Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from November 2003

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from November 2003

Wine and vinegar are close cousins.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Sue Robishaw's delightful article "Homestead Wine" (Sept/Oct 2003) came just in the nick of time to guide us through our first winemaking attempt. Many thanks! Since the elderberry crop was at its peak we didn't have time to look...

Arthritis cure or curse?(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I read with interest the comments about Penetran Plus (Sept/Oct 03). It is an excellent product. I have arthritis in my wrists and knees and a little of this gives a lot of relief. However, I want to add that if you order it,...

Tips for your solar dryer on wheels.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I was reading the Sept/Oct issue and noticed the letter about using your car as a food dehydrator (p. 21). I wanted to mention a few improvements that makes this idea even better. If you drape clean, black fabric over your food, it...

Terminate those pesky ants.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Ants are farmers of sorts, the trick is to have them "work" for you. Set aside a small area near the garden for "their" plants. Lace the very small area with sugar--that will keep them busy taking the sugar back to their...

More ant-removal remedies.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I have never heard of Argentine ants, but for the ants here in Florida, I use "Orange Guard" which may be used around food, humans and pets. It kills and repels hidden bugs including ants, roaches and fleas. I sprayed outside...

Authentic bean recipes from Mexico.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I live with my husband and 15-year-old daughter in Dr. Arroyo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. We are missionaries with Dayspring Outreach Ministries, based in Duenweg, Missouri. I read Jennifer Owen's letter and her request for a...

Corn stoves are a renewable heat source.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I am interested in heating my home with an outdoor corn stove. We live in the midwest where there is an abundance of corn grown. Is there any organization that, to promote the use of this inexpensive and very renewable heat source,...

Lack of minerals may be our downfall.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Thanks for a great magazine. I've been a subscriber for only a few years and I love reading about what other people like me are doing, going off grid, being more self sufficient, and living off the land. One thing that jumps...

Diatomaceous earth sources.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I received lots of e-mails about DE (diatomaceous earth) and asking where to find it. The major company is Celite Corp., which has a website: www.worldminerals.com. IFM in Wenatchee, Washington also sells the natural product, call...

Unique use for a drill.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I'm going to be 63 this year and grew up in the fields on my parents' farm and learned to make do with what we had, which wasn't much at the time--and many times in between. I was just in town looking for a bench grinder for my...

Backup power with a Sears Diehard battery.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Steve Krug's retrospective was very enlightening and just the reason why I subscribe to a magazine like COUNTRYSIDE. I have far less experience with solar electric systems (a dozen years--max), and mine have been of the...

"Gently used" treasures.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I enjoyed Sherri Penning's astute observation in the last issue, that "other people's trash is often our treasure." Currently, with most of our commonly purchased items being made in the third world countries by poor people who are...

No more mangy mutts.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I have been meaning to write and tell you how to cure the worst red mange a dog or cat can have. It is a product that comes in a four-ounce glass bottle called VetKem Paramite Dip for dogs and cats. It really works. It is available...

It all takes time to come together.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: My dream finally came true. We moved out here on 80 acres to care-take for my son-in-law who is in the Navy. We love it out here but we are as busy as "cranberry merchants." We have a garden but we had a really bad storm and...

Homesteaders in short supply.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: After reading "Homesteading mentors in short supply," by Tanya M. in the Sept/Oct issue, it really got me thinking. I would give anything to be able to teach what I know to anyone willing to learn. For years I've been trying to...

Tree collector needs cherries.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Now that I am back in the south again, and have a nice place, I am collecting fruit and nut trees. If someone has a small bing cherry tree, I would love to get one.--Paul E. Epps, 160 Hidden Valley Rd., Wallhalla, SC 29691....

"Instant" container garden available.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Love your magazine! A lot of people write that they want to container garden. They might find this interesting--www.earthbox.com--I did, but I don't have one of these, yet. The tiny print says it doesn't come with soil, but it and...

GM info welcome.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: The article on Jeremiath C. Gettle and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds was incredibly interesting (July/Aug 2003). It is a "must read" for my homeschooled children. Keep up the good work!--Debbie Foster

Identifying GM foods in the supermarket.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Although those who produce genetically modified (GM) foods are not willing to identify it, there is a way the consumer can avoid buying GM fruits and vegetables. You will notice in the produce section of your supermarket that the...

Define homesteading.(Country conversation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: My husband and I have enjoyed your magazine since we were first introduced to it in 1999 by a trial membership offer we received through the mail. The 1999 issues were of great interest to me because of the ruckus brought about by...

Starting a goat dairy, foraging, and opening a store.(Country conservation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: My husband, Eric, and I have been living in our home on 15 acres for five years now. I never realized that we were homesteading until we read your magazine. I absolutely love it. I am learning how to forage for wild edible...

Tips on cutting your phone bill.(Country conservation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: We cut our phone bill 68%! And we did it painlessly, almost effortlessly. It seems like we were constantly being bombarded by long distance ads, each company claiming we could save money by using their services, but the plans all...

Old-time stories wanted.(Country conservation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I was facinated by the article in the July/August 03 issue by Rosie Hays on homesteading in Germany. The Germans and German extract (i.e. Amish, Mennonites, Hutterites) are superior husbandmen from whom we can learn much. I read a...

Be careful around dead or sick animals.(Country conservation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Warning! Do not skin any animal found sick or dead or acting strangely. It should be buried or otherwise disposed of so it will not contaminate people or other animals. Some animal diseases, such as tuberculosis, tetanus, rabies...

A new use for an old coffee pot.(Country conservation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Someone wrote about the safety involved in melting wax for candles. At a garage sale recently found a wonderful idea, use old coffee pots to put the wax in. Yes, still us the double boiler system where the pot goes into something...

Retirement is on her mind.(Country conservation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I've been meaning to write for quite a while but after the July/August issue, I thought it was about time. My ex-husband and I bought our 40-acre farm in 1977 so I've been back to the land for quite a while. In the beginning I...

Use tuna in your fish cakes.(Country conservation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: On page 61 of the July/August 2003 issue of your wonderful magazine you have a recipe for fish cakes. I noticed you did not have tuna listed. I suggest trying well-drained tuna shaped into a ball not quite as large as a ping-pong...

Preserving bread in a jar.(Country conservation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: In the May/June 2003 issue, page 89 has a wonderful recipe for pumpkin bread in a jar. Bonnie Stichart, the safety expert from Washington State University questions the safety of this method. I agree with her and the jar companies...

We do not eat our pets!(Country conservation & feedback)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I was appalled to read the "Thoughts on making a living from the homestead" article by Curt M. Butterfield in the July/August issue. Potbelly pigs are pets--they are not raised for consumption in this country any more than horses...

Countryside contacts.
November 1, 2003... 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 maybe edited for clarity or brevity. * Honest-to-goodness...

Coming events.
November 1, 2003... Send your event listing at least 3 months in advance to: COUNTRYSIDE Coming Events, W11564 Hwy. 64, Withee, WI 54498; csymag@tds.net. November 8, 2003 Barbeque, Ocala, FL. Our names are David E. Bryson (Duck Haven Farm) and Mark...

Build a homestead one-log hauler.(Notes from the Northwoods)
November 1, 2003... The homestead version of "which comes first, the chicken or the egg" (in itself a simple conundrum which has many more meanings for the homesteader than for many people) is "which comes first, this job or that one?" Or, expanded version, how...

The RainCatcher: you can still have water even if the power is out, with this handy system.(Homestead water)
November 1, 2003... We live at the end of the road. A thousand feet of winding chert and dirt separate us from a thin ribbon of "iffy" asphalt that, itself, ends just beyond the lane to our home at White Oak Cottage. Sometimes other things end before they get to...

Cheap shower cleaner.
November 1, 2003... Filla spray bottle about 1/4 full with Clorox bleach, add a couple good squeezes of Dawn dishwashing liquid, and fill the remainder with water. Shake it up and spray your shower stall and tub with it. You'll never have to scrub your tub or...

Stone is a misunderstood material.(Homestead building)
November 1, 2003... Rain, rain, go away. I am sitting here watching it rain and trying to think of some creative outlet for my energies. I work as a stonemason and that is, for the most part, a dry weather enterprise. I thought I would take this time to write to...

Swing time.(Homestead building)
November 1, 2003... Every homestead should have a nice swing to help soothe a hard day's work. If you have two trees within 20 feet of each other that are fairly tall and sturdy, you have a good potential swing site. I drill a one-inch hole through both...

Making the most of volunteer labor.(Homestead building)
November 1, 2003... One day in the break room at work, the conversation turned to workshop and garage construction. When I said that I planned to build a shop in the near future, four of my co-workers immediately volunteered to help, saying they wanted to do it...

Holiday herbs.(Homestead crafts)
November 1, 2003... Whenever I think about the holiday season, my thoughts turn to the sharing of good food, comfortable moments, and thoughtful gifts or gestures with those family members and friends that make our days worthwhile. Here at Timberlakes, herbs...

An ingenious model ship: made out of matchsticks and a hair net.(Homestead crafts)
November 1, 2003... I am currently serving a life sentence for trafficking marijuana with 18 months to the parole board. I have been reading COUNTRYSIDE since 1995 when I was arrested. You would be surprised at how many inmates read the articles and yearn for the...

Rags to rugs.(Homestead crafts)
November 1, 2003... You can create a sturdy rug at almost no cost by using worn-out items that would otherwise go to an over-loaded landfill. Besides being easy and economical to make, a braided rag rug is almost indestructible. I still use rugs which I made...

Give your mismatched towels a new life.(Homestead crafts)
November 1, 2003... Yesterday was a "stop and take notice" day. My laundry was on the clotheslines in the back yard drying in the perfectly sunny day. I was sitting at the kitchen table helping my son with his math when it struck me that I could see through the...

Make your own garlic powder: for gourmet flavor, natural medicine, homegrown gifts, and value-added profits.(The garden)
November 1, 2003... I'm a small scale garlic grower in the Finger Lakes region of New York state. A few years ago I dried some of my garlic blubs and ground them into powder. Then I sprinkled the homemade seasoning on a buttered slice of Italian-bread toast and...

Grow potatoes in straw.(The garden)
November 1, 2003... May I answer Tony's question with a question ("Can potatoes be grown in straw," Vol. 87, No. 5, pg 22)? Is there any other way to grow potatoes? We live in a small town in the center of Utah next to a small creek. All of the water has been...

Small, inexpensive hoop houses.(Gardening with the Solar Cowboy)
November 1, 2003... Well, the Solar Cowboy is "on the run." It is late summer and the topics I chose to write about for this issue are not quite ready to photograph! So I'll be leaving the final installment of the "Year Round Solar Greenhouse" for the next issue...

Gardening the Native way.(The garden)
November 1, 2003... Let me start off and say that I will never consider myself a farmer, or even a gardener. My main interests are in Native American and early American history. My goal in starting this garden was twofold; to put healthy vegetables on my family's...

Waste not, want not: making the most of what you grow.(The garden)
November 1, 2003... One of my mother's favorite sayings was "waste not, want not." I grew up living by that philosophy, and I suppose I still live by it today. I abhor waste and shudder at the sight of what some people toss. My thrifty nature is really a...

Suggestions for cooking chevon.(The country kitchen)
November 1, 2003... Chevon used to be an unusual meat in North America, although in recent years it has become more popular. There are places in the world where chevon is a common meat, for example in parts of Africa, the Mediterranean area and the West Indies....

How much meat will a steer produce?(The coutry kitchen)
November 1, 2003... We are taking our first steer into the processor for freezer beef. What can we expect to get back in the way of type and amounts of beef? That is a difficult question to answer since every animal will be different and a lot will depend on...

Whole grains are still the best.(The coutry kitchen)
November 1, 2003... New research shows that three servings of whole grain products instead of refined grains can improve heart health and blood sugar. Over time, elevated blood sugar levels damage both small and large blood vessels. And people with type 2...

Living on the wild side: using wild game can save a lot on your grocery bill, so try ...(The coutry kitchen)
November 1, 2003... Whether you grow and raise your own food and purchase food from your local butcher and grocer, you can generously expand the contents of your winter pantry by tapping into the bounty of edibles offered up by Mother Nature--especially during...

Heal the body and environment naturally.(Homestead health)
November 1, 2003... I'm the natural healing field, we naturopathic doctors believe there are two main causes for all disease: Toxicity and malnutrition. Toxicity includes the body's metabolic wastes, environmental toxins and the toxic by-products of viruses,...

Simple remedies for sick kids (and adults).(Homestead health)
November 1, 2003... * Rest. Help your child feel as comfortable as possible, but in a resting position. Don't allow books, games, or tv that will stimulate the body which produces stress on the immune system. * Lightenmeals. Lack of appetite is natural and...

Drink nature-ally.(Homestead foraging)
November 1, 2003... Most of you have probably read about, and maybe tried, concocting your own beverages from native plant life. More than likely, you've tried the recipes most written about, hot beverages from the mint family. They're widespread, easily...

Pulling kids gets easier with practice.(The goat barn)
November 1, 2003... I wanted to let people know about my experience with assisting my goat when she kidded last spring. I have a book which says that if the kid is breech to reach in and pull out both hind feet, being sure that both are hind, not one front and one...

A goat called Didi: they've found goats provide nutrition, entertainment and companionship.(The goat barn)
November 1, 2003... It all began innocently enough. A group of us were languishing on the veranda discussing the whys and wherefores of life when the conversation turned to goats. Our friend, having grown up with goats as a boy, was eager to acquire a milker as...

Who ya gonna call? Your new horse seems a bit "off" ...(The horse barn)
November 1, 2003... Picture, if you will, you are a relatively new horse owner. You've just acquired a new horse and you don't know all that much about him. He's got a little age on him, he seems gentle enough, even after you've gotten him home. The previous...

More comments on sweet itch.
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I would like to comment on the article in the July/August, 2003 titled, "Controlling Sweet Itch." I boarded a horse named Cowboy that suffers severely from allergic reactions to insect bites. Cowboy's owner has allowed me to...

Ameraucana & Araucana: what's the difference?(The henhouse)
November 1, 2003... What are the major differences between Ameraucana and Araucana chickens? Both breeds lay eggs with shells colored various shades of blue, have pea combs, and should have red earlobes. Beyond that few similarities exist in specimens meeting...

Finders, keepers: SPPA member finds rare geese at local auction.(The henhouse)
November 1, 2003... Ed Hart, a member of the Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities, found several geese of various rare breeds at a local auction. He was the successful bidder, at $7 each, for three of the Pomeranian birds. He found them at the...

Keep your chicks warm with this non-electric brooder.(The poultry house)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: I am considering raising chickens for the first time and strictly for the eggs. Everything seems geared toward the modern way with electricity. The problem is, I can't run electricity to a coop. I'd like to build a shed--or buy...

Poor Will's COUNTRYSIDE Almanac for late autumn and early winter.(Poor Will's Almanac)
November 1, 2003... "Whence is it, that the flower of the field does fade, And lies buried long in winter's bale? Yet, soon as spring his mantle hath displayed, It flowers fresh, as it should never fail?" --Edmund Spenser ...

Poor Will's vegetable and flower scrambler.(Poor Will's Almanac)
November 1, 2003... It will soon be seed catalog time, and you will be looking at all kinds of flower and vegetable names you haven't seen since last January. So get warmed up for reading about spring and be the fifth person (not the first!) to get your...

Your favorite books: we don't believe a homestead exists without a small library--and many are anything but small!(Question of the month)
November 1, 2003... The Secret Life of Bees Amazingly enough, I've just finished my favorite book of all time this summer (and I've read a load of books!). It is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Wow. The writing is phenomenal. The story is superb and...

Carla Emery's Encyclopedia of Country Living.
November 1, 2003... I don't know about my favorite book, but I can tell you about the book I seem to use most often since I am constantly grabbing it off the shelf to look up something. Being raised in the city and a career in the military did little to prepare me...

A Parchment of Leaves.
November 1, 2003... Far and away, the best book I have read all year is A Parchment of Leaves, by Appalachian author Silas House. Silas' book has just became a national bestseller, and Silas himself is a very nice, approachable man. I am the Vice President of a...

Dillinger: Dead or Alive.
November 1, 2003... Dead or Alive, by Jay Robert Nash and Ron Offen. Published 1970 by Henry Regnery Company, Chicago. Summers With the Bears, by Jack Becklund. Published by Hyperion, NY.

The 1778(!) edition of Encyclopedia Britanica.
November 1, 2003... I don't think I could select one book out of my library as a favorite, so in the spirit the question was asked, please me to describe two books that I have relied on heavily as of late. These would be a 1778 edition of the Encyclopedia...

Number the Stars.
November 1, 2003... As a writer of children's books, I find great delight in adolescent literature--but not about the latest crush, zit or sibling spat, but stories of resourceful, plucky, intelligent kids working their way through tough problems. My...

The Story of Everything.
November 1, 2003... The Story of Everything as told in the Urantia Book: An Overview, by Michelle Klimesh is one of my favorite books. It's available from Square Circle Publ., PO Box 2084 San Ramon, CA 94583.--Bill Seitz, PO Box 520085, Big Lake, AK 99652

A Girl of the Limberlost.
November 1, 2003... My favorite books would be anything by Gene Stratton Porter particularly A Girl of the Limberlost and Freckles! Oh, and Keeper of the Bees. All these are circa 1920-30, but I still pick them up and re-read them.

A Hive of Busy Bees.
November 1, 2003... One of my favorite books is A Hive of Busy Bees.--Melvin Brenneman, 4910 S. Johnson Rd. Blanchard, MI 49310

Buying secondhand: it's not shameful, it's economical!(Homestead finances)
November 1, 2003... We currently live in the heart of a bustling city and are working fervently to escape our city life and move to the country. Six years ago, when our second child was born, we decided the best way for us to begin a new life was to become...

Ready for the birds!(Family album)
November 1, 2003... COUNTRYSIDE: Our 2-1/2 year old grandson, Luke Palermo, discovered our country garden and all it's treasures while on vacation in the Texas hill country this summer, and personally picked a peck of bird house gourds bigger than his head!--Janet...

Excuses or choices?(Homestead finances)
November 1, 2003... Many times I hear people say, "I don't have time for that" or "I'm too old to start doing that" or "It'll never happen for me." I hear these phrases all the time whenever there are conversations about finances, diets or exercise programs. Do...

Curb identity theft: what to do if it happens to you.
November 1, 2003... Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! An Attorney's advice * The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and...

Profitable porker.
November 1, 2003... At least one vendor at the Oregon State Fair was giddy about his take this year. Steve Frabott of Bradenton, FL, said at least 20,000 people had paid 50 cents each to see Harley, a 1,020-pound swine billed as "The Giant Pig!" "You do the...

Ostriches scared to death.
November 1, 2003... According to a Reuters report in August, a Polish ostrich farmer is demanding damages from balloonists he says scared one of his birds to death. The farmer says his ostriches panicked at the sight of the approaching hot air balloon. One...

4-H benefits the whole Murphy family.(Country neighbors)
November 1, 2003... I laugh when my father tells me that I was notorious in high school for writing opinionated editorials. Now married with four boys ages 8-21, this is one thing that hasn't changed--but the subjects have. One of my favorites is the loss of...

Preserving the autumn harvest in Germany.(Country neighbors)
November 1, 2003... I used to think I was getting forgetful, but I found out that is not so. The older we get, the more there is to remember. On the homestead in Germany at the end of summer, it is time to salt away what is left in the garden--along with the...

Finding "home" while on vacation.(Country neighbors)
November 1, 2003... I have been wanting to write this for some time. As someone who is living a dream, I want to share three things that were helpful in fulfilling my dream. My husband, Jason, and I were living and raising our two sons in the city of Grand...

Some people are better than others at finding the good in every setback.(Country neighbors)
November 1, 2003... We live on a 9.5 acre homestead with 7.5 acres next door (that belong to my in-laws) that we use for our U-cut Christmas tree farm. We have lived here for 17 years. Our property was an alfalfa field with a line of local wild trees and a small...

Tips on getting to the place of your dreams (and it involves a backhoe).(Country neighbors)
November 1, 2003... Here is something to think about for many who wish to homestead and even for many who already are. There is an awful lot of very hard work connected with it and (believe it!) country living is not free. But for many of you there is a way...

Looking for the positive side.(Country neighbors)
November 1, 2003... We have enjoyed COUNTRYSIDE for quite some time. At long last we have something we hope is of interest for the rest of the subscribers. At the end of August we have lived "beyond the sidewalks" for one year. Has it been a positive experience?...

The other side of the story.(Country neighbors)
November 1, 2003... Here we go again. A new critter. Is this ever going to end? Somehow, I know it never will. My wife had an article published in the May/June, 2002 issue of COUNTRYSIDE. I was so proud of her. It was titled "Something's Missing." Well...