Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from September 2002

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from September 2002

What's a homestead without animals? (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... I was listening to a commentary on National Public Radio the other morning, where the fellow was commenting on the recent wild fires. It seems that when people were told to gather up their possessions and get out, the first thing they grabbed,...

There's more than one way to own a Ferrari. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: As a note about Andrew Boerger's article in the July/August, 2002 issue, I thought the following information would be helpful. Last year after reading one of Greg Elliot's books, I took the opportunity to write a few of the...

Beached fishermen make the best of a bad situation. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE; I was straightening up some shelves and came across a dozen or so old COUNTRYSIDES magazines as far back as May/June 1990. I wondered what folks were concerned about in those times. About three hours later, I realized my good...

Keep your compost moist with this irrigating device. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: A lack of moisture can play havoc with your plans to have a viable compost pile. Water can be applied via garden hose or even by bucket, but often such application doesn't get to the heart of the pile. Fortunately, there is a...

She finds stevia easy to grow, unlike rosemary. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you to the person who brought stevia to everyone's attention in the May/June 2002 issue. I was surprised to see the comment about it being hard to grow. I received 10 free seeds from Park Seed because my order was over...

Tightwad Gazette publications available. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Joell Fuchs asked about the Tightwad Gazette publication. The condensed books can be bought through the Edward R. Hamilton book retailer which advertises in COUNTRYSIDE (see page 74). I love your magazine and I hope to be able to...

Questions about guineas; thoughts on small-town life. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: This magazine is the greatest, and the readers are simply wonderful! My daughter gave me a subscription last Christmas, it has been a most rewarding gift. I am doing so many new things on my little chunk of land (1/4 acre). We are...

Dome homes made of various materials. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: When offering an article on dome homes you need to include the "monolithic dome" manufacturer located in Italy, Texas. They have an extensive web page at www.monolithicdome.com. The construction is the same whether you're building...

Easy additions to complete meals. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Want a good meal? Sourdough is easy to make. Fifteen percent of rye added to the wheat releases iron and other nutrients that would otherwise remain bound up in the wheat. Ten percent of legume flour added creates a complete...

Discovered in the archives "America's First Cookbook". (Advertisement).
September 1, 2002... As a newspaper writer, I often leave items of my work on the coffee table in my den. My friends and neighbors come and go... but seldom if ever do they notice anything I've left out. A cookbook I recently took home to review, however,...

Thyme as grass replacement. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Regarding a replacement for grass, July/August 2002: Thyme is a wonderful groundcover that is not too invasive, and never needs to be mowed. It will also give you beautiful color when it is in bloom.--Jamaica Breckenridge,...

Midwives vs. hospitals ... (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I wanted to respond and add my own experience to Chantel's "Traditional Midwifery." My greatest support for a homebirth was my twin sister who delivered four of her five boys at home (they are expecting again and are really...

"Fix it, clean it, and make it last: the ultimate guide to making your household items last forever".
September 1, 2002... FC&A, a Peachtree City, Georgia, publisher, announced today the release of a new book for the general public, "Fix It, Clean It, and Make It Last: The Ultimate Guide to Making Your Household Items Last Forever." * Your iron skillets and...

... Although modern medicine has its place. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: In Chantel's article on midwifery she states, "I would love to see every baby born at home," and, "The medical world has its place, but when it comes to natural processes, it knows very little about not hindering." I agree--for the...

Start small, right where you are. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I have been reading COUNTRYSIDE for about a year and it has been such an inspiration! I have wanted to homestead since I was 16 and read the Nearing's book Living the Good Life. I'm 50 now and never had the courage to try. To make...

Electric fencing for goats. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I am planning to install electric fencing to keep my small goat herd off of the range fence. I am looking for basic information on electric fencing--how it works and the best way to install and maintain it.--Steve Seibert, 2776...

Life on hold: when a homesteader faces a serious illness. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: This spring a lot of sacrifices had to be made in our way of life. A brick in the form of cancer came crashing through my roof last February and I have to put many of my life's pleasures on hold for a while. Some days five steps...

Thoughts on "fortified" producer gas. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I just received my July/ August issue, and as usual my head is spinning about projects to do around my 34-acre kingdom. The one that keeps nagging at me though is getting off grid. I recently (last week) bought a 1,000 gallon...

It is a small world after all. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I was absolutely speechless when I noticed this magazine is published in Withee, Wisconsin--just 20 or so miles from the 80-acre farm I was raised on. I have five children and 40 acres. I would like to raise something for the...

They didn't get off to a great start, but they persevered. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you for your magazine. Even though the July/August issue is only our fourth copy, we have found it a great help and inspiration to us. I am especially fond of the "Country conversation & feedback" department. Readers' letters...

Grandchildren don't understand "gadgetless" life. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I grew up on a farm without all of today's nice little gadgets. However, I believe there was a happiness back then that we, or at least most folks, have lost. My grandchildren say they couldn't have lived that way, but I just...

Preserve meat with lard covering. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: We have meat and milk goats, pigs, chickens, muscovies and one Khaki Campbell duck named Ginger on our 1.6 acres here in British Columbia. I'm writing about the person who canned their lard in quart jars, and was surprised it...

Smudge pots aren't pollution-free. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: For the last three years my stone fruit trees have been hit by frost at blossom. I've covered them with blankets but more damage occurs to limbs. I've watered them so that ice would form, but still no luck. I noticed in my...

Women on a mission. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: Our family, which includes me, my mother and my teenage daughter, have been planning a move to a quieter lifestyle for some time now. We have been getting closer with each year, we just take it one step at a time. Property hunting...

Operation toasty toes: knitters with a cause. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I've just finished my latest issue of COUNTRYSIDE and thought "Oh, what wonderful things people have to share," and wished I had something to share, too. My garden is not doing well (stupid slugs). So I started over while I...

How do you find interested investors? (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: This is my first year with COUNTRYSIDE and I'm so inspired by so many of your experiences. I'm a country girl at heart. I grew up in a large family on a half acre with garden, chickens and rabbit experiences. We made our own...

Plant trading website. (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I happened by this website: www.gardenweb.com. I'm not exactly sure how I got it anymore, but it is amazing. There is an exchange forum on it, and people put their seeds and plant starts for trade. All you have to do is sign up as...

Does anyone have a good salsa recipe? (From the editor).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: It is so inspirational to read other "real" peoples' experiences and Struggles. It really helped me get ready for the big move last fall when my love and I said goodbye to the city and followed our dreams. I am so glad. I wouldn't...

Countryside contacts.
September 1, 2002... 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 may be edited for clarity or brevity. *...

Coming events.
September 1, 2002... Send your events at least three months in advance to Countryside Coming Events, W11564 Hwy. 64, Withee, WI 54498 August 31-September 2, 2002 The Rocky Mountain Herbal Gathering will be held in beautiful Estes Park, Colorado. This...

Low-cost foundations for small buildings. (Homestead building).
September 1, 2002... Concrete foundations are often a big part of the cost of even a small building--besides being high in embodied energy. Since the function of a foundation is to support and distribute the weight of a building's walls and roof, it stands to...

Grow a garden on your roof. (Homestead building).
September 1, 2002... One hot Saturday afternoon in late spring, my sister and I were walking through the new subdivision near our parents' Central Pennsylvania village. A third house was springing up from the day where two months before, a beautiful meadow had...

Affordable living. (Homestead building).
September 1, 2002... Why not integrate your homestead by building. a low cost home that combines its own heating source, a greenhouse, a cordwood dryer, an earth contact thermal moderator, a radiant floor heating system, with a very simple design which is...

Our greenhouse refuge. (The garden).
September 1, 2002... As I gazed out of our front window at what seemed to be a never ending frost, I wondered how we would ever get our garden off the ground this year! After researching several sources about seed propagation, early plantings and extended harvests,...

Fall activities should include sanitation. (The garden).
September 1, 2002... Fall activities include cleaning up all the dead plants. Pull everything out of the soil that has finished growing, chop up and discard into your compost pile. Any vegetable plants that you knew had a problem with insect infestation or...

A few days in the saddle with the Solar Cowboy. (The Solar Cowboy).
September 1, 2002... Howdy solar partners! The Cowboy is fresh off the trails of the solar summer round-ups. May found us near Browntown, Wisconsin, presenting an advanced Photovoltaic (PV) installation workshop with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA)...

Last time we asked: what's your favorite building project? Our mailbox was overflowing! Due to space limitations, we'll share other ideas in future issues. (Question of the month).
September 1, 2002... I"ve been thinking of writing for a long time, but this time I couldn't resist. Our move to the country and homesteading is an interesting story in itself, but for now suffice it to say that we built a log home get-away and eventual retirement...

They found a better way to store sawdust.
September 1, 2002... For years we have bedded our horses and donkey on shavings. The storage of a dump truck load of shavings has always been a problem. Shoveling and wheeling the shavings into an empty stall was a lot of work. Covering the large pile outside with...

An old shed takes on new life with a little TLC.
September 1, 2002... I am a new subscriber to COUNTRYSIDE and new to homesteading. I started out slowly by using candles for light instead of electricity and collecting rainwater from the roofs of the house and small barn. My favorite building/remodeling project is...

Cedar logs make a cozy barn on this homestead.
September 1, 2002... My cedar log barn was my favorite building project. Its completion made caring for my critters easier and more enjoyable. More important is the many loving hands that made it a reality. One of our friends poured the concrete floor and put up...

Suburban mini-barn tops this list.
September 1, 2002... MY favorite project, though it wasn't the biggest, best or cheapest (and probably won't last as long as others), was my first mini-barn project, built on a suburban lot in Winston Salem, NC. It proved that I was able to build cheaply, strongly,...

A city chicken coop that works.
September 1, 2002... I am sending along some pictures in reference to a favorite building project. My husband built this coop for me a few months ago, and this is my first attempt at chickens. At present we have three sweet Rhode Island Reds named Mary Lou, Betty...

This chicken/rabbit "condo" keeps everybody happy.
September 1, 2002... Here are some pictures of the chicken/rabbit "condo" I built all by my lonesome. Well, the neighbor's grandson did help me string the chicken wire--he has a car to support! The yard is approximately 23' x 27'. The chickens' half of the...

Chicken tractors are great for small yards.
September 1, 2002... I just completed a chicken tractor a few weeks ago. I've had an idea for a chicken tractor for a long time, but my husband was less than enthusiastic about building one. I had a few sets of plans for ark or triangular pens, but didn't think...

This "simple" project was a real adventure!
September 1, 2002... My favorite building project would easily be our chicken coop. We had just gotten off a wild coaster ride that was our first year living on the edge of country. We were starting to get used to our new lifestyle, but I could see that my family...

He traded oak commode for rebuilt transmission.
September 1, 2002... I was slow reading through my COUNTRYSIDE issue so I didn't see your invitation to tell of our favorite project, therefore I am not able to include photos, though I really wish that I could. In the May/June 2002 issue of COUNTRYSIDE, in the...

Their 16' x 40' barn cost less than $700.
September 1, 2002... My favorite building project has to be the barn we just finished. According to friends and neighbors, it is a work of art, especially since it was built on some very unlevelground. It is 16' x 40' (bigger than our cabin), and built almost...

Scrap wood metamorphs into a chicken coop.
September 1, 2002... This chicken coop and pen is my first homestead project. I am really very proud of it even if it doesn't look like much to others. My neighbor, Mr. Kale, helped me with the design, gathering materials, and building it. Another neighbor brought...

A much-loved library used to be a garage.
September 1, 2002... My favorite building project was to turn my garage into a library. Books and fruit trees are the two things that have always made me feel rich. My wife and I have five acres in central California with fig, fijoa, cherry, apple, quince, peach,...

What's more fun than a "quacker" box?
September 1, 2002... Here is a picture of our fun project, completed in June. During the night, our sixteen ducks had no where to escape the jaws of predators so I asked my husband if he would build me a Quacker Box. He made it raccoon-, fox- and coyote-proof! ...

Do your research before buying your homestead: it can save a lot of money and heartache.
September 1, 2002... When buying rural property a little planning and research is vital. Following are some steps to minimize future problems, disappointments and financial loss before you sign those closing papers. Research the area, the tax rate, utility...

Conservation tips for everyone. (Homestead water).
September 1, 2002... The drought started the year we bought our homestead property. Our property was nothing more than a wooded hillside, still part of a cow pasture when we first saw it. At the base of the hill, there was a small spring-fed creek. That was to be...

Rainwater colletion: it's a good idea even if you have running water. (Homestead water).
September 1, 2002... My grandmother collected rainwater in a barrel at the corner of the house for decades. She used it to wash clothes when she had a wash board and a big tub and then later when she had a wringer washer. It was easier to dip the water out of the...

Filtering rainwater. (Homestead water).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I thought I had read an article in COUNTRYSIDE about creating a rainwater collection system, but I can't find it now. In particular, I'm looking for information on building a filter to place between the roof and the cistern. I'm...

Tips on well capping. (Homestead water).
September 1, 2002... Protecting our groundwater is extremly important to everyone. One easy way is to cap any old, abandoned wells on your property. How can that old thing hurt the groundwater? Easy, if it's not capped correctly. Runoff from fertilizers,...

Ecosystem, wildlife and integrated pest management: on a small scale. (Homestead habitat).
September 1, 2002... An "ecosystem" can be very large or very small. The (ecological) system needed to support a colony of bacteria may be a pound of dirt. The system needed to support a migratory bird species may extend from forests in the far north to the...

Growing and marketing spring bulbs. (Homestead business).
September 1, 2002... Experimenting with new ways to earn an income from our small farm, we recently discovered the possibilities of spring flower bulbs. We had a lot of success with them on our small farm and I think that spring bulbs have the potential to be...

Permanent raised beds. (Notes from the Northwoods).
September 1, 2002... End-of-summer gardening is a hectic time of harvesting, preserving, and enjoying the fruits of your many labors. But as the final vegetables are gleaned from the ground, it's also a great time to think about doing a bit of work now that you,...

Lettuce can be a fall crop, too. (The garden).
September 1, 2002... Although anything but a summer crop, lettuce can be stretched well in to the fall by planting in late August. Fall plantings will make it possible to have extra-early crops in spring. Lettuce is a plant that thrives in cool, not cold,...

Fall is a good time to take soil samples. (The garden).
September 1, 2002... Fall is a good time to sample soils to determine nutrient needs for the coming year's crops. Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) can be fall-applied leaving one less thing to do during the busy spring. Fall testing is especially important for...

Try this easy goat cheese recipe.
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I raise Nubian milk goats and read all the articles on goats, comparing methods and recipes. Perhaps some of your readers would like to try an easy cheese method. Bring 2 quarts of milk to 190[degrees], add 4 tablespoons white or...

Purchasing sheep: selected tips for the novice. (The sheep shed).
September 1, 2002... So you've moved to the country and have been thinking about buying some sheep to put out on your five or 10 acres. Perhaps you have only limited livestock experience, but sheep are appealing because they represent a relatively cheap investment,...

Raising turkeys needn't be a challenge: the tantalizing taste of a home-raised bird is worth the effort. (The poultry yard).
September 1, 2002... Of all homestead poultry projects, turkey-raising seems to appeal to the least number of people. Turkeys are amazingly stupid--from the newly hatched poults who can starve to death while trampling in their feed because they haven't learned...

Fall is the ideal time to evaluate cows. (The cow barn).
September 1, 2002... People who check their cows' body condition at fall weaning time can get thin animals into better condition and improve the odds of early calving next spring, a beef cattle specialist with New Mexico State University said. "A cow that's in...

Check the nutrient value of your hay: it's not all the same. (The goat barn).
September 1, 2002... Not all alfalfa or clover, nor all grass hays are equal in nutrient value. If you're short of hay and need to buy some, how can you tell whether it's worth the price? Supply and demand strongly influence hay prices. Nutritive content...

Prevent foot rot in your goats. (The goat barn).
September 1, 2002... Although more commonly thought of as affecting sheep, foot rot and related conditions can cause problems in the goat herd as well. Recognition along with proper treatment and management can help avoid serious economic loss. Foot infections...

Rabbit breeds: try something different. (The rabbit barn).
September 1, 2002... Sure Californians and New Zealands are the most popular meat rabbits, and for good reason. They have large litters that reach fryer size quickly on (relatively) small amounts of feed. But let's not bypass those other breeds because they are...

Finding Florida White rabbits. (The rabbit barn).
September 1, 2002... COUNTRYSIDE: I can't find breeders of Florida White rabbits. I'm looking for good breeding stock, which will probably have to be shipped.--David Croteau, 51 Union St., Skowhegan, ME 04976; crowtoe@skow.net One breeder of Florida Whites is...

Learning about rabbits. (The rabbit barn).
September 1, 2002... Over 100 people attended Purina Mills' workshops at it's research facility in Gray Summit, Missouri in May. They were treated to workshops such as "Nutrition for Life," "Common Hutch Hazards," "Learn how to Palpate," "Preparation for Show."...

Nutritious food for Fido. (Homestead pets).
September 1, 2002... If you read the label on the back of the bag of dry, dog food, you might think you re reading the label on a nutrient-enriched loaf of bread, a box of kids' cereal or a vitamin supplement. The packages boast "Gentle fiber sources that help...

It's the cat's "mee-ow": (Homestead pets).
September 1, 2002... After more than 5,000 years of human-feline cohabitation and enough elaborations on "meow!" to fill a dictionary, cats still haven't mastered language. But a Cornell University evolutionary psychology study--analyzing people's reactions to...

Candles, matches and fire starters for emergencies. (Homestead survival).
September 1, 2002... Imagine it's been raining and your campsite is drenched. The matches got damp and you need to start a campfire to warm up and dry out. All you need is a simple match to light the candles or oil lamps. No problem. This time you came prepared...

Tasty game recipes. (Country kitchen).
September 1, 2002... I'd like to pass on a few game recipes. It took us a long time to find the ones we really like. Deer Here in New Jersey, we have small deer. Ninety pounds is considered a good size. We're allowed a few with the bow, extended bow,...

A woodcutter's lament: the difficulties and dangers of cutting firewood. (The woodlot).
September 1, 2002... I've been cutting firewood off and on ever since I was a boy, and that was a long time ago. While I don't qualify as an expert yet (I don't think I've made all the mistakes), I do know some things about the problems that woodcutters may...

Nature's medicine chest. (Homestead health).
September 1, 2002... Summer is the season for outdoor living, whether you are gardening in your backyard, enjoying a day at the beach, taking the family on a hike through the woods, picnicking at the lake, or on vacation. But summer is also the season of...

A nostalgic look at childhood in the '50s. (Country neighbors).
September 1, 2002... Growing up in the '50s in Cleveland, Ohio, you'd never know we didn't live in the country. My parents always kept a big vegetable garden and our yard was a shady oasis with two bountiful plum trees, a cherry tree, a peach tree and grape vines....

A new era of dialogue. (Country neighbors).
September 1, 2002... I'm out back potting up some plants, wrist deep in dirt when I hear the phone warbling. Is it worth running for it? Will I make it by the fifth ring when they usually hang up? We haven't yet graduated to answering machines or cell phones, so I...

Settling in on family acres. (Country neighbors).
September 1, 2002... When my husband Fred and our children cooked up the idea of moving out of the Dallas metroplex 60 miles southeast onto 26 acres in Kemp (pop. under 2,000) area a year ago, I thought they were all nuts. What a stupid thing to do! Okay,...

A look at life in the Alaskan bush. (Country neighbors).
September 1, 2002... I live waaaay off the grid but still have the best of both worlds via solar powered satelite internet... I was wondering why the people in your "Contacts" on page 30 don't list an e-mail address? It takes me all day to go out to my mail...

More vitamin C in organic oranges. (Country neighbors).
September 1, 2002... Organically-grown oranges contain up to 30% more vitamin C than those grown conventionally, it was reported at a Great Lakes Regional meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. "Quite often, organic...

Fast food facts on your cell phone. (News from spaceship Earth).
September 1, 2002... Now folks who visit a fast food restaurant can calculate the number of calories and the amount of fat in the meal they're about to order, just by dialing their cell phone. "When people want nutritional information, 99 percent of the time,...

Consumers urged to buy organic. (News from spaceship Earth).
September 1, 2002... Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is urging consumers to buy organic food to help promote clean water and support small farms. Kennedy serves as president of the Waterkeeper Alliance, and has launched the Pure Farms--Pure Water campaign. Kennedy...

Big brother's listening. (News from spaceship Earth).
September 1, 2002... Forensic seismology--using the faint rumblings of unseen deeds to investigate what happened--is coming of age, according to the American Geophysical Union. Seismometers are underground microphones that are designed to pick up vibrations in...

Feeling chilly? Blame the sun. (News from spaceship Earth).
September 1, 2002... Scientists are looking at the earth's climate history in a new light. Scientists examined existing sets of geophysical data and noticed something remarkable: the sun's magnetic activity is varying in 100,000-year cycles, a much longer time span...