Countryside & Small Stock Journal articles from September 2004

Countryside & Small Stock Journal archives from September 2004

It's harvest time on the homestead.(From the editor)
September 1, 2004... Autumn is upon us once again. The days and nights have cooled from the oppressive heat of summer's 100-plus degree temperatures in many parts of the country. And this is the season homesteaders strive for--preserving our own produce and meat....

Inspiration in every issue.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I just started receiving your magazine and I am more than impressed by all the inspiration and encouragement in every issue. I was especially touched by the article by Lucy Gray of Florida under "Single homesteaders give tips,...

Recent widows need support, advice.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been reading COUNTRYSIDE for quite some time now and like everyone else just love it. I have gotten so many ideas, helpful suggestions, etc., from the magazine it's hard to express how much I...

Countryside: not "mainstream?".(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I applaud this magazine for its inclusivity and for printing articles from homesteaders regardless of their religious beliefs, social orientation, or whether they feel like being "politically correct" when they write a letter or...

Good advice for flooding victim.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you for publishing my letter on page 116 of the July/ August issue (Re: too much water surrounding our home.). I have received numerous e-mails from readers with very good advice. One e-mail in particular had a lot of good...

Converted mobile homes may not be insurable.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I certainly enjoyed reading the March/April edition and wanted to share with you a thought concerning the enclosing or turning a mobile home into a conventional type home. Historically insurance costs for a mobile home/factory...

Update (and thanks) from seniors in Colorado.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: First, I want to say your magazine is the best, then I want to thank the lady who sent us money for rabbits. We are still looking for some and a friend is looking down her way, too. I'm sorry it has taken so long to write. We...

Rabbit breed corrections.(Country conversation & feedback)(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Love the magazine as always but a big oops on page 78 of the July/Aug. issue. Left to right French Lop, Californian, Dutch and Mini Lop. French Lop yes; but that's not a Californian (which are white, black points and straight...

Pressure canner gasket replacement sources.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: For canning gaskets, try Lehman's in Ohio (www. Lehman's.com--see their ad on page 14) or where I got my ring at Weaver's Hardware Store in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania (www.Weavershard ware.com), phone 610-944-7681. They are located in...

Alternatives to life without credit cards.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Re: "Is it possible to live without plastic?" in the July/August 2004 issue. H. Licari does not indicate whether or not they have a savings account. If they do, I expect they can get a debit card based on that existing...

Address corrections for homeopathy sources.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you so much for printing my letter (July/Aug 2004, pg. 99). The websites at the end appear to have gotten scrambled, probably during the e-mail transmission. The addresses should be: * Homeopathic Educational Services,...

Putting pre-cut oak to good use.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: We live in a 24' x 24'stackwood house built in 1991. We used oak trees that were cut 10 years before by the local power company on their right of way. We cut wood 16 inches long and had to split most of the blocks because they...

Chinaberry tree leaves repel pests because they're toxic.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Many years ago we moved to a small south Alabama town that had a flea infestation. I was pregnant and was supposed to walk twice a day. I would walk down the sidewalk and shortly have fleas up to my knees. It didn't matter if...

A balanced pH level and good food improve health.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you for publishing COUNTRYSIDE. This is the only publication we subscribe to as we get more of the depressing current events than we really want to hear over the sound waves. I especially want to thank you for "A zillion...

New cookbook for hepatitis C sufferers.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: In the Sept/Oct 2002 issue, many readers were touched by the story "Starting over may have saved her dad's life." We received hundreds of letters of support, as well as those with questions because they had a loved one suffering...

Cheaper chicken fencing.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Thank you so much for such a wonderful and useful magazine. I have found the information much more useful and economical for everyday people than other magazines I have subscribed to. In the spirit of saving money I offer the...

Reader needs drop spindle advice.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I have been reading your magazine for a long time but have never written (bet you hear that a lot); I figure it is time for me to put my two cents in. I own a farm in central Missouri and have been here for 13 years. Over that...

Face cream recipe.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I saw the request for a face cream recipe in the May/June 2004 issue. My daughter and I have begun making some natural skin care products to sell, and I have a wonderful recipe for face cream. Instead of mineral oil, it uses...

Hand cream recipe.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Recipe 1: 1 level teaspoon borax 4 oz. stearic acid 1 tablespoon ammonia (extra strong) 12 oz. glycerin 1-1/2 in. square parafin Place stearic acid, parafin and glycerin in top of double boiler. When all are dissolved, add...

They need building advice, share fermented food tip.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I want to thank you for your magazine. My family and I race to the mailbox when it is time to receive COUNTRYSIDE. My husband, 12-year-old and six-year-old sons and I currently live in Indiana. Our dream has always been to...

We "luv" letters.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your magazine and why. I stumbled upon it at a Barnes & Noble book store when I was looking for something to do with small farms. The information you provide is unbelievable. It's not...

Gardening is a joy ...(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: In response to Mary Gosling's "Volunteer" and Tawra Kellan's zucchini article, (July/Aug. 04): donate your surplus garden produce to any of the following: * Senior centers * Local thrift stores * Church pantries/food...

... Until it becomes too much "work".(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I enjoy reading COUNTRYSIDE--it takes me almost three months to read one issue and when I'm finished I find it hard to begin to share the pages of knowledge. I read about the elderly couple that live near mountains and plant...

Neighbors don't appreciate guineas.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: I am in need of some back-up and my family at COUNTRYSIDE is my first choice in this particular matter. I am a single, homesteading grandmother, raising my 14 year-old granddaughter. I have a beautiful 15 acre farm in mid-Michigan....

Couple needs your expertise.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: We began reading your magazine almost a year ago and can't get enough of it. I never realized that there were so many people who want the same things out of life as my husband and I do! Unfortunately, we live in New Jersey now and...

Share composting toilet experiences.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: We have been considering purchasing and installing a manufactured composting toilet system for our "little piece of heaven" in Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula. In the winter, we still use our place one or two weekends a month,...

Beans, big cats and "unschooling".(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: Re: Acidophilus beating the "bean blues." While I would agree with the basics of the letter, I would suggest taking some acidophilus isn't going far enough. There are two problems going on at the base of this problem, possibly many...

Anecdotes needed for fictional book.(Country conversation & feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: My name is Monica and I am a 16-year-old homeschooler. I am attempting to write a fictional book about a homesteading family in the 20th or 21st century. If any of you would be willing to share some of the experiences or adventures...

Coming events.(Calendar)
September 1, 2004... Send your Coming Events at least three months in advance to: COUNTRYSIDE Editorial, W11564 Hwy. 64, Withee, WI 54498; csymag@tds.net. September 8-12, 2004 18th Annual Meeker Classic. This started as weekend trials in 1987 to stimulate...

Getting started with solar power.(Alternative energy)
September 1, 2004... SUE ROBISHAW AND STEVE SCHMECK 770N FOX ROAD, COOKS MI 49817 SUE@MANYTRACKS.COM WWW.MANYTRACKS.COM Revised and updated from original article printed in the May/June 1994, 78/3 issue. We call this "The Homestead System because this is...

Build a cold frame for under $300.
September 1, 2004... After two years of making do with a cold frame against the south side of the house we finally decided to go ahead and build a greenhouse/hoophouse to aid in our garden work. We thought 12' x 18' would be a good practical size, so we got...

Desert gardening.
September 1, 2004... My wife and I are in our early thirties. Our dream is to homestead some day and be fortunate enough to live off the land. We want to raise chickens and goats and maybe some pigs and cows. Reading COUNTRYSIDE has given us hope and vision for...

What about water power?
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: We have been hearing a lot about solar and wind power. In our section of the U.S. there are many large and small streams that provided power in the colonial days by way of mills, both grist and saw mills. During the winter they...

Make your own clothes washer.
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: One of the Subscribers asked about a hand washer. I made a very good one that works better than the mechanical type out of half a barrel. Cut a plastic barrel in half, using the part with the seal caps. Now screw in one of...

Living off the grid: one families' journey.(Alternative energy)
September 1, 2004... As I was reading the July/August issue of COUNTRYSIDE I realized that our family had some encouragement to offer and thought it was time that we shared. As I read through each COUNTRYSIDE I have noticed that there are a large number of "off...

Living off the grid: a wife's perspective.(Alternative energy)
September 1, 2004... We have certainly read enough stats, figures, calculations, etc., about "cost efficient, energy saving." How about a straight forward day to day story of living without hydro? A little background perhaps, to set the scene. We are a...

Reunion at the Poorfarm in Indiana.
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: It was another successful COUNTRYSIDE Reunion at the Poorfarm in Gentryville, Indiana in July. Our hosts were Robert and Yvonne Hardy, along with more than 200 guests coming from all over the United States and Canada. We also had...

E-Z horseshoe coat or reins wall hanger.(The smithy)
September 1, 2004... Here is something for you horsy folks who don't quite know what to do with the old horseshoes. This is a wall hanger made from two shoes. In this case new pony shoes were used, but this will work with any size shoes. This photo shows the...

Of bucks, horses and ponies.(Notes from the Northwoods)
September 1, 2004... Animals of the flesh and blood kind are often in the first thoughts when one mentions homesteading, but a few of another make were some of the first and most important "animals" on our homestead. Though humble and common, they are deceptively...

ATVs and the circle of history.(The machine shed)
September 1, 2004... When farmers were making he transition from live horsepower to mechanical power, there was a shift to mammoth machines. The early traction engines were basically locomotives without rails. Their uses were mainly for breaking sod or running...

Magnetic Hitch Locator.
September 1, 2004... Here's a nifty gadget that simplifies hitching up livestock trailers, boats, campers, flatbeds and fifth wheels. It takes the headache out of lining up a trailer hitch and a hitch ball--and it can be used on any vehicle by using the rear-view...

The wild flock system of raising livestock.(Homestead livestock)
September 1, 2004... In a wild flock system, animals are provided adequate space, shelter and water, and allowed to simply do their thing. The farmer does not pick who gets bred or who breeds with whom, only who starts in the flock and who gets eaten or sold. If...

The basics of vermiculture.
September 1, 2004... When I was little I always went to my grandmother's house to rummage through her compost pile and bring a can of worms home for my room, who accepted them gratefully and later dumped them in her flower garden. I just loved worms. Now I have...

The basics of fishing: it's one good way to use your worms!
September 1, 2004... One of the greatest pastimes in America today is fishing. This sport is continually growing each year as more folks try it. This is a brief over view of what you need to start in this sport. The nice thing is, after you are finished with this...

Raise freshwater shrimp on your homestead.(The homestead pond)
September 1, 2004... Being a landlocked seafood lover isn't a pretty sight. While researching mail order shrimp companies four years ago, I stumbled upon information about raising your own freshwater shrimp. After two years of reading everything I could get my...

Give your chickens a bath.(The henhouse)
September 1, 2004... Yuck! I grimaced as I pulled yet another glob of fat from the chicken I held. Pan ready, ham Chicken from the store inevitably came slick with fat. If I have to finish the job of the packing plant, I should grow my own," I told my husband...

Ground-breaking results from research on standard turkeys.(The henhouse)
September 1, 2004... New research confirms that several standard varieties of naturally mating turkeys are more disease resistant than industrial strains. These findings show that standard turkeys, popularly known as "heritage" turkeys, are better suited for range...

Living high on half the hog.(The pig pen)
September 1, 2004... The wild pig is considered a nuisance and an economic disaster for agriculture in the southern United States. They are indiscriminate omnivores with a taste for crops and pasture. They root up grass roads, making a decent road a ruin over the...

Mulefoot hogs are a rarity.(The pig pen)
September 1, 2004... "... when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another Heaven and another Earth must pass before such a one can be again. --William Beebe Today, the Mulefoot is the rarest of American swine breeds. The most...

The American breeds: more choices for meat rabbit raisers.(The rabbit barn)
September 1, 2004... I have wanted to reply to "The rabbit barn article in the May/ June 2004 issue for a while now ("Rabbits require proper feed to perform well"). Most of the advice in the article is excellent and cannot be overstressed. However, the author...

The rabbit barn: the art of palpation.
September 1, 2004... Rabbits breed, well... like rabbits, right? Usually. In most cases, the doe is placed in the buck's cage--the buck falls over backwards or onto his side after a quick mount and a new litter of bunnies can be expected in 31 days. In over...

When you chop an onion, you know the meal will be tasty.(The country kitchen)
September 1, 2004... A staple ingredient in cooking since the dawn of civilization, the onion (allium cepa) has been available as a food for thousand of years by all strata of society--from peasant to royalty. It is one of the most adaptable vegetables known to...

Sourdough bread: a dish fit for a king.
September 1, 2004... Making sour dough bread is almost an art, but there are still a few people who know how to make it. I have a friend who has some sour dough starter that has been going for over 40 years. My fondest memories are of coming in from a long day...

Some sage advice.(The garden)
September 1, 2004... As we enter into the months of September and October, a particular focus for many of us will be on storing up and putting by the bountiful harvests of our vegetable and herb gardens and the fruits of our season's toil and pleasures. For...

Venison burgers to hit Japanese market.
September 1, 2004... Hamburgers made with venison will be test-marketed in Hokkaido, Japan soon. Yezo-sika deer meat has long been enjoyed as a local delicacy, but research has indicated that raising deer specifically for their meat could be profitable,...

Heirlooms: what works and what doesn't.
September 1, 2004... I was excited to see Sue Robinshaw's article "Heirloom vegetables in your garden." Unfortunately, I didn't learn much from it (sorry Sue, love your writing). We all hear that saving heirloom seeds is the "good" thing to do but telling me that...

The why and how of saving your own seeds.(The garden)
September 1, 2004... If left to themselves, our fleshy fruits would naturally fall to the soil and rot slowly, allowing some of their seeds to settle into the ground and sprout when spring arrives. Saving seeds from these plants mimics Nature's way of gardening....

Okra: useful and attractive.
September 1, 2004... Okra apparently originated in the culture hearth area of Africa sometime in prehistory. Wild okra grows along the Nile. Okra probably came to America with French colonists about three centuries ago. Okra is prominent in Cajun cookery. We...

Feed your trees.
September 1, 2004... Trees should be fed just like your vegetable-producing and ornamental plants, and fall/ early winter is the time to do this. It doesn't matter what kind of trees you have--nut, fruit-bearing, evergreen or deciduous ornamentals--get out your...

Our favorite canning recipes.(Question of the month)
September 1, 2004... SUSAN WANZER OKLAHOMA DSWANZER@HOTMAIL.COM Zucchini Relish Yield: 5 cups 5 cups grated zucchini 2 cups grated onions 6-1/2 teaspoons salt 1 cup diced green pepper 1 cup diced red pepper 2-1/4 cups water 1-1/4...

Earning extra income on one acre.(Next month)
September 1, 2004... COUNTRYSIDE: My husband and 1 just bought an acre of land in Kansas City, Missouri. All of the neighbors around us have chickens, horses, goats, etc. We have a few chickens, but I would like to know what we can raise that might bring in extra...

Homeopathy for homesteaders.(Alternative health)
September 1, 2004... Here's the basic information you need to start using homeopathic remedies at home for first aid and minor ailments. This is not intended to replace a doctor's advice. I'm a relatively new subscriber, but I've been meaning to write an...

Sharing medicinal plants and herbal medicine making with children.(Alternative health)
September 1, 2004... With the blessings of a wet inter and early spring, the wildflowers and medicinal herbs have been vibrant and abundant in Southern Oregon. Now that summer is in full swing, we are enjoying the bounty of overgrown herb patches at our neighbors'...

Transform your wardrobe from bleak, to chic!
September 1, 2004... Ever wondered how you could get a closet full of new clothes for less than the price of one new garment? I was wondering just that, earlier this year. I sat looking at my tired white blouses and boring wool sweaters in colors I didn't want to...

Publish a magazine from home.(Homestead business)
September 1, 2004... In 1988, while in graduate school, I had the good fortune of meeting a woman with a small herd of Nubian goats. She was a professor, but had bought a small farm outside of town and was making her own cheese, among other things. That event...

Poor Will's almanac for early & middle autumn.
September 1, 2004... Out of the west the wind comes over, over the yellow goldenrod, over the drying rattle-box pod, comes heady with corn and apple smell now. --August Derleth Astronomical data for September The phases of the Puffball...

It's all in the family.(A piece of American pie)
September 1, 2004... Sometimes you find what you've been looking for in the time frame or place you least expect! And when you run upon a treasure--like a young family of seven who live, enjoy, toil and abide by the lifestyle all of us (in the COUNTRYSIDE...

Give homesteading a try: these New Yorkers say the time and effort are worth it.(Country neighbors)
September 1, 2004... I received my first COUNTRYSIDE in approximately 1995. At the time, my wife and I were living in New Jersey because of our professional jobs. I was frustrated living there but had a patio garden--window boxes full of vegetables securely...

Finding utopia in Missouri.(Country neighbors)
September 1, 2004... I am sitting here' looking out my bay window at the flowers on my fruit trees, from red buds to white blossoms on the apple tree. The peach tree already bloomed and has new leaves growing. I can't get over how lush things grow in this part of...

"Chicken tv": it's better than the real thing.(Country neighbors)
September 1, 2004... How did early man survive without chickens? I can picture Neanderthals hanging around the caves, grunting and scratching (not unlike modern men on Super Bowl Sunday), while waiting for the first prehistoric chicken to evolve. Of course when it...

Ladies' night out in the country: cow can parties.(Country neighbors)
September 1, 2004... I grew up in the city, but I've always thought I was a country girl at heart. Not long ago, I had the opportunity to purchase a few acres of land, which I gladly did. One thing I noticed is that things are done a little differently here in the...

Home ownership comes with a price: and this homesteader beat the system.(Country neighbors)
September 1, 2004... Like many Americans of ordinary means, my husband and I realized after a decade of marriage lived in rental homes and trailer parks, that our dream of owning a home was likely to remain just that. As an old hippie I also dreaded being saddled...

Countryside's breeders' directory.
September 1, 2004... (ALPACAS/LLAMAS) California ALPACAS OF MARQUEZ FARMS, Sara & Robert Marquez, 1085 Almond Ave., Biggs, CA 95817. 530-868-5420. Suri & Huacaya alpacas. Education, after-sales support, specializing in helping first-time breeders. ...

The ultimate social necessity: the pickup truck.(After chores)
September 1, 2004... I have been an avid reader of COUNTRYSIDE for approximately four years now. I thoroughly enjoy the diverse opinions, the informative articles and the products offered by the vendors in the magazine. Through the magazine, I have done business...