Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from May 2007

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from May 2007

Good bread requires fresh ingredients.(Country conversation & feedback)(Recipe)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I just received my latest issue of Countryside. As I was reading through, I got as far as the article about "lead bread," by Russ from Michigan, and I decided to write concerning bread making and baking. I started baking bread...

Family lives their off-grid dream.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 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...

Cattle breed suggestions for homesteaders.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I am writing in response to Maureen Home's letter (91/2). I wonder if she has considered Brahma cross cattle? I know people think of the Brahmas as mean, bucking-bulls in rodeos, and there are some that will be hard to work...

Let's hear it for rare breeds.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I want to say first that I love your magazine and am a longtime subscriber. I find many interesting articles and can hardly wait for each new issue as I read and reread each one. I wanted to comment on the article in the 91/2...

No complaints about hatchery deliveries here.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I Can't tell you how much I enjoy your magazine--I devour it from cover to cover within days of receiving it. It's always like a visit with old friends: sharing memories, learning things, not always agreeing but knowing that's okay...

Raising chickens isn't as difficult as you may think.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I just got through reading the article by Jerri Cook in issue 91/2 and haven't decided if the article was tongue-in-cheek or an embellished experience. When we finally realized our dream of buying acreage the first thing my...

More thoughts on land patents.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: The article "Government Beef" by Jerri Cook, in the 91/1 issue, was like reading one person's nightmare! The only problem, it is our collective nightmare. Some states brandish "eminent domain" about as if it were their God given...

You can do a lot with rugged determination.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: In response to anonymous, the interstate cabin builder (91/2), hats off. It just goes to show what a little (or in his case, a lot), of determination can do. Here's one for comedian Jeff Foxworthy: If you build a log cabin in New...

No electricity might mean no water, for some.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: This in answer to John and Cindy Pitonyak of Kentucky's question in the 91/1 issue. As to living in a simple cabin, the one thing that is hard to live without is electricity. The water can be accomplished with the use of a...

For those who have energy or money, but not both.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: We love your magazine and look forward to each new issue. We began our someday-to-be-sustainable homestead nearly three years ago and are learning more every day. Besides the work required in homesteading, we see two major...

Corn variety issues.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: Reading the article on sweet corn (Tim King, 91/2), I noticed that there was little naming of specific varieties, and most that were named are hybrids, not OP's. Non-hybrid, non-GM corn varieties are designated "OP," farm...

The hills are alive ...(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I live in the hills of Arkansas and just love it, but I have two problems that I really need help with. The first: something lives under my mobile home that comes out at night, cuts my shrubs and drags them under the house. I have...

Separate goat milk cream without a machine.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I'd like to respond to the article in your 91/1 issue by Harvey Ussery about separating cream from goat milk. If you only have a small amount of milk it is very easy to separate the cream without a separator which eliminates the...

Goat horns do have a use.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I was interested in your comment about the 91/1 cover of goats with horns, stating "they really should have been disbudded shortly after birth to prevent their horns from becoming entangled in fencing, or used against someone." ...

Teach your goat "manners" while he's just a kid.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: Can you help me educate people on what well-behaved goats are like, because so many people do not know. When I read the "Breed characteristics and personality contrasts in dairy goat breeds" in issue 90/3, I found a paragraph...

Another livestock waterer that delays freezing.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I liked Jeff Gerken's article regarding the use of straw insulated tires to reduce livestock water freezing in the 91/2 issue. I plan to try Jeff's method. I have an alternative that also works successfully. I buy used heavy...

Great soap recipe!(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I was writing to let readers know what a great recipe for laundry soap Dorice Baty provided. I'm making laundry soap for 32 cents a gallon and it works great! My family and I live in Littleton, New Hampshire, in the White...

Free-range poultry and neighbors.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: The very thought of free-range conjures up idyllic scenes of "Cluckie" and a group of her feathered friends contentedly scratching around a stately old barn or grassy pastureland. On the other hand, imagine your neighbor,...

"Free-range" cats are a nuisance.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: In regards to "Homestead Tips to Live By," in the last issue, the gentleman mentioned getting cats. Why doesn't he mention neutering the cats? They are almost as prolific as rabbits. And you sure won't be a good neighbor if you...

Countryside back issues for the price of postage.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I have Countryside magazines from Sept. 2003 through December 2006. I will gladly give them to anyone who is willing to pay the postage. My address is: Ray Patterson, 1307 9th St., Moundsville WV 26041; ssobwv1@verizon.net

School needs your seeds.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: Our family has enjoyed your magazine immensely for the last three years. I am writing to ask folks if they might have saved seeds from a few heirloom pumpkin varieties that I am trying to locate. I am willing to trade some of...

Seeking out-of-print salve recipe books.(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I've found that these three books are no longer printed/ available. If anyone has a copy of these would you be willing to share some of the salve recipes? The books are: The Natural Herb Book; The Encyclopedia of Herbs, by...

What is this mystery tool?(Country conversation & feedback)
May 1, 2007... What it is: Countryside: The March/April 2007 issue of Countryside arrived today, and the way it was stuffed into the mailbox caused the page with the tool to be opened. I recognized it right away, because I have one and use it regularly!...

Coming events.(Calendar)
May 1, 2007... April 2-7, 2007 WSSP Sheep Shearing School: The Annual Washington State Shearing School, Moses Lake, Washington. The cost for Beginners Class is $125 for WSSP members or $175 for non-members. The Advanced tune-up class is $35. The school...

On the loose at the 15th Annual Wisconsin Grazing Conference, Part I: toad stranglers, chicken wranglers, global warming and forgiveness farming.(Special feature)
May 1, 2007... He moved with the focused cadence of a dustbowl era preacher. His words, wrapped in a soft Shenandoah accent, flowed like lyrics from some old time hymn. Every eye in the conference hall trained on him as if by command. I sat at full attention,...

Selecting cattle for your small farm: are you interested in milk? Meat? Both? Find out which breed suits your needs.(The cow barn)(Cover story)
May 1, 2007... There are so many breeds and rosses of cattle today that it s hard to know which ones to choose when selecting cattle for a small farm. There are dozens and dozens of beef breeds and composites, and a half dozen major dairy breeds. There are...

A sampling of popular cattle breeds.
May 1, 2007... You may have a favorite breed already, and that will make your choice easy. If you are not sure what breed you'd like, take a look at many or study up on several that you're interested in before you choose, looking at the literature put out by...

Miniature Scottish Highlands: while there are better breeds for beef, these animals work well on a small acreage, and keep the brush down as well.(The cow barn)
May 1, 2007... Well hidden in a forest of oak, maple, birch and pine in North Stonington, Connecticut, is a herd of unusual looking animals. Short legged and very hairy, from a distance one might mistake them for a Shetland pony. But horses they are not....

Readers' choices for hardier cattle breeds.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... Countryside: Thanks for all your wonderful articles--I love this magazine. In response to Maureen Horne's (Ashland, Oregon) request for hardier cattle, I would like to suggest Milking Shorthorn. I just love them! I live in the hills of...

Donkeys on the homestead.(Homestead livestock)
May 1, 2007... When you think of a donkey, the first thing that comes to mind is big ears, a comical, rusty, door-hinge bray, and a short whiskbroom tail. When the donkey was designed, these adaptations allowed it to succeed and survive in a harsh desert...

Attending the newborn foal: being there can make a difference.(The horse barn)
May 1, 2007... Usually mares give birth with no problems, and the foal is strong and healthy, but it pays to be there. If something goes wrong, a little help at the proper time can make the difference between life or death for the foal. A hard birth, or...

The feeding & care of kids.(Th goat barn)
May 1, 2007... I have seen few bottles evacuated as fast as Grover and Kermit can empty them. Grover is a 10-day-old and Kermit is a seven-day-old field save. Thev are Kikos. They were discovered near dead. You'd never know that by the way they chow down goat...

Kid diapers made easy: while it's probably not often you'll need a goat "diaper," they come in handy when taking kids to visit schools, senior centers, or other indoor excursions.(The goat barn)
May 1, 2007... She scanned the pasture. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a furry patch lying in the wet cold grass. It was barely 25[degrees]F. The deserted kid was still. So cold she knew it had not survived the weather. Cindy picked up the tiny...

Just in time for show season, a portable goat milking stand.(The goat barn)
May 1, 2007... This portable milking stand was originally featured in Countryside in the July/August, 2000 issue as a fold-up model that was permanently mounted on the wall. By removing the hinges that mounted the old stand to the wall and adding three...

Poultry experiences the books don't warn you about.(The poultry shed)
May 1, 2007... I'm running a small poultry business on my five-acre homestead. It's hard to compete in the spring with the feed stores, and Tractor Supply. I just can't purchase the large number of birds that they do to keep the prices down. Plus, a lot of...

Raising dual-purpose rabbits.(The rabbitry)
May 1, 2007... We've all heard about dual-purpose cows, sheep, etc., but how many ave heard about dual-purpose rabbits? Meat and fiber, or fiber and meat, how you interpret is depending on your perspective. Rabbits are one of the most economical forms of...

Viewing rabbitries & butchering tips.(The rabbitry)
May 1, 2007... Countryside; I was just reading "The rabbitry" in your current issue. Is there a market for rabbits? Where would I go to see a rabbitry? I would like to know how to butcher a rabbit properly. Where would I go to see it done the right way, from...

Housing and feeding your new packaged bees.(The apiary)
May 1, 2007... Well, you made it this far. Your packaged bees have been delivered. You had all of your equipment, hive bodies, frames and foundation, bottom board, and top feeder all assembled and ready to go. You "installed" the package and checked the queen...

Wild parsnip: it's like raiding a garden, but better.(Wild food foraging)
May 1, 2007... Once one of the most important vegetables in the American diet, the parsnip has fallen increasingly into obscurity over the last hundred years. Home-cooking has been replaced by fast food and pre-packaged meals, while gardening has become more...

Growing potatoes: planning, understanding, timing, and feeding.(The garden)
May 1, 2007... Unlike most vegetables, potatoes thrive in acid soil, so do not add any lime to your soil. Besides raising the soil's pH, limestone fosters conditions that can lead to potato scab diseases. On the other hand, we make sure the soil gets plenty...

Eggplants: from flats to freezer.(The garden)
May 1, 2007... Eggplant has been around for a long time. Apparently, this vegetable grew in China more than 20 centuries ago. Records show that by the year 4 A.D., diners in the Arab world ate eggplant. In the 17th century American South, cooks referred...

Mushroom research: a source of food and medicine.
May 1, 2007... From ancient times man has been interested in mushrooms. The Romans referred to mushrooms as "food of the gods," and the Greeks thought mushrooms provided strength for warriors in battles. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt prized mushrooms as a...

Another method of growing eggplant.
May 1, 2007... Countryside: I took three-gallon buckets, put about two-inch holes in the bottom of it, stuck the eggplants in the holes (I used some fabric to wrap around the root just to hold it in place while the roots grab hold.) Then I filled the bucket...

Family album.
May 1, 2007... Countryside: Our daughters had a great time picking (and tasting!) strawberries out of our garden last summer.--Molly McKinney, Indiana To share your homestead photos, e-mail to: csymag@tds.net, or Countryside Editorial, 145 Industrial Dr.,...

There's more to salads than iceberg lettuce!(The garden)
May 1, 2007... Have you heard this in your home? "Would you like some salad?" Mother asks. "No, thank you," the family replies. "But you always get salad when we eat out," questions Mother. "That's different--it's good there," exclaims the family. ...

The miracle of the earthworm.(The garden)
May 1, 2007... Tne earthworm is truly an amazing little creature and the best friend the farmer and gardener ever had. The earthworm is one of the segmented worms: their bodies divided into segments. The earthworm has well developed organs and systems....

Ironware: always in season.(The homestead kitchen)
May 1, 2007... Nothing cooks better, or healthier, than cast iron cookware. Furthermore, if you take proper care of your ironware, clean-up is as easy as any modern non-stick pan. Cast iron cookware, carefully handled, can last for generations. In Photo 1, I...

Pumpkin recipes: file these--your pumpkins will be ready before you know it!(The homestead kitchen)(Recipe)
May 1, 2007... My granddaughters normally eat the pumpkin pie filling, but not the crust. With this recipe for pumpkin pie, they eat all the filling, plus the crumb crust--and ask for more. I sent home five small samples of the pumpkin pie with the...

Tips for homemade noodle success.(The homestead kitchen)(Recipe)
May 1, 2007... Noodle making is a worthwhile art to learn. Eat them served with browned butter or in chicken noodle soup, and you'll see why. Give some away and people will act like you've given them a treasure, or if they're never tasted homemade noodles...

How not to finance a home craft business.(Your homestead business)
May 1, 2007... Many people have plans to eday start their own home craft business, one that ideally would replace their outside income with income earned at home. They dream about giving up the commute. They fantasize about working at home, spending more time...

Calculating your daily solar energy harvest.(Life on the sunny side)
May 1, 2007... Have you been thinking of going solar? If so, one of the most important tasks you'll undertake is determining just how much usable energy your expensive solar array will be able to produce, day in and day out, every month of the year. Lacking...

Make a simple whirlagig wind toy: add some fun to your homestead.(The woodcarver)
May 1, 2007... I recently suggested a Beginners Carving Kit for those of you who want to begin carving. I am happy to hear from Smoky Mountain Wood Carvers that a number of you have ordered one. You are now on your way to having fun with wood. I grew up...

Last time we asked you to share your: unique livestock housing. Here are some of the replies we received.(Question of the month)
May 1, 2007... Easy-access chicken pens Countryside: This is my first time writing, even though I have been reading for years and years--I'm sorry that I haven't told you yet how much I have enjoyed it. Countryside is very cool! My most interesting...

Learning as they go: dogs, kids, & building bridges.(Country neighbors)
May 1, 2007... Our Northwest Farm Terriers are at it again. A friend brought us a kitten that was too young to be away from her mother and our Sadie promptly adopted and nursed the youngster. Sadie had had puppies three months prior to the kitten's arrival so...

For them, faith has its rewards.(Country neighbors)
May 1, 2007... I have read several articles about the difficulties of homesteading and would like to give my perspective on the joys involved, which by far outshine the problems. As explanation of our circumstances, my wife is an occupational therapist...

Musings from a Canadian homesteader.(Country neighbors)
May 1, 2007... By Canadian standards, this past winter has fallen short of what we expect around here; no snow (not even for Christmas), temperatures hovering just around the freezing mark, and pussy willows blooming in some sheltered spots of the forest....

The summer of corn detassling.(Looking back)
May 1, 2007... Detasseling corn began in the 1940s, when geneticists discovered the benefits of hybrid corn. Using hybrids improves the taste--and the sale--of sweet corn, which is the type most people are accustomed to eating. Americans on average eat about...

Play it again ...
May 1, 2007... Something funky happened to this letter regarding "Why waste food?" in the last issue--a few paragraphs were missing. (Can we blame computers?) Here is the letter--in its entirety-from page 13 in the March/April issue. Countryside: I would...

Poor Will's Countryside Almanack for late spring and early summer 2007.(Calendar)
May 1, 2007... And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days; Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune, And over it softly her warm ear lays. --James Russell Lowell Astronomical data for May The phases of the Warbler Moon...

The great pig escape.(After chores)
May 1, 2007... Our farm is located in a small town (pop. 400) that is essentially a bedroom community. A bedroom community is best described as a community where everyone works out of town. (This distinction will be important later in the story.) My...