Free article Archives - Backwoods Home Magazine

Growing and Using Bamboo on the Homestead

By Jereme Zimmerman  Issue #161 • September/October, 2016 Bamboo: The very word evokes an image of groves of tall, leafy plants swaying gently through the air...

Dehydrating food

By Kristina Seleshanko Issue #173 • September/October, 2018 Dehydration is one of the oldest and easiest methods of food preservation. Anyone can easily dry and store almost any food; there are just a few basic rules...

Solar charge controllers — myths, hype, and facts

By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM Issue #153 • May/June, 2015 Most people with a basic understanding of solar power are aware they need a solar module and a storage battery to power an electrical device using...

A lesson in respect

By John Silveira Issue #65 • September/October, 2000 When I was 10, Dad lived on a farm in New Hampshire with my stepmother and two of my sisters, and I went to stay with them that...

Mint julep non-alcoholic

Recipe of the Week Mint julep non-alcoholic Courtesy of Alice Brantley Yeager You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 5 lemons 1 bunch fresh peppermint 1-1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup water 3 qts. ginger ale ice Method Squeeze juice from...

How to begin taking wildlife photographs

By H. Bumper Bauer Issue #120 • November/December, 2009 If you want to get into wildlife photography, your timing could not be better. Many serious amateur and professional photographers are upgrading their 35mm film cameras to...

Caring for wounds in the field

By Bill Glade, M.D. Issue #75 • May/June, 2002 The beautiful remote Canadian lake has provided a bountiful supply of fresh fish. You are cleaning the catch when a moment's inattention allows the knife to slip...

Baked chili relleno casserole

Recipe of the Week Baked chili relleno casserole Courtesy of Nathele Graham You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1 8-oz. can whole green chilies 1/2 lb. jack cheese 4 eggs, separated 4 Tbsp. melted butter Sauce: 1...

Betty’s Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce

Recipe of the Week Betty's Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce Courtesy of Elizabeth Ann Forman Ingredients Bread Pudding: 3-1/2 cups milk 20 slices stale or dried bread, broken into cubes 1 cup raisins, soaked in rum 1 can apple pie filling 1/2 cup butter 1-1/4...

The coffee mug knife sharpener

By Michael Cantrell Issue #105 • May/June, 2007 Not too long ago, I watched a man open his pocket knife by pulling it partway open to a wide L-shape with his hands, and then push it...

Garlic – the glorious bulb

By Linda Gabris Issue #86 • March/April, 2004 Whether you know it as ail in French, lashun in Hindi, da suan in Chinese, aglio in Italian, fokhagyma in Hungarian or plain old garlic in English, the...

Companion Planting

By Beverly Mettot Issue #81 • May/June, 2003 Companion planting is nothing new, and yet in recent years it has made an extraordinary comeback, not only in fooling those pesky pests who thrive on fruits and...

Buying the right emergency radio

By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM Issue #98 • March/April, 2006 In our last issue I addressed how to select the best battery-powered lighting for your emergency needs. Recent examples of poor emergency response during the Katrina...

Swedish log candle

By Nick Weston Issue #138 • November/December, 2012 At my Hunter-Gatherer school, we are constantly experimenting with different methods of outdoor cookery, from underground ovens (umu or hangi) to smoke roast tipis and run-of-the-mill fire pits....

Answering some well asked questions about personal defense

By Massad Ayoob Issue #97 • January/February, 2006 Jeff Yago, Backwoods Home's energy writer, recently completed a couple of concealed carry handgun courses. The classes apparently left some questions hanging in the air, and Jeff passed...

Filipino Chicken Stew

Recipe of the Week Filipino Chicken Stew Courtesy of Raymond Bogan Ingredients 3 pounds chicken, cubed 5 cups water 1 tablespoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon salt 2 large onions, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 4 medium potato,...