Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from May 1999

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from May 1999

Dr. Edward Yardeni speaks out on Y2K, Feb. 15, 1999.
May 1, 1999... I believe that the burden of proof should be on the naive optimists: Why are they so sure that most systems will be fixed in time? There are still very few major businesses or government agencies that are ready now for the Year 2000 on the...

Who can we believe?(Y2K)
May 1, 1999... One trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure, and the intelligent are full of doubt.-- Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) As Year 2000 draws closer with alarming alacrity (have we really been talking about Y2K for a whole year...

"An attack against honesty".
May 1, 1999... Who should you believe? Maybe nobody. Information Week, a magazine devoted to IT (information technology) printed an article (Feb. 15) charging that "self-appointed `protectors' have launched an attack against honesty." The author was Leon...

Up, or down? Yes, or no?
May 1, 1999... Who should you believe? In a fast-paced environment, maybe nobody. In our Jan/Feb issue, we reported that Wisconsin was making preparations to call out the National Guard on New Year's Eve, 1999. Just days after we repeated that in our...

The profit factor works both ways.
May 1, 1999... Who should you believe? Many of the naysayers are wont to point out that people preaching Y2K awareness and preparedness are profiting by promoting panic. As with nearly everything connected with this situation, this might have a smidgen...

Beware those with tunnel vision.
May 1, 1999... Who should you believe? Not the fellow (or many others like him) who wrote us a scathing e-mail explaining in some detail why Y2K is a hoax. He said he set the clocks ahead on his PC, microwave, vcr, etc., and what happened? Absolutely...

Hospitals are advised to stockpile.
May 1, 1999... Materials Management In Health Care, a magazine most hospitals receive, was advising a 3 to 4 month stockpiling of supplies for Y2K. They also sell a year 2000 health care survival guide. They have a website at www.matmanmag.com.

Hardware stores see Y2K buying.
May 1, 1999... National Home Center News reported that home improvement centers are seeing hefty sales increases in such items as wood stoves, kerosene heaters and lamps, and generators. As of February, some items are backordered until September. Briggs &...

Lies and silence.
May 1, 1999... Who should we believe? Bob Bennett said (in December, 1998) that one of his frustrations was that despite extensive probing and investigations, he still didn't know what to expect of Y2K. It's like an onion, he said: the more layers you...

Russia changes its tune.
May 1, 1999... Not long ago, Russia (along with China and several other key nations) wasn't very worried about Y2K. A couple of months and maybe half a billion dollars and they'd have it licked, they figured. They changed their tune. The official...

Italy is in no hurry.(Y2K issues)(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... Some U.S. Government agencies have been working on Y2K remediation for several years, and still won't be ready on time. But that's not as bad as Italy. On Feb. 14, 320 days before 01/01/00, that country appointed an unpaid panel to study...

Patience is a virtue, but for a con artist, this is ridiculous!(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... Who should you believe? Not us, apparently! Norbert Brandner sent us a bill stuffer he got from his South Dakota bank. We expected it to be another "Don't worry, we're Y2K OK!" thing all banks are sending out these days, but it...

The leadership void is alarming.(Y2K issues)(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... The question of what or whom to believe is one of the most frightening aspects of Y2K at this point. You don't have to believe this either, but think about it: * There are no "experts," because (as the accompanying article explains) the...

Postal Service still faces "significant challenges".(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... Who do you believe? In the main article we mention a fellow whose son works with PCs for the post office and says they all work fine. Ergo, Y2K is bunk. On February 23, 1999, Karla W. Corcoran, Inspector General of the United States...

Year 2000 problems could, affect farm systems, services.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Farmers be advised: If you use a computer, an electronically-controlled feeding, ventilation, or milking system, or get goods or services delivered to your farm, the "Year 2000" computer...

Late news.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... The long-awaited report of the U.S. Senate's Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem was leaked to several news organizations February 24. It revealed that 64% of U.S. hospitals have no plans to test their Y2K readiness, and 90%...

Bean seeds lived long in her fridge.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: In 82/4 you printed a chart on seed longevity. I'd like to tell you of an experience I had with Jacob's cattle beans. I kept some beans in the refrigerator for 11 years. Yes, eleven years! A few years ago I planted them to see...

Ways to make yourself useful.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: Here are a few thoughts on feeling more prepared for any of life's events. Some things that are useful at any time are skills and knowledge. Even folks who don't have land would be more welcome in the countryside if they had...

Here's how to use big round bales.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: We really enjoy your magazine. Wish we'd known you existed 20 years ago! I have a suggestion for the lady who was not using big round bales for mulch because they are too difficult to unwind and bulky to spread. The...

Use economical thread on your sewing machine.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: Like the economy of sewing machine thread on a cone but have no adapter for convenient use? Drill two holes in a 6" wooden ruler (or a stick of similar size) large enough to fit on your machine thread spindle. Fit one of...

A simple diaper drying space-saver.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: I have a solution to the diaper dilemma. Use two coat hangers. With clothespins, hang one corner of the diaper on one hanger, and the other corner on the other hanger. Continue until the hangers are full. You can dry many more...

I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: These COUNTRYSIDE magazines were found loose in the mail in (city deleted), Texas. As a subscriber, I know how valuable they are. Normally the P.O. would destroy any publication without an address. But as I said, I'm a subscriber....

Make a handy poultry feeder.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: My father came up with this simple plan for a poultry feeder or waterer: Cut off several inches from the bottom of a 5-gallon plastic bucket with a saber saw. Attach a few feet of PVC pipe to the piece of bucket, putting the...

A recipe for whitewash.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: Someone asked about whitewash. Here's a recipe. Soak 50 lbs. hydrated lime in 6 gallons of water to make about 8 gallons of paste. Dissolve 6 lbs. of salt in 3 gallons of boiling water. Let solution cool and add it to the...

Deterring rabbits; cracked tomatoes.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: Here's something that might help other readers with rabbit problems. When we first moved here I planted 74 sweet potatoes. We had no fence, and in two nights the whole works was gone. I bought 8-ft. steel fence posts, and...

Optimist uses gloom to good advantage.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: My husband is an eternal pessimist, and after reading your predictions of possible disasters, my requests for a larger rabbit herd and more garden space and basement canning shelves are falling on more favorable ears. Although...

Homestead bookbinding.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: I have saved every issue since about 1985. I am going to use an old trick my dad taught me back in the '50s. Maybe some others would like to use it too. Take six or 12 magazines, your choice. Line them up between two slabs of...

Consider starting a thrift store.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: I stumbled onto your magazine a few months ago and find it very fascinating. Not only is it down to earth, it is back to basics, where we need to be heading in these troubled times. One of the outstanding aspects of COUNTRYSIDE is...

It's not their dream, but isn't it nice?
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: We're new subscribers and are glad to have found you. Your 42 replies on obtaining a homestead without a grubstake caused us to really start soul searching, or should we say "home searching." In fact, we are pretty embarrassed to...

She didn't know she was a homesteader.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: My family and I had been living the "Countryside philosophy" for years and didn't know it 'til a friend said she got a magazine that seemed to fit us. She lent us a copy, and we've been hooked ever since. Every time an issue...

Homemade yeast and baking powder.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: I have a recipe for homemade baking powder that I have used with great success for quite some time. Blend 2 parts arrowroot, 1 part baking soda, and 1 part cream of tartar. Mix together and use as you would any baking powder....

Sex chicks and cure scours.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: Thirty years ago an old-timer told me how to sex chickens. Watch the feathers. Pullets will start to feather out first. You will see feathers starting to form on the wing tips and tails when they are as young as a week old....

Nonjudgmental attitude appreciated.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: I have been subscribing for about three years and want to congratulate you for a wonderful magazine. I have really appreciated your non-judgmental attitude toward the philosophical backgrounds of the various participants. That is...

A puzzling solution.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: Our cabin has a large screened-in porch. Every winter we put visqueen over the screening to make the porch more useful in bad weather. Instead of just stapling it up (it tears loose sooner or later) we buy a cheap jigsaw...

Some miscellaneous homestead hints.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: I would like to share some homestead hints: * To remove rust from iron pots and kettles, fill the pot with as much hay as it will hold, add water to the top rim, and boil for several hours. If at the end of several hours rust...

America needs to change its course.
May 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: I've always been hoping for a crash. The main reason I would like to see one is that this country needs something to change its course. I've always looked at the positive side of what a crash could do, which is to get people back...

Steam power.
May 1, 1999... An old technology is making a comeback "Alternative" energy has been a popular topic in homestead circles for 30 years, but this generally implies solar or wind. We seldom hear about steam -- a simple technology that is more dependable...

A horsepower of another color.(determining the horsepower of an engine)(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... Technically, one horsepower is the amount of power needed to move 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute, or 745.7 watts. In practice, when dealing with engines, it's not that simple. There are a number of ways of determining the horsepower...

How much power will you produce?
May 1, 1999... The usual way for determining the size of any alternative electrical energy system is to add up the "load" -- the power demands of the lights and motors (tools and appliances) you want to run off the system. (See 83/ 2:116.) That, at...

The steam engine boiler.(design, safety concerns)(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... Boiler construction is obviously well beyond the scope of this article. (See recommended reading list.) But even when a boiler is constructed by a trained, experienced, certified expert, safety is the responsibility of the operator. The...

Homesteading and alternative energy.(steam power)
May 1, 1999... Steam power isn't for everyone. (Neither is solar, or wind.) But for a certain type of person, it's the ideal source of home power. Most people obviously enjoy the convenience and "economy" of being connected to the grid. Electricity can...

Webs of technology: The steam story.
May 1, 1999... Many homesteaders see the automobile as the cause of much of what they dislike in modern society: traffic jams and air pollution, inhuman metropolises and suburbanization, fertile land being taken out of production for superhighways and parking...

The cost of "free" energy: A comparison.
May 1, 1999... The cost of solar power, or even wind power, is often cited as an obstacle for homesteaders who want to get off the grid. So the question is sure to arise: How does steam compare? We asked several suppliers for prices on "comparable"...

Is steam right for you?(steam power)
May 1, 1999... The 1990s has proven to be a time of unprecedented demand for the alternative/self-sufficiency field here in the land of plenty. Late in the decade, most vendors will confirm that demand has continually outstripped supply. How odd that Wall...

The Mike Brown steam engine: Simple, and elegant!
May 1, 1999... Mike Brown teamed up with Skip Goebel (and McGregor Manufacturing, known for its accurate machine work) to produce a reliable and affordable homestead-size steam engine. This unique 1 horsepower engine is the result. It combines the most...

Cheese: A natural way to preserve your milk.(how to make cheese)
May 1, 1999... Making cheese is a great way to preserve your milk supply. Some types of cheese can be aged for two years or more without refrigeration, while others have a shelf life of two years or less. We freeze the soft cream cheese-style cheeses. We wax...

Making butter.
May 1, 1999... Fresh, creamy, sweet homemade butter slathered on a piece of homemade bread -- a fond memory from my childhood, when many farmers used their excess cream to make homemade butter. Home butter making is an easily learned skill and can be made...

Raising the homestead hog.(pig)
May 1, 1999... For a genuine, homestead-produced bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich, first you must get a pig. Why raise pigs on the homestead? After all, pork is at its lowest price in decades, and whole hogs can be purchased cheaply. Some farmers are giving...

The garden: Plant once -- harvest for years!
May 1, 1999... Perennials and perennial-like vegetables and herbs deserve a special place in the homesteader's survival garden Many gardeners today are interested in open-pollinated seeds, so that this year's crop will provide the seeds for next year's...

Seed-saving and pollination.
May 1, 1999... We're hearing a great deal these days about open-pollinated and hybrid seeds and plants. The concern is that seeds from hybrid plants -- those produced from genetically dissimilar stock -- will not reproduce themselves. (Note that this does not...

Shallots: A versatile valuable vegetable.
May 1, 1999... Shallots are unsurpassed for their compatibility with other vegetables and their ability to repel insects and soil fungi that prey on their neighbors. Besides their long list of culinary uses, we have learned about their value as companion...

Edible podded peas are easy to grow and good to eat.(new pea grows in 58 days without supports)(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... I enjoy stir-fry cooking in my Chinese wok. Quite a few of my recipes call for Chinese pea pods. So last year I thought I would grow some, both to fry fresh out of the garden and to freeze for winter cooking. I looked through a lot of seed...

Help for beginners: How to start plants from seed.(gardening technique)(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... There are many things to consider when you start your own seeds: The seeds themselves, the containers and soil that they will be grown in, the light requirements, water and fertilizing. When purchasing seeds you should consider the area...

The beehive: Reduce losses from drone comb.
May 1, 1999... Many bee books tell us that drone comb decreases honey production and availability. They indicate that after a brood frame reaches 25 percent drone comb it should be replaced. I felt this was a waste of 75 percent, and developed a method to...

The henhouse: Learn from my mistakes!(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... I've been raising chickens for over five years now and was starting to feel pretty confident in my abilities to raise a bunch of chicks. So when my husband brought home 12 newly hatched chicks, I was delighted. However, we only have five of...

Our experiences with broody hens.
May 1, 1999... In answer to the person who was asking about broody hens, let me tell you about our experiences with them. We bought a flock of twelve "Araucanas" six years ago from the Cackle Hatchery in Lebanon, MO. We have had several hens go broody...

Bantams: Small bird with big benefits.
May 1, 1999... This is in response to a reader's question about self-reproducing chickens. If you don't mind small birds and small eggs, try bantams. I am a big fan of these hardy little birds, and in the case of disaster striking in Y2K, I would say that...

Dual purpose goats meet their needs.(using goats for meat and milk)(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... Are you sure dairy goats are for you? Don't get me wrong, I love dairy goats! Around my home cow milk is considered a choice of last resort, and chevre (goat cheese) seasoned with dill and garlic is spoken of in hushed and reverent tones. Yet...

Feeds & Feeding: Making silage--without a silo.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... In his book, Fertility Pastures and Cover Crops (1953), English author Newman Turner tells of his method of making silage with no additives directly in the fields from which the silage was cut. This method is still widely used in Europe and New...

Hardy mangel beets cut feed bills.
May 1, 1999... I wrote COUNTRYSIDE last year requesting information on using mangel beets as a source of livestock feed. As promised, I would like to pass along what I learned. I planted the mangel seeds like they were common garden beets in deeply...

How I built a low-cost masonry stove.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... I've bought single copies of COUNTRYSIDE from time to time in the past, but with little money to spend, I never subscribed until I picked up a copy of the first Y2K issue. I'm impressed with the extent of the research and the rational way in...

Before enjoying a woodstove comes the challenge of installing it!
May 1, 1999... Both Dolores and I grew up in homes with fireplaces, and we longed to buy or build one in our current home. Over the years, we have actually purchased three different woodburning stoves for bargain prices at flea markets and rummage sales. But...

Homestead health: The many uses of activated charcoal.
May 1, 1999... If you've ever been poisoned, you know what charcoal powder is, because that is normally what emergency rooms administer for an antidote in most such cases. Like many healing substances that cannot be patented, the vast resource of credible...

23 ways to save money (and increase quality).(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... Here are a few ideas in which to save your hard-earned dollar and probably increase quality in your lifestyle. Household: 1. Use homemade or simple ingredients to clean, such as bleach, ammonia, cleanser, vinegar and baking soda. ...

Baking with buckwheat.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... Here is a recipe I created about two years ago when I first started experimenting with buckwheat flour. Honey and molasses buckwheat bread 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup of milk 1 pkg. or tablespoon dry yeast 1/4 cup warm water 2...

Inexpensive homeschooling.
May 1, 1999... I'm a freelance writer and the author of the book Homeschooling From Scratch (Gazelle, 1996). For anyone who thinks homeschooling is expensive, I suggest you read my book. Borrow it from the library if you have to. I'm all for saving money. ...

Homeschooling gains acceptance.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... Twenty years ago home schooling was almost unheard of Grant Colfax, one of the first to be admitted to an ivy league college -- straight from his backwoods goat-raising homestead (where he had previously written an article for Countryside...

The Intentional Peasant: The Peasant ponders problems past and present.(differences between industry and homesteading)
May 1, 1999... BALTIMORE, MARYLAND On a recent local talk show, one participant spoke of the homestead as the opposite of the farm. That was a jolt. But in a way, if by farm we mean agribusiness, it is generally true. Homesteading is mostly doing, while...

5/5/2000; Ice: The Ultimate Disaster.(Review)
May 1, 1999... 5/5/2000; Ice: The Ultimate Disaster; by Richard W. Noone; 1995; Three Rivers Press; 390 pages, paperback; $16; ISBN 0-609-80067-1 Here's something to take your mind off 1/1/00: 5/5/2000. That's the title of a book (subtitled "Ice: The...

They Laughed at Noah: Preparing for Natural Disasters.(Review)
May 1, 1999... They Laughed at Noah: Preparing for Natural Disasters; by Kellye A. Junchaya; 1999; MEDCAP, PO Box 2085, Clifton, NJ; 272 pages, $12.95 + $3 S&H Here are some more facts to take your mind off Y2K: Lightning strikes the Earth over 8 million...

The Hippy Survival Guide to Y2K.(Review)
May 1, 1999... The Hippy Survival Guide to Y2K, by Mike Oehler; Keokee Co. Publishing, 1999; 279 pp; $14.95 + $3 s&h; available from Homestead Books, Star Route, Moyie Springs ID 83845; 1-888-267-7079 Hippies? What do they know about Y2K? And besides,...

Was the storm a preview of coming attractions?(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... New Year's weekend saw what could be a prelude to the Y2K era. There were some parallels. Weather forecasters foretold the severity of the blizzard and ice storm of '99. People had ample time to make preparations, but instead placed their...

Preparing for Y2K in the city.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... NEW ENGLAND READER I thought some people in similar circumstances would be interested in hearing our thought processes and consequent decision concerning what to do about Y2K. We own a two-family home in the city with a city-sized yard...

Predicted leisure didn't materialize.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... HUNGRY HORSE IOWA Thank you! That's all I can say after reading "The 21st century and homesteading: Designing Utopia takes imagination" (83/1:106). I have a very vivid memory of something a teacher said to my class 45 years ago when I...

His company has Y2K problems.(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... I would like to add another harmonious voice to the few lone cries in the wilderness. I would like to make three points and supplement them with website addresses for backup. First, the Y2K problem is real. Even if you visit websites of the...

What can people with limited resources do?(Brief Article)
May 1, 1999... A reader observes that renters face certain restrictions and obstacles. For example, they can't just decide to build a root cellar, or to add storage space, or to install an alternative energy system. How can they start a home business? She...

The story behind the Y2K problem.
May 1, 1999... Can't understand what all the fuss is about? Here's how it all started... and what it means. This is a long article (for COUNTRYSIDE) on an unusual topic (for COUNTRYSIDE). But for those who still aren't convinced of the complexities and...

March 5, 1999: 300 days, and counting ...(effects of the Year 2000 transition)
May 1, 1999... From here, it's all downhill. Last July/August, COUNTRYSIDE started a 10-issue Countdown to Year 2000, and promised to bring you not only the best articles from our past 82 years, but also the information we felt would be most useful to you...

250 days and counting: Getting prepared.(potential problems caused by the Year 2000 computer transition)
May 1, 1999... If you have been following this series from its beginning -- or better yet, if you've been reading COUNTRYSIDE or even have been homesteading without it for years -- you are, or certainly should be, well along in your Y2K preparations. If...

Ya gotta have a DREAM!(to live a homestead life)
May 1, 1999... Where there is no vision, the people perish. -- Proverbs, 29:18 In the first issue of our Countdown to Year 2000 (July/ August, 1998) we promised to bring you a picture of what life, based on current homestead ideas and ideals, might be...