Issue #87 May/June, 2004

This issue is Sold Out.
Most articles included in our print anthology
A Backwoods Home Anthology — The 15th Year
Click on General Store to the left.

Articles listed in red are available to read online. Just click on the listing

DEPARTMENTS

8  Publisher’s Note 9  Editorial: A reluctant coach 31  Ask Jackie:       Hairball treatment, canned tomatoes, grass cuttings, cast iron cookware, pressure canning, Goats Produce Too, vacuum sealers, pickles and peppers, homemade cereal, canned venison, potato soup, tomatillo jam 26  Irreverent joke page 81   Poem:Rules of old plumbers by Jim Thomas 70  Ayoob on Firearms:       Body language and threat recognition 82  Letters 90  Classified ads (pdf) 90  Classified advertising form 93   Advertiser Index 95   BHM anthologies, CD-ROMs, & books 96-97  Order form/Subscription Info 98  The last word:       The tenuous hold of honesty in modern America For a subscription Call Toll Free 1-800--835-2418

ABOUT THE COVER      This issue’s cover is a photo by Jackie Clay that features her son, David, 12, and his two-year-old wether, Oreo. David got Oreo as a baby and raised him on a bottle. Oreo’s original purpose was to keep a buck company, since you can’t keep a buck in with the does. But David has trained Oreo to be a pack goat for when they hike, and the two of them, David and Oreo, go rock climbing together. David has since built a cart and will be training Oreo to pull it.

FEATURES

Building and tools 27  The poor man’s ceramic knife sharpener    By Rick Brannan 35  Protect your house from lightning    By Dorothy Ainsworth 41  Double wall adobe construction    By Bob and KD Bellar 76  Converting a gasoline-powered rototiller to electric    By Glenn Willis, Jr. Food and recipes 66  Vegetarian pies: they kept us healthy on the farm    By Habeeb Salloum 77  Harvesting, husking, and storing black walnuts    By Tom R. Kovach Gardening 40  Tree planting tips    By Tom R. Kovach 56  Sweet big fat squash that keep all winter    By Jackie Clay 75  Controlling aphids    By Tom R. Kovach Alternative energy 51  Solar power 101: Batteries    By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM CountryvLiving 78  Catfish Biscuits    By Danny Fulks Animals 10  Dairy goats are for you!    By Jackie Clay Self-reliance 21  Why won’t it all go to my kids? The essentials of estate planning    By Gary F. Arnet 28  For fuel, fertilizer, and maybe even improved water quality you may need look no further than your manure pile    By Rev. J.D. Hooker 46  Living with kerosene    By Julie A. Mikoley 75  Removing pine sap    By Tom R. Kovach Small Town America 61  Fortine, Montana. Why do you want to live there?    By Steven Gregersen