Free article Archives - Backwoods Home Magazine

Homestead security for women

By Donna Insco Issue #143 • September/October, 2013 In these tough economic times, many women are finding themselves alone for long hours on the homestead. As local jobs disappear, the major breadwinner may take a job...

The perfect holiday meal

By Jackie Clay Issue #108 • November/December, 2007 There are no cultures in the world, nor have there been, that did not have feast days. From prehistoric times to yesterday, food has always played an important...

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...

Homestead water

By Patrice Lewis Issue #144 • November/December, 2013 It is the most necessary of homestead requirements: water. It is literally a make-or-break resource. There are some parts of our country blessed with an abundant and never-ending supply...

Lessons for My Children…Chapter 3: Hiding from the government

By Dave Duffy Issue #138 • November/December, 2012 After opening the discussion in this column last issue about the underground economy, I thought it would be a good idea to explore it more thoroughly since it...

Tasty uses for garden and wild edibles

By Alice B. Yeager Issue #89 • September/October, 2004 The old saying "Waste not, want not" could be applied to almost anyone's producing garden. From fruit to vegetables, there is always the possibility of waste when...

Emergency casserole

Recipe of the Week Emergency casserole Courtesy of Jan Cook You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 3 lb. yellow squash, sliced 2 medium onions, chopped 2 carrots, slivered 1/2 pint sour cream 2 cans cream of...

Raspberry Pears with Chocolate Sauce

Recipe of the Week Raspberry Pears with Chocolate Sauce Courtesy of Lyle Staple Ingredients 2 cups cranberry/raspberry juice 1/2 cup port wine (optional) 1/2 cup raspberry syrup (use 1 cup if port wine is omitted) 3 2" x 1" strips...

Modify an E-Tool to make your own Combi-Tool

By Dave Strom Issue #172 • July/August, 2018 Campers, soldiers, and off-roaders are familiar with military-issue Entrenching Tools, commonly called “E-Tools.” They are light, compact, and multipurpose. They can shovel, hoe, chop, pick, and scrape. The...

Things kids should learn before leaving high school, but don’t

By John Silveira Issue #159 • May/June, 2016 We send generations of American children to school hoping we're preparing them for adulthood. Among the least of our expectations are that they're going to be able to...

Triple chocolate cheesecake

Recipe of the Week Triple chocolate cheesecake Courtesy of Tanya Kelley You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients Crust: 1-1/2 cups crushed Oreo cookies (about 10 cookies) 1/4 cup butter 1/2 of a 1-1/2-oz. chocolate bar Filling: 2...

Broiled fish fillet with piri piri sauce

Recipe of the Week Broiled fish fillet with piri piri sauce Courtesy of Richard Blunt You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1 lb. fish fillets 1 1/2 cups white wine 1/3 cup fresh...

The false argument about defending our freedom

By John Silveira Issue #142 • July/August, 2013 I'm tired of hearing how we should honor our veterans because they're defending our freedoms. They're not. No one in any of the Islamic countries is trying to...

The return of home emergency shelters takes on a dual-purpose approach

By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM Issue #74 • March/April, 2002 After September 11, 2001, all of us became much more concerned with protecting our families from biological, nuclear, and terrorist attacks. However, if you followed up...

Harvesting the wild: Acorns

By Jackie Clay Issue #79 • January/February, 2003 When I was just a little girl, I used to collect acorns by the boxfull as they fell in the fall. I didn't know why. They just felt...

Black & Blue Mango Pie

Recipe of the Week Black & Blue Mango Pie Courtesy of Carole Walter Ingredients 1 small recipe flaky pie pastry 2 large or 3 medium mangoes 2 cups (1 pint) fresh blueberries 1-1/2 cups (6-ounce basket) fresh blackberries 2/3 cup sugar 3 tablespoons cornstarch 2...