A small creek provides plenty of power for this off-grid home
By Scott Gentleman
Website Exclusive • November, 2007
For eight years, Tracey and I lived in a solar powered home and for eight cloudy winters, we ran a small Honda generator every week to recharge our...
Solar Power 101 — Batteries: Part 1
By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM
Issue #87 • May/June, 2004
This article is the first in a series of what will be a beginner's course in solar electricty. Simultaneously we have instituted a Home Energy Information...
Fixing a broken jury system
By John Silveira
Issue #78 • November/December, 2002
"I blame every juror who let him go, every juror who sat on that trial and believed this man over those little girls. I will never understand. And...
Build a 6500-gallon concrete water tank for $1500
By Dorothy Ainsworth
Issue #101 • September/October, 2006
When I bought 10 dry barren "affordable" acres back in 1981 I got what I paid for: No electricity, no septic system, no well, and no water. What...
Glazed carrots with peas and onions
Recipe of the Week
Glazed carrots with peas and onions
Courtesy of
Richard Blunt
You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here
Ingredients
1-1/2 lbs. sliced fresh carrots
1-1/2 cups chicken or beef broth
6 Tbsp. butter
1/2...
The world is ending! … Again?
By John Silveira
Issue #85 • January/February, 2004
People love to talk about scary stuff. Especially when it's end-of-the-world scary, such as the big asteroid recently in the news that was supposed to hit Earth and...
Six Chile Chicken
Recipe of the Week
Six Chile Chicken
Courtesy of
Adam Kingman
A very spicy dish. Substitute milder chiles to lower the heat.
Ingredients
3 pounds chicken pieces
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 tomatoes, skinned and...
Build a Trail
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Build a trail
By Claire Wolfe
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By Claire Wolfe
Standing near the top of the trail, looking down. The bright sunny spot in the middle distance will be the site of my future camping "pagoda;" it will...
Just for Kids: Sun-kabobs and solar sizzle
By Lucy Shober
Issue #28 • July/August, 1994
Click on pictures for printable, full-sized versions to color.
Picture yourself in this dreamy scenario: It's a hot summer afternoon. The sun is beaming through the shade trees as...
A Native American feast
By Jackie Clay
Issue #66 • November/December, 2000
When the holidays roll around, a lot of folks get bored with the "same-old meal." You know, turkey, mashed potatoesthe whole traditional meal. But some adventurous families might...
The coming ice age
By John Silveira
Issue #86 • March/April, 2004
As little as 30 years ago the talk wasn't about global warming, it was about an imminent ice age. Is an ice age likely? Even possible? Consider this:...
The Electoral College — How we elect the President
By John Silveira
Issue #18 • November/December, 1992
I've been getting a lot of telephone calls from Oregon lately. My article is late again and Dave Duffy, the fellow who publishes this magazine, keeps...
Tortellini Soup
Recipe of the Week
Tortellini Soup
Courtesy of
Martha Desimone
Ingredients
6 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup onion, chopped
1 cup carrot, diced fine
4 to 6 green chiles, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 tablespoon olive oil
10 to 12 ouces...
Standby battery charging techniques can ensure engine startups
By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM
Issue #83 • September/October, 2003
Those of us living beyond the suburbs own various sizes and types of yard and garden machinery. From the mandatory riding lawnmower for those weekend warriors...
Common sense about burglary prevention
By Massad Ayoob
Issue #89 • September/October, 2004
Read this month's editorial. Publisher Dave Duffy got burgled. The residue of hurt this experience leaves behind is a primal thing that you never get over entirely. It...
The time-travel ad
By John Silveira
Issue #125 • September/October, 2010
It's become a minor Internet phenomenon. The ad reads:
It's also been read by Jay Leno on his late night TV show, on National Public Radio more than once...































