lot of money. So except for a few real estate dealers, we were pretty much on...

A tree house yurt: but it's not for living in (that's what the RV is for), because it would fill up with "stuff"!
March 1, 2007... It has been a couple of years since we first wrote to COUNTRYSIDE sharing our dreams of building a tree house in the backwoods of the Sierra Nevada's in California. Even though we experienced problems with our neighbor, we did end up building...

Stand-alone solar water pumping.(Life on the sunny side)
March 1, 2007... Water. Because it's so often hard to come by without the application of a considerable amount of electric power, those of us living off the power grid seem to have a preoccupation with it. Generally, we either bring water home from town in a...

As the turbine turns ...(Countrysides's wind turbine update)
March 1, 2007... As mentioned in the November/December, 2006 issue of COUNTRYSIDE, we had problems with our old wind turbine after its re-installation at our new location in northern Wisconsin. Basically, it wouldn't turn no matter what the wind speed. We...

Start your solar energy system on a manageable level.
March 1, 2007... For people with sights set upon homesteading, I would suggest they begin making the switch from grid-tie electric to self-solar production as soon as possible to increase their savings. With a solar-battery maintenance charger (about $20), two...

Family album.
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: I live in this passive solar home near Mason City, Iowa. I also have some passive solar heat storage rods I might like to sell to the right buyer.--Charles Nasheim, PO Box 57, Mason City, IA 50401 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

4 steps to a bountiful garden.(The garden)
March 1, 2007... Every spring when it comes time to plant the garden, I wonder whether I'm doing it right. Are there enough nutrients in the soil? Am I allowing adequate space between the rows? How deep should I plant the seeds? What can I do to prevent weeds...

The secrets to growing delectable sweet corn.(The garden)
March 1, 2007... There are as many opinions on what makes a delectable tasting ear of sweet corn as there are silks on that ear. Corn perfection, it seems, is a matter of opinion. There are, however, some tried and true cultural methods for gardeners who wish...

High Desert gardening: what we do now for a spring garden.(The garden)
March 1, 2007... We gardeners, especially those of us in the High Desert areas, always have to be forward thinkers and planners. If we wait until it's time to do our planting to learn these garden techniques, we might have missed a good opportunity; spent money...

Growing fruit on your homestead.(Question of the month)
March 1, 2007... I will discuss peaches, apricots, strawberry, gooseberry and bramble fruits. Oh, and how could I forget mulberries?! Peaches and apricots These stone-fruit trees grow well in this part of the country (Missouri), but are often troubled...

Tending fruit trees.
March 1, 2007... I prune my fruit trees in December, when they have all lost their leaves. I'll also feed them. A feeding then will promote winter hardiness, and store nutrients through winter and early spring when they will be fed again. It will aid in making...

Growing fruit on a northern homestead.
March 1, 2007... Living in Northern Wisconsin, most folks think we're really limited as to what fruits will actually grow up here. The contrary is quite the case. I've had great success (mixed with a few failures, of course) with the following, and I live...

Insects love her "banana smoothies".
March 1, 2007... We grow a small variety of fruits on our homestead. Strawberries are a favorite but with late spring frosts that we have been having the harvest has been small the past couple of years. Apples and raspberries are our abundant crop. We still...

Fruit butters are a great way to preserve your sweet harvest.
March 1, 2007... I am one of those still aspiring to have "A Couple Acres to Call My Own," so I am using what room I have on my small city lot to practice my skills for whenever that day comes. Small fruits have proven easy to fit on the edges of my...

Put fresh greens on your table--for free!
March 1, 2007... Spring is around the corner, and dandelions are one of the first edible greens to appear. They are also one of the most nutritious greens you can sink your teeth into. (In case you're wondering, in order of nutrition, they are: lamb's quarters,...

Getting started with bees.(The apiary)
March 1, 2007... Hello. My name is Jerry Hayes and I have been in the beekeeping industry going on 25 years. My goal is to spend some time with some of you over the next year as we work together to develop a relationship with an insect, the honeybee. For...

Make a spill-proof livestock waterer that delays freezing.
March 1, 2007... For those who have animals and cold winters, one of the most common issues is freezing water buckets. When you set water buckets out for your livestock, ice soon follows. Here is a useful idea for those on a low budget. Make use of your...

Contain your kid: with this handy disbudding box.(The goat barn)
March 1, 2007... Disbudding kids is one job goat owners don't relish, but it needs to be done to protect the herdsman from some nasty butting. Disbudding will also protect the goat, as horns can easily get stuck on wire, cattle panels or other fencing, when...

Raising rabbits step-by-step.(The rabbitry)
March 1, 2007... When raising rabbits, you must first decide what breed of rabbit suits your needs. If you just want a couple of pets, it doesn't really matter what the breed is. If you want a few for the show circuit, you will need the very best purebreds you...

Pullus fabula.(The henhouse)
March 1, 2007... Last summer was the first time we had ordered chicks in years. Once, back on our old farmstead, we placed an order for 25 chicks at the hatchery, of which breed I cannot recall with any certainty. That was the first and, until spring of 2006,...

Let this be the year you start raising chickens!(The henhouse)
March 1, 2007... Spring is around the corner. Perhaps you've just escaped life in the city, such as an apartment or other close quarters, and finally gotten onto your "long dreamed of" homestead. Or maybe you've found housing in an area that will allow chickens...

Quail provide a "change of pace" for poultry owners.(The poultry yard)
March 1, 2007... The steam rose gently from the frying pan as yet another chicken neared perfection. The fragrant aroma of the fresh corn and steamed vegetables filled the kitchen, a sign to all that dinner was close at hand. My youngest, a mere 12-going-on-30,...

Which breed of cattle is best? That depends ...(The poultry yard)
March 1, 2007... COUNTRYSIDE: I am in need of some information on what type of beef calf I should get for our small homestead. We have Boer-mix goats, and we have decided to get calves, too. I was thinking of the white face breeds or maybe the Scotch Highlands...

History of the Red Wattle hog.(The pig pen)
March 1, 2007... It is said that in the late 1800s in southwestern Texas lived a wealthy land baron, who traveled the globe hunting big game. To add to his collection, on one of his trips to Australia he was told of a great animal only known to exist on one...

Safe shepherding: who is going to tend the sheep if the shepherd or shepherdess can't?(The sheep shed)
March 1, 2007... Many potential and new shepherds are told that sheep are born looking for a way to die," yet few of us are warned that there are hazards on the farm that can cause us harm too. The following is written because I love my sheep so much--and...

Animal owner's options when faced with mandatory or compulsory aspects of NAIS.
March 1, 2007... This article is not intended to provide legal advice. Legal advice can only be given by a lawyer admitted to practice in your state who is familiar with your individual circumstances. At the present time the states vary enormously in the...

A quarter-century of restoring old wagons.(The country kitchen)
March 1, 2007... In a spectacular canyon up on Glade Park, Colorado, there is some very unique work going on. Gary Kroft has been in the business of restoring old carriages and sheep wagons for over 25 years. His wife Marilyn helps with the wood varnishing,...

No need to knead bread.(The country kitchen)(Recipe)
March 1, 2007... I thoroughly enjoy your magazine, and thought I should share a recipe for bread that has only five ingredients, doesn't require kneading, and clean up is easy. I live in a small town, across from Seattle, on the Olympic Peninsula....

Chicken fettuccine.(The country kitchen)(Recipe)
March 1, 2007... 3 boneless chicken breasts 1 package (16 oz.) dry fettuccine noodles 2 quarts heavy whipping cream 1-1/2 tablespoons seasoning salt 2 tablespoons garlic powder Pinch of black pepper Pinch of parsley 1 stick of butter 8 oz....

Tips from an urban homesteader.(All around the homestead)
March 1, 2007... I do not homestead rurally, though at one point in time it was a passion of mine. Unfortunately, it was not a passion of my husband's, so I have had to make due where I have been able to, in living out my own version of a self-sufficient...

Make your own laundry soap and help your environment.
March 1, 2007... Two years ago I became intrigued with the thought of making my own soaps. I was trying to invoke new household rules of simplicity and trying to take steps to improve my own little environment. Researching the subject is very easy, as the...

A cumbersome job goes much smoother with Dutch's homemade firewood splitter.(The woodlot)
March 1, 2007... About 15 years ago, 78-year-old Walter "Dutch" Hamann, of Kootenai, Idaho grew tired of splitting firewood by hand and decided there had to be an easier way than the brute force needed in swinging a 10-pound splitting maul. The old...

Inexpensive, portable sawmill now available.(New product)
March 1, 2007... A portable handheld sawmill is an inexpensive and practical solution for anyone in need of their own lumber. Even more importantly, however, it makes it possible for woodworking artisans to mill expensive and unusual wood. The concept is as...

Encouragement for beginning woodcarvers.(The woodcarver)
March 1, 2007... My main purpose in writing this column is to encourage people to take up a hobby that will help occupy your time when you reach retirement age and cannot do the more strenuous things of your younger years. A hobby is also a relaxing pastime...

We're stumped.(What in the world ...?)
March 1, 2007... Do you know what this tool is and what it was used for? It's made of metal, roughly two feet long, with a crank-type handle that appears to move the spiral hook between two "arms." (The handle turns, but doesn't engage any other pieces,...

Memories of Chocolate Gravy and Cat Head Biscuits.(Country neighbors)(Recipe)
March 1, 2007... I was looking at a magazine the other morning, and saw a picture of an old grandpa sitting at a little roughly-made table in a log cabin. He was blowing on coffee he had "saucered." It brought back some very fond memories of when I was a...

Longing for more ...
March 1, 2007... For as long as I can remember, I have had a deep desire to live the life of a "homesteader." When I say that, what I mean is that I desire to have a simple life on a farm that has the ability to provide me with the necessities of life. That is...

Lessons from the Great Depression.(Looking back)
March 1, 2007... There are many accounts of the Great Depression among those of us who lived through that period. I have known people who barely knew there were hard times, as they had steady employment. Their income purchased more than ever during this period,...

Poor Will's Countryside Almanack for early spring of 2007.
March 1, 2007... The seasons bring the flower again, And bring the firstling to the flock. --Alfred Lord Tennyson Astronomical data for March Phases of the Red-Winged Blackbird Moon and the Robin Chorus Moon As most of the red-winged blackbirds...

The salesman & the magic pumpkin.(After chores)
March 1, 2007... The sun shone brightly that fall day. There was no wind to speak of, and it felt good after the cold spell we had. It was the kind of day that makes you feel lazy. Dad had taken the last of the range cattle and their calves to the sale...