Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from May 2005

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from May 2005

A Lee Loader makes loading ammo easier.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: Tom Tabor's article "Isn't it time you started reloading your own ammo?" was excellent. However, I thought I would share with your readers that there is an even more economical way to get started in reloading. There is a tool...

Searching for chili powder.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: In the March/April 2005 issue on page 66, the lady talks about a place called Ranchito Mexican Grocery and Restaurant in Zillah Washington. I have searched high and low--no address or name of this is anywhere so I too can order...

The benefits of using cast iron cookware.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I read with interest the article "Cast iron in the country kitchen," in the March/April 05 issue. You missed one of the most important benefits of using cast iron--the benefit of getting iron in your diet. Studies have shown that...

Eating soy--pros and cons.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank-you for printing the article "Soy and Your Health" in the March/April issue. It is comforting to know that I am not the only one with this information. We try to pass on this information, but with all the media attention of...

Encroaching civilization causes strife in Florida.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: We purchased 10 acres and a real "fixer upper" log home out in the swamps of Florida almost four years ago. We thought that we would retain our privacy because of the swamps and distance to civilization, but now it seems everyone...

Find Utopia? Keep it a secret!(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I had to write and comment on the "Tips for 'fitting in' on a Missouri homestead": it is only my humble opinion, but never reveal that much information on where you have found "Utopia." Why? How many neighbors, rich retirees,...

Octogenarian used woodstove soot for stomachache.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: In regards to the article about charcoal in the March/April issue. When I was still a young boy (I am now 85-years-young) and had a stomachache, we were made to drink a small glass of soot tea! Aunt Maria would take the pipe off...

The human cost of discount stores.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I would like to point out some inconsistencies that disturbed me in a letter from M. DuPlayee (Mar/Apr 2005 issue). I whole-heartedly agree with her (I'm making an assumption here) views on the importance of small-scale food...

Heirloom corn growers wanted.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I have been searching for several years for Hickory Cane (not Hickory King) corn. It was a favorite of old timers in this area and was prized as a sweet corn, creamed corn, hominy and particularly for white corn meal. Turns out one...

Pellet stove worked well in mobile home.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: In the January/February issue a reader asked about wood heat for mobile homes. When I lived in the high mountains of Colorado I used a wood pellet stove for heating my cabin. This stove uses wood pellets that look like rabbit...

Lotion recipe.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I have seen many lotion recipes sent in to the magazine over the years. There was one a few years ago submitted by a wonderful lady that was for a bag balm using herbs and Vaseline[TM]. One of my friends borrowed that magazine and...

Cleaning sticky bread utensils.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: My husband Bob and I have been subscribers for a few years and we really enjoy reading each issue. Not to offend anyone, but I thought it was common sense not to put any kind of dough or flour down the drain! A better way to...

Homemade chair plans widely available.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I've been reading and enjoying Backwoodsman (PO Box 627, Westcliffe, CO 81252) for a couple years, then I found COUNTRYSIDE. It's the best magazine I've ever located. I'm planning on retiring to my 114 acres of rolling hills in...

Readers may enjoy "Pearls" books.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: Do you know if Deborah Tukua is still publishing Coming Home magazine? I used to get it and then, due to finances, I had to let my subscription lapse. I would appreciate any information. I would really like to get it again. Also,...

Flax: for health and spinning.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I love your magazine. I cannot wait for each new issue. I read a very interesting article in the March/April 2005 issue. The article was titled, "Use Flaxseed Meal For Better Health," by Betty Quinn California. I was really...

"Roughing it" in his younger days was enough.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you for a magazine of the people and for the people. I am also impressed by your philosophy. I am 75-years-old and retired after 52 years in the ministry. I was born during the Depression on a sharecroppers farm. ...

Inspirational stories wanted.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE; We are gathering real life stories of real people to put in book form. These books will continue to inspire and uplift all of us that either are looking for our dream or already have our dream. We too have had our dream. We...

Stop the bugs before they get in.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I am responding to the question the lady had about roach control. This one always works for me and the cost is worth the effort. We have built our own home in the mountains and have rented, also. Many of your readers responded...

Background on Northwest Farm Terriers.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... A number of people were interested in the terriers mentioned in the Jan/Feb issue. Here's more information from the author: COUNTRYSIDE: Northwest Farm Terrier is the name of the breed. They're a breed in the making, not yet recognized by...

How to find resources in your area.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: In a recent issue there were a couple of people asking for help and information. The question about using a drop spindle especially caught my attention because I had learned from someone else. I don't think you can learn to do it...

Is homesteading too much work?(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: Where are all the folks with a homesteader's heart that want to try to make it off the grid? For 1-1/2 years I've tried to find just the right person to take over my place in the mountains, which I have had to give up on due...

Favorite web shopping sites.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I just bought a pressure cooker gasket at this hardware store over the Internet-www.redhillgeneralstore.com (Red Hill General Store, 21 Oak Knoll Dr., Hillsville, VA 24343--they don't have a printed catalog at this time.). I liked...

We're moving!(From the editor)
May 1, 2005... You may have noticed the new address for COUNTRYSIDE peppered throughout this issue. We have simply outgrown the former Nightingale Tavern (complete with pool cue holes in the ceiling-the bar was removed long ago to make room for books) on the...

Neighbors in need.
May 1, 2005... Can you help these homesteaders? Send your replies to: COUNTRYSIDE Editorial, 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451 or e-mail csymag@tds.net. Venison bacon: I would like to know if it is possible to make your own bacon at home. I would...

Neighbors in need replies.
May 1, 2005... Here are the replies from last month's questions about apple shaped gourds and burlap bags: What can you do with a burlap bag? * 1) Burlap is a great material for cleaning and helping warm newborn kids, or lambs! Its rough texture...

Coming events.(Calendar)
May 1, 2005... Send your events at least three months in advance to: Countryside Coming Events, 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451; csymag@tds.net May 21-22, 2005 Cambridge, Illinois Heartland Tri-Capra Dairy Goat Show and official milking...

Thermosiphon engine cooling: while this system is larger than pressurized cooling systems, it does have advantages.
May 1, 2005... According to Webster's 1913 dictionary, a thermosiphon is "...an arrangement of tubes for assisting the circulation in a liquid." This simple definition translates into a simple system to cheaply and effectively cool any stationary water-cooled...

7 tips for cutting wood safely.(The woodlot)
May 1, 2005... All fire wood cutting, brush clearing and tree felling is dangerous. The main point of this letter is to show how to use the latest techniques that are dramatically safer, to show where to get manuals and suggest you get yourself to a live...

Building a debt-free home.
May 1, 2005... Building your own home with little building knowledge is very achievable. The key is to have a deep desire to be free of banks and mortgage payments forever! A paid-for piece of property is your best start. We purchased our 12 acres in April...

Processing flax for linen is gaining popularity.
May 1, 2005... In the March/April 2005 issue of COUNTRYSIDE, Rachel Wilkinson asked about processing flax. I processed my first flax this last summer. Another young man, Bruce, (who raised 1/5 of an acre) and I (I raised only a large handful) tried...

Another method of processing flax.
May 1, 2005... I was delighted to read Rachel Lawson Wilkinson s letter (p. 28 March/April 2005) asking for information about processing flax to make linen. I have grown very small patches of flax for two years now. I find there are a number of us who would...

Moving stuff around: use inertia to your advantage.(The tool shed)
May 1, 2005... One day while moving a pressed wood cabinet, I was thinking about what would fit into an article on country living logistics (the science of transport and supply). At the time I was moving the pressed wood cabinet from our basement to the...

Let's talk tools.(The wood carver)
May 1, 2005... In the last issue I talked a bit about getting started in carving as a hobby for those approaching their retirement years when you have time on your hands and need something to do. I also included a pattern for a simple immature songbird. I am...

Rethinking the forge.(The blacksmith shop)
May 1, 2005... As a long-time blacksmith, the concept for the forge in the article in the March/April issue is marginal at best and downright hazardous at worst. The idea of placing a tire rim on top of a five-gallon metal bucket is asking for an accident....

Bats aren't welcomed in this house ...
May 1, 2005... No matter how many times I tell myself, "Bats are good. They eat mosquitoes and other annoying insects. They won't fly onto my head and become entangled in my hair..." I can't seem to react calmly when one is flying at high speed in my house...

... But they're certainly welcomed in this house!
May 1, 2005... There are a number of bat house plans on the Internet. * Here is one of Scott Holub's plans. To see other plans visit Scott's Bat House Page and Bat House Plans: http://habitat.ms11.net/ bat/bathome.htm. This two-chamber bat house is made...

Cheapskate: help for your pocketbook.
May 1, 2005... Most all of us could use a boost to our finances from time to time. Some of us clip coupons in order to save on our grocery bill. Others scan the newspaper ads for sales on the products they use, or mull over the want ads looking for bargains....

Help for hoes.
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I would like to pass on some information on some ways that I have found helpful in weeding my garden. I make a variety of size hoes. I make the hoes from a piece of fiat iron strap by bending the strap into an "L" shape and...

New natural flea remedy.
May 1, 2005... New Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy is a non-toxic, all-natural approach to flea control for use both on your pets and in your home. This odorless powder can be rubbed into your pet's fur and sprinkled on carpets, furniture, and bedding....

Strawberry delight.(Notes from the northwoods)
May 1, 2005... There are few crops in my garden that I fuss over as much as I do strawberries. If I give them the care they need, they give me berries. They are quite straightforward about it--no attention, no berries. It is an honest and open barter. ...

Fiddleheads: nature's spring taste treat.(Foraging)
May 1, 2005... Every year, for a brief period of time, stores and roadside stands sell fiddleheads. Since the growing region includes a fairly large portion of the country, many folks will have access to the fiddleheads and may enjoy learning more about them....

Jazz up a dreary spot with a hanging garden.(The garden)
May 1, 2005... You can spotlight your favorite plants by cultivating them in a beautiful and unusual hanging garden. This inviting gardening method is an excellent way to vary your flower planting and spark new interest in your gardening. A drab,...

Interplanting.(The garden)
May 1, 2005... What is meant by the term "interplanting'? This is a method of growing two or more crops at the same time in the same field or garden bed. It makes good sense to interplant onions, carrots, radishes and beets; these plants are fond of each...

Is your fruit going to the birds?(Garden products)
May 1, 2005... In the 30 years that I've lived out in the country and have tried to grow my own cherries, peaches, and plums, I've fought the bird problem every year. Without netting, my cherries don't reach a ripe condition--they're gone about the time they...

This is not your daddy's okra! Big okra with big taste.(The garden)
May 1, 2005... Even though I consider myself an open-minded gardener, never been a fan of giant veggies as big as my head. I always suspected that a radish the size of a grapefruit would not get straight A's in a taste test, but was I dead wrong about okra!...

Don't waste water: make a rain barrel.(The garden)
May 1, 2005... Tools: * Electric drill fitted with 15/16 drill bit * Saber or hand saw Supplies: * Plastic drum * PVC cement * 3/4-inch male thread spigot with slant head * Screen Directions:...

Gardening tips for limited spaces.(The garden)
May 1, 2005... I grew up during the early 1930s during hard times. There was no electric power in the entire area of rural north east Alabama. Our family of 10 lived on a small farm in an early 1800s log cabin. Adequate food for our family was difficult to...

Prevent powdery mildew problems.(The garden)
May 1, 2005... Make sure your plants are located in an area where they will have good air circulation and expose as much leaf surface to the sun as possible. Mix 1 part milk with 9 parts water and spray the plants. Or try spraying the leaves with a...

Stay healthy--eat peanuts!(The country kitchen)
May 1, 2005... Consumed throughout the world, peanuts, also called groundnuts, goober and goober pea, are one of the favorite foods of mankind. In the Americas, where they began their odyssey to the four corners of the world, they are a much favored crop. In...

Middle Eastern spice blends.
May 1, 2005... Dear Mr. Salloum: I have been reading and enjoying your delicious recipes in COUNTRYSIDE For many years now. My wife and I took forward to creating your recipes and exploring Middle Eastern cuisine every month. I have one question, are there...

Making herbed vinegar is easy.
May 1, 2005... One of the simplest recipes for using herbs is this 19th-century hint for making flavored vinegar: Pour plain vinegar over herbs in a bottle and let it sit for a month in the sun. What could be easier? A more refined vinegar can be made by...

Try some goat milk ice cream.(The country kitchen)
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I thought you needed a cream separator to make goat milk ice cream too (March/April 2005), as I was accustomed to using rich Jersey cow milk with added cream for my recipe. Goat milk used in the same recipe turned out poorly, not...

Easy way to take corn off the cob.
May 1, 2005... I've tried every gizmo on the market to get corn off the cob prior to freezing. Most leave great chunks of my knuckle mixed in with the corn. Here is an absolutely slick way to tackle this labor-intensive job. You will need two tools: a...

Tea jellies.(The country kitchen)
May 1, 2005... Since the earliest times, tea has been renowned for its healing properties as a healthy and refreshing drink. Today in my kitchen, our favorite teas are brewed not only for the teapot, but into a unique and tasty spread. Tea jellies are...

Versatile bread recipe.
May 1, 2005... COUNTRYSIDE: I've been baking bread for my family of nine forever and I agree, the clean up is the worst. I now dirty only one bowl and a wooden spoon. Here is my recipe: Use a large tapered mixing bowl that is large at the top (a big...

A dicey food chain? Readers give their differing views on the issue.
May 1, 2005... In response to Larisa Sparrowhawk who wrote regarding my comments about protection of our food supply, it was not my intent to suggest that a large food processing company can achieve a safer, higher quality product than a small processor. ...

Being a "chicken little" doesn't solve anything.
May 1, 2005... In response to the article concerning our food chain: If you think that by throwing half-truths around and using scare tactics you are helping our cause, you're not. This kind of activity on either side of the issue only makes things worse and...

They don't support the multi-national food corporations.
May 1, 2005... First of all, I read this magazine from cover to cover, and then again. I am so glad I do because this particular writing really reaffirms my feelings about my life. There are times when I think there must be an easier way. And there is. I...

For years they felt "store bought" hasn't been safe.
May 1, 2005... Smith, Barbara My husband and I have known for years that meat, milk, cheese and butter that is store bought, except for organic, is not safe. Since we are 71 and 73 years old, we are very careful about what we ingest. We have not been to...

Food isn't the only thing being affected.
May 1, 2005... Just received my March/April 2005 issue of COUNTRYSIDE and read the starter article titled, "America's food chain is dicey." In January I got my copy of the Idaho Observer and when I read the comments made by Wallace Heath, Ph.D. about, and I...

And speaking of food, what about the lowly soybean?
May 1, 2005... I was, alarmed to read Nora McCoy Coy's article Homestead Health: "Soy and your health; Can those little beans really be good for you?", March/April 2005 issue. I have been a vegetarian since age five and eat soy based foods almost daily,...

And here's something else to ponder regarding the food chain: line breeding, prions and mad cow disease.
May 1, 2005... It is my hope that this article will bring about further investigation by the scientific community and much dialogue on the subject of prion-related diseases. Theories, like opinions, are all over the place. There have been many theories...

Feeding for milk production 1910-style: Part II.(The cow barn)
May 1, 2005... Relation of live weight to proper feeding The live weight of a cow is a good index of whether the cow is being fed a proper amount or not, but good judgment must be used in regulating the ration by observing this condition. We must expect...

Small scale Croatian dairy.
May 1, 2005... In 2001 I visited with relatives in the small Croatian town of Suhopolje, near the border with Hungary. While there I had a courtesy visit with the local priest. During it I mentioned I was a cattle farmer, yet had not seen a single cow while...

An unusual cow: she's been lactating for over four years without giving birth!(The cow barn)
May 1, 2005... I have a cow that has been milking for a looooong time. It all started when the last independent supplier of milk decided to sell the cows and buy milk from a commercial supplier. I did not like the flavor. I told my wife that I would buy a...

Raising burros as livestock guardians.(Homestead livestock)
May 1, 2005... To Peggy and the others who wrote with many questions about burros/donkeys and sheep relationships, I will attempt to answer most of your questions. First the disclaimer: I don't have all the answers and what works for me in this geographical...

Water for waterfowl.(The poultry yard)
May 1, 2005... Walking towards the coop I hear them. Clattering and clamoring, they want outside. Just past sunrise the pop hole opens. Webbed feet rush the gangplank. Silence falls. The pond is drained and filling; the ducks are still. All eyes watch the...

Rabbit-raising tips for cold weather.(The rabbitry)
May 1, 2005... I raise satin rabbits for show, breeding stock and meat. A few issues ago someone asked if apple cider vinegar helped keep does receptive. I have had good luck using cider vinegar--it is a natural treatment for coccidiosis, it keeps my show...

Want to raise livestock? Here are some things to check out before you pick your breed.(Livestock)
May 1, 2005... I never imagined that I would end up as a livestock breeder. You see, it all started when my husband and I were looking for 5-10 acres and bought an 86-acre farm in southeast Ohio. I'm sure this is a familiar scenario with many of you out...

What's your favorite hobby? From hunting the elusive morel mushroom to Civil War reenactments and bluegrass music, these folks will be sure to inspire you.
May 1, 2005... I have always had more interests than I am able to manage, but what is my favorite hobby? Mushroom hunting! By the winter solstice I am counting the weeks until the morels begin popping up. That's right--in April! I manage to find a little...

Bluegrass ... and more!
May 1, 2005... It all started with a simple enough question: "Do you happen to play any instruments?" I had bought a farm in Missouri and was in the process of selling my first hay crop to Phil, one of my new neighbors, when the question came up.... Did...

Reenactments are a popular pastime with many homesteaders.
May 1, 2005... My husband and I have a rather unique hobby although it is one shared by thousands of others. We are buckskinners, we do living history reenacting especially pre-1840 mountain man encampments called rendezvous. We belong to a group called The...

Getting back to her roots.
May 1, 2005... For the past three years I have been fascinated with genealogy. The Internet has been a tremendous boon for this science. An enormous number of average people have posted their family lineages for all to see. Libraries are perfect places to...

Woodcarving and fly tying top his list.
May 1, 2005... My favorite hobby for the past 25-30 years has been woodcarving. I won't write any more about that here as my regular column on wood carving in this magazine explains that quite well. (See Mel's article on page 44 in this issue.) Another...

Making rustic furniture requires imagination.
May 1, 2005... Our hobby is making rustic furniture. It just takes a bit of loving the outdoors, some carpentry skills and a whole lot of imagination, creativity, time and patience. No real special talents are needed. We both absolutely love the outdoors and...

Amateur radio broadcasters help save lives.
May 1, 2005... When we first moved out to the country, one of our neighbors started working on us to take up amateur radio right away. He argued that out here where cells are hard to find for cell phone service, it's a matter of survival to have two meter...

Sewing is relaxing and productive.
May 1, 2005... My favorite hobby is sewing. I started in 1965 and am 52 years old. You don't need any special skills to sew, and you can take lessons to show you how. (Check out 4-H clubs to see if they teach sewing.) One of my girlfriends does not sew, but...

Learning to crochet during the Depression turned into a life-long hobby.
May 1, 2005... My mother, Lord love her, was an intelligent woman. She knew that kids need to be kept busy, and living dirt poor in Oklahoma during the Great Depression, it was not easy to find affordable recreation for kids. We didn't have electricity or...

Looking for refunds can pay off.
May 1, 2005... Gardening is becoming my favorite hobby, but I have limited experience in that area. The work, the fun, the problems and the yield grow each year, but some readers can do more justice to that hobby than I can. My hobby is refunding. That...

Drawstring bags are useful for a variety of objects.
May 1, 2005... I make simple drawstring bags out of a variety of materials, most of which are recycled or from garage sales, and find them useful for a plethora of purposes. Using a dense material, like a heavy cotton twill, you can make a bag about 18 inches...

Collecting firewood puts her in touch with nature.
May 1, 2005... Early mornings draw me to the beaver pond, coffee cup in hand, with a promise to myself-after breakfast and dishes and chores, the day will find me standing in the little johnboat, pushing myself along like a gondolier. After leaving the boat...

Blow guns can be useful, but they aren't legal everywhere.
May 1, 2005... I bought my first blowgun back in 1966 as a teenager. I paid $8.95 for a six-foot blowgun and 200 darts. It was all I could have since we had been forced off the farm and yet I wanted to keep shooting. Town folk didn't like kids with firearms....

Backpacking: the ultimate independence.
May 1, 2005... Like the turtle, the backpacker is at home wherever he chooses to drop his pack. For a 40-ish ranch aide, it was an escape whenever I could find someone to do my chores, or I cooked extra food for my household. As with most Idahoans, I lived...

Sometimes it's not easy to pick one favorite hobby.
May 1, 2005... By asking the question of the month, "What is your favorite hobby?," you are opening a Pandora's box. I have many hobbies and believe if needed, I could make a meager living off of each. I guess you could classify gardening as a hobby--one...