Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from September 1999

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from September 1999

Country conversation & feedback.
September 1, 1999... In support of politically incorrect nutrition COUNTRYSIDE: The article from Nickolas I. Medin (Vol. 83 No. 4) makes great sense to me after reading Robert C. Atkins, MD's Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution. As a homesteader, it is easy to keep...

The soul of soil.
September 1, 1999... Growing good crops that will bring health to man and beast requires fertile soil. This does not mean chemicals from a bag, especially when spread without understanding There are two ways to farm or garden: You can rely on technology and...

No soil? Build some!(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... I build soil where there is no soil, or very little. I use mulch 18 inches to two feet deep. Weeds and quack grass are smothered out. There is very little soil that will not benefit from the use of mulch. I never use a rototiller or plow....

How to make compost.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... This issue is already full of reprints, for the benefit of new readers, and because of our themed issues in preparation for Y2K and our "Best of COUNTRYSIDE" end-of-the-century review. So instead of choosing one of our past articles on compost,...

Box scraper doubles as subsoiler.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: The forage specialist from the Agricultural Extension Service and other writers on pastures and hay fields are talking about aerating the soil to improve pastures. This allows oxygen and moisture to go beneath the crust of the...

Nutrient content of some fertilizer materials (%).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 1999... Material Approx. NPK Mg Ca S Activated Sludge (6-2-0) 1.8 0.9 0.4 Basic slag (0-5-0) 3.4 32.0 0.2 Blood meal (13-0-0) ...

Phosphorus, potash and trace elements.(soil mineral content)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... CROW MILLER PO Box 3083 SAG HARBOR NY 11963 The best time to build up your soil's mineral reserves is in the late fall, when the harvest is in. This past season, you probably worked large amounts of organic soil conditioners (organic...

Nutrient removal by harvested(*) portion of crop (kg/ha).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 1999... Crop Yield (t/ha) Mg Ca S Alfalfa 9 22 130 22 Barley 3 6 11 6 Cabbage 45 9 22 35 Clover ...

Weeds provide a "drive-by soil test".(type and condition of weeds is telling of soil quality)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Weeds are an excellent indicator of the health of your pasture. Here are some examples: * Plantain. In poor soil it lies prostate, in fertile soil erect. A perennial, it is mineral rich and may be a natural antibiotic. Some folks harvest...

Rejuvenating a worn-out" farm.(restoring soil's life cycle)
September 1, 1999... Homesteads sometimes become available through the subdivision of a farm which is no longer economically viable. Chances are the soils had been used and abused to the point where larger and larger inputs produced fewer and fewer outputs....

The role of roots in soil building (or, let's root for roots).(decayed roots provide organic material to subsoils)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Green manure crops are defined as any incorporation of plant material into the soil to contribute its organic material, as well as the minerals and trace elements in the foliage (drawn up by the roots from the subsoil), into the existing...

Normal root de of some mature plants.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Crop Feet Alfalfa 5-10 Asparagus 6-10 Tomatoes 6-10 Deciduous Orchards 6-8 Grapes 4-6 Citrus Orchards 4-6 Cantaloupes ...

How to improve your pastures.(introducing organic matter is key)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... If the field you are planning to use for pasture has been played out due to single crop farming, e.g., back-to-back corn or cotton crops, or just poor in general, you can take steps to improve it. Start with the introduction of organic...

How much land it takes to homestead in Greenbrier County, West Virginia.(one person's homesteading experience)
September 1, 1999... NATHAN GRIFFITH COBBLEMEAD STEADING HCR 68 BOX 185 TROUT, WV 24991 It seems like the single most-asked question about homesteading (at least by new aspirants) is "what does it take to get started?" Naturally, the likeliest honest...

Woods-grown plants provide unique opportunities.(growing medicinal plants could provide income)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Hundreds of years ago, the native Americans who inhabited the mountainous areas of Eastern Kentucky had what could be described as a natural drug store at their feet. The knowledge of how woods-grown plants could be used to improve digestion or...

Make breed improvements through wise selection.(livestock breeding)
September 1, 1999... This article originally appeared in this magazine in 1945, and applied to rabbits. However, livestock breeders today will still find it instructive... no matter what animals they raise. Breed improvement is the aim of every serious...

The benefits of inbreeding.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Inbreeding is little understood by most people, including many livestock breeders. But if you know what you're doing, it's the surest way to improve your stock. There are two methods of breeding: inbreeding and outbreeding. The closest...

Easy "vacuum packing".(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... You know you should freeze garden produce in an air-tight plastic bag... but how to get the air out? Fill the bag with vegetables. Fill a bowl with water. Put the bag into the bowl, almost to the top, so most of the air is forced out. Seal...

Homestead meat.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Butchering a hog Curing pork is not a lost art and it is not difficult if you can follow a few very simple directions. Select a thrifty hog of medium weight and in medium condition. The hog should be kept off feed for about 24 hours...

For calcium from vegetables.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... To get more calcium from vegetables eat spinach, Swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage, artichokes, Brussels sprouts, celery, snap beans, lima beans, and carrots.

An old-timer's tips on rabbit butchering and meat curing.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... I have lived on a farm all my life and I will soon be 60 years old. I read your magazine and get a lot of laughs from it. Sometimes I feel awfully sorry about some of the ways some people try to do different things. How I butcher rabbits...

One man can lift a heavy carcass with a simple tripod.(building a tripod that will help in lifting a beef or hog carcass)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... One man can lift up the average size beef or hog in order to butcher with a simple tripod. You will need three poles 12-14 feet long and five inches in diameter of a good, strong wood -- hickory, ash or oak. Drill a 1-1/4 inch hole in each...

Memories of smoking hams.(a family tradition of curing and smoking meat and the techniques involved)
September 1, 1999... He learned from his dad, who learned from his dad, who... This was written in response to a reader's question. CYRIL E. JORDAN 7738 COUNTY ROAD 20 FRIENDSHIP, NY 14739 I read your letter in COUNTRYSIDE magazine about smoking...

Hickory smoking your home-raised meat.(a personal approach to meat curing and smoking is presented)
September 1, 1999... A faint but tantalizing aroma of hickory smoke is drifting in through my cabin doorway as I write. Like the novelist who kept an apple on his desk so the smell of it would remind him of bygone times, I kindled a small blaze of hickory wood...

Making sausage at home.(planning and creating a variety of sausages)
September 1, 1999... D. L. SALSBURY, DVM RT. 2 Box 141-A WELLSVILLE, KS 66092 What can you do with cull ewes (or other animals) and have fun in the process? Turn them into sausage! Home sausage-making is fun, easy, and requires very little...

Making sausage.(the boiling, curing and smoking of ham, as well as the preparation of sausage)
September 1, 1999... If you butcher your own meat, sausage-making is an essential skill. But it can be rewarding even if you have to buy meat! In the long list of people who have made COUNTRYSIDE SO valuable over the years, "Doc" Salsbury ranks near the top....

All about sausage casings.
September 1, 1999... Some people don't want to think about them, but they're essential for most sausage In an earlier article (75/6:41) I made the statement that sausage making was easy. Sausage is nothing more than a blend of spices mixed with ground meat. If...

How to make your own casings.(sausage casings)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Remove all fat and membranes from the outside of the intestines, then turn them inside out. Clean the inside with borax water, or bleach the intestines by soaking for 24 hours in a solution of one ounce of lime chloride in one gallon of water....

A sausagemaker's view of nitrate.(the science of curing meats)
September 1, 1999... It's controversial, but not terribly complicated; Conclusion: Certain meat products cannot be made without it! I'm writing to address the questions posed by Mr. and Mrs. Smith concerning smoking and curing hams (74/5:11). I do not wish to...

Summer Sausage.(how summer sausage is made)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... There are so many varieties of summer sausage one can only address the subject in generalities. In brief, summer sausage falls into the category of "fermented" sausages. The natural meat sugars and dextrose added to the recipe are allowed...

Sausage Veronesa.(Brief Article)(Recipe)
September 1, 1999... Here's a simple, straightforward sausage you can make in the kitchen. With a little imagination, you can turn this basic recipe into a number of unique varieties. But before we get the cart before the horse, the basic recipe is as follows:...

Russian Freedom Sausage.(Brief Article)(Recipe)
September 1, 1999... The Dewied International sausage casing company distributes a bulletin to their professional sausage-making customers called the Link Letter. Along with the advertisements, they usually feature a novel eye-catching specialty...

Braunschweiger.(Brief Article)(Recipe)
September 1, 1999... Like Spam, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts, you either like braunschweiger or you don't. If you do, it is one of the best summertime "sausages" that you can make, and one of the few that doesn't require a stuffer, casings, or specialized...

Canning lard.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: Some time ago a reader asked how to can lard. I put the hot rendered lard into hot sterile wide mouth canning jars and immediately put the lid and ring on each jar as I fill it. I fill them as full as I can get them without...

Kielbasa.(Brief Article)(Recipe)
September 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: I have found a lot of sausage recipes in COUNTRYSIDE, but what I am really interested in is Polish Kielbasa. My family loves the stuff and I want to give it a shot myself. I just finished a smoker and I want to try it out. ...

Poultry should be brined before smoking.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... We've turned an old outhouse into a smokehouse for our chickens and turkeys. It's all set and ready to go, but now we've heard the birds have to go into a brine first. Is this true? We need detailed instructions, and we prefer not to brine them...

Breakfast Sausage.(recipe)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... By far the most popular sausage consumed in the U.S. for over a century is what everyone commonly refers to as "breakfast sausage." Actually, this is a misnomer because common sense dictates that any sausage consumed at breakfast is a breakfast...

Feeding rabbits, Depression style.(the 'free' food used to feed rabbits is described)
September 1, 1999... During the Depression many a family survived only by raising rabbits and pigeons for meat. Some would like to do the same today... but many people have trouble just paying feed bills! This brings up the question: What did people feed their...

The "fabulous four" of the homestead barnyard.(goats, chickens, honey bees, and wild boar,)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... With bees, wild boar, chickens, and goats, you can eat like royalty! In Steve Bird's article on dual purpose goats he said "When I think of all we get from our goats I do not see how any homesteader could be without them." Not only do I...

Homeschooling is the best (and only) option for me.(praise for home schooling)
September 1, 1999... I sometimes wonder what I would be like if I was in school. I stop after only minutes of dreaming, it's such a scary thought! For the past five years I have had the freedom to learn at my own pace and to explore my own interests. I have had...

Masonry heaters: Expensive, but worth it.(a homesteader, who owns a masony heater, describes the experience)
September 1, 1999... These people have a relatively modest home, but their heating system is fit for a palace! COUNTRYSIDE'S report on the 1998 Midwest Renewable Energy Fair included a discussion on masonry heaters. We have a custom-built masonry heater in our...

Straw and clay solves their problem.(the use of clay and straw to fill the gaps in a drafty cabin)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: A belated tribute to you for Vol. 78 No. 5 pp 32-36 on building with straw. For years we have been wanting to build with straw bales. We actually did build a greenhouse with one wall of bales in 1994. It is still standing and...

Noah's Ark revisited.(construction of 'BarnBoat,' a boat-shaped barn, in North Carolina in order to emphasize rare breeds conservation and sustainable agriculture)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... If you missed seeing Noah's Ark the first time around, you may have another opportunity if you're in the North Carolina mountains later this year. Plans are nearing completion for a "BarnBoat" to house farm operations and rare breeds...

In search of the perfect vegetable? Try vegetable squash!(an appreciation of spaghetti squash)(includes recipes)
September 1, 1999... We who combine gardening and cooking as collaborative passions continue our quest for the perfect crop. Our specifications are simple. The plant must be easy to grow and harvest, versatile and delicious to eat. The traditional favorites have...

Growing gourds.(the raising, caring for, and curing of gourds)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Gourds have been used for centuries as utensils, utility items and ornaments in cultures around the world. Curing gourds is the process of drying them over several months. Removing moisture from gourds allows them to last for years. Gourds...

Give Jack Frost the cold shoulder!(sprinkler irrigation can be used to free, and protect, an autumn harvest when an early frost arrives)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Just a night or two of freezing temperatures are enough to spoil an autumn harvest you've been working and waiting for. Yet, that first frost of fall is often followed by weeks of warm, sunny weather... a time for your garden to stay...

Breast blisters can be a vexing problem with several causes.(various factors could have cause breast blisters in chickens)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... We have a flock of about 40 mixed Rhode Island Reds and Aracaunars, who are fed a grain mix (rolled oats, corn, milo) and a laying mash (bran, linseed meal, salt, eggshells, and milk or water). Every day they spend the afternoon loose and there...

What will prevent lice in chickens?(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Mr. A. E. Cleary of Stuart, Florida asks, "Is there a home remedy for louse prevention in chickens?" While not 100% effective, finely pulverized dry dirt (dust) and wood ashes mixed about half and half, placed in a dusting box or pan will...

Our goose won't lay eggs.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... From British Columbia a reader writes: I have a goose that is three years old. We hatched her from an egg. She was put in with the chickens and never saw another goose until this year. Her first year she laid eight eggs, and never laid any...

He grows weeds ... on purpose.(growing dandelions as a supplement to rabbit food)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Raising animals without purchased feeds has always been a popular topic for homesteaders. This article first appeared in this magazine in 1942. My gardening neighbors are sometime horrified to learn that I keep one hot frame for growing...

Old-fashioned animal health care.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: Yours is the most tattered magazine in our home. Wish we could get it in hardcover! It's probably one of our most-used reference sources for homesteading information. We love it. I would really love to see an article on caring...

Veterinary medicine in the 1800s.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... The question of "how did our ancestors handle animal health problems?" prompted me to check some books written in the late 1800s and early 1900s. What kinds of problems were farmers concerned about then, and what remedies did they use? The...

Raising a calf.(tips that will help meet the challenge of raising a calf)
September 1, 1999... Raising your own calf for beef or dairy is a challenging adventure. It is a very satisfying endeavor which requires a lot of patience and time. It also requires a bit of preparation and knowledge before you start. Before deciding to...

Housing for calves.(specific recommendations for housing a calf)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Two types of housing are used to raise dairy replacement calves: "warm" and "cold." One is "warm" because it's completely enclosed, and more-or-less environmentally controlled, such as a calf pen in a barn. The other kind, such as a calf...

Protein content of various feeds.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 1, 1999... Barley grain 11.7% Beet pulp, dried 9.1% Bread, dried 15.8% Brewers grains 15.9% Buckwheat grain 10.4% Corn, grain 8.9% Cottonseed meal ...

"Alternative" breeds for the cattle raiser.(cattle suitable for homesteading)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... In addition to the traditional dairy breeds: Jersey, Guernsey, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire and Holstein, there are many older breeds better suited to the homestead. Devon, Irish Dexter, and Milking Shorthorn are three of these. They are somewhat less...

Mastitis and calves.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... My cow has mastitis, and is being treated. I know the milk can't be used for human consumption, but my question is, can I feed it to her calf?--T. M. According to E. E. Wildman, extension dairy specialist at the University of Vermont,...

To cure dysentery in calves.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... One cup of flour One iron skillet One quart milk bottle Scorch flour in skillet over low heat to dark brown (some black won't hurt the mixture). Put in milk bottle. Finish filling bottle with water. Mix as best you can and...

Buying machinery.(purchasing recommendations for farm machinery)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... When buying farm machinery, I have found it advantageous to check out various localities. For example, in an area around a large town, small equipment is more expensive than it is 40 or 50 miles away. The only drawback is transporting the...

Classic homestead blunders.(miscalculations by homesteaders)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... 1. Underestimating the amount of cash it takes to live in rural poverty. Cows may eat free grass, but the cow, the fence, the barn, the milk pail and all the rest mean the milk certainly isn't free. 2. Getting an animal of any kind and then...

Measuring land.(the history of determing the size of an acre)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... An acre is 43,460 square feet. Why such an unwieldy measurement? Because land is usually measured in rods, not feet. (A rod is 16.5 feet.) This goes way back to the time of Charlemagne and the Magna Carta (1215 A.D.), when a foot was set at...

How much are interest payments costing you?(calculations that will help determine how much loans really cost)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... This first appeared here in 1989, during a period of very high interest rates. We haven't changed the numbers because, despite low prime and mortgage rates, some people are still paying very high rates, as on credit cards. The principles are...

Booming economy isn't helping some Minnesota farmers.(many farm families are heavily in debt)(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Record high Dow! Record low unemployment! This boom will last forever! COUNTRYSIDE continues to get letters from people whose stories would absolutely astound those who hear only the "good" news and accept it without critical appraisal....

Sourdough questions answered.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Several readers asked questions about D. L. Salsbury's article on sourdough (83/4:100). Here are his answers. What did you feed it and how much? A. To start the initial culture, use 1 cup water, 1 cup potato water, 2 cups unbleached...

How to make powdered garlic.
September 1, 1999... A reader asks, "How can I make powdered garlic?" Peel and slice the garlic and dry it in a food dehydrator or on a screen. Then grind it in a blender. This powdered garlic will flow more freely if it is mixed with an equal amount of...

My heart is on this land.
September 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: Thanks for being out there. We're always looking for inexpensive ways to do things. The really useful resources are few and far between. My family is split on the Y2K issue, but I'm stocking up and planning anyway. But heck, I...

An easy way to crack hickory nuts.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Is there an easy way to crack hickory nuts, aside porn training the squirrels to crack them and band the nutmeats over to me? One suggestion would be to crack the nuts open lengthwise. Put them in a vice or nutcracker the long way, or hold...

How to cope with bleeding.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Severe bleeding may result when a horn scur is knocked off or a horn being cut by rubber bands gets broken off. All the blood looks awful, but this crisis is easy to cope with. Fasten the animal so you can work on it. Put the head in a...

Recycled plastic jug can provide running water anywhere you need it.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... Provide yourself with running water where there are no pipes or when existing ones freeze up--the barn, backyard, barbecue, garage, workshop, on a campout, pickup camper, etc. The stream can be turned on and off, leaving both hands free. ...

News from Spaceship Earth.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... North Koreans fight famine Faced with a daunting food shortage and famine already affecting some parts of the country, North Korea is encouraging people to raise rabbits, according to the Rodong Shimmun. The newspaper reported that rabbits...

Dehydrated eggs.(Brief Article)
September 1, 1999... COUNTRYSIDE: I was surprised to read your response to Mrs. Sandra Rhode of Mississippi when she asked about dehydrating eggs. I recently purchased one of your books, Country Kitchen - a project and idea book, and on page 64 is an excellent...

Y2K update.(Year 2000 compliance)
September 1, 1999... June 23, 1999 -- Y2K minus 200: Much of the "new" information on Y2K is far too subtle -- not news-worthy enough -- to interest tv newscasters or the newspapers trying to compete with them. But for those of us still looking for clues about...

Beyond the sidewalks: Questions readers ask ... about Countryside's future.(Column)
September 1, 1999... There are only two reasons to publish a magazine: to make money, or to promote a cause. Only fools crusade. But what happens when an old fool runs out of time? Some readers have always been interested in the internal workings of this...