Circle of friends

By Claire Wolfe Issue #111 • May/June, 2008 Hardcore survivalists cherish what I call the "George Romero Scenario." It goes like this: The proverbial poop has hit the propeller. Cities collapse into chaos. But we, the...

Build this sturdy large-capacity food dehydrator

By Charles Sanders Issue #63 • May/June, 2000 Drying of food as a means of preservation has been around for a long time. Populations in suitably dry climates all around the globe have dried meat, fish,...

Wild edibles in delectable dishes

By Rebekah L. Cowell Issue #123 • May/June, 2010 Many of us are surrounded by "free" foods we never think of utilizing. Perhaps you look out on your backyard or meadow, and think G-R-A-S-S! But you...

The Appleseed Project

By Massad Ayoob Issue #123 • May/June, 2010 There is nothing else in the shooting world quite like the Appleseed Project, which combines American Revolutionary War history with rifle marksmanship and firearms safety, and in so...

Easy-to-make farmer’s cheese

By Leah Leach Issue #152 • March/April, 2015 Ingredients Making cheese is one of the easiest and most satisfying tasks that you can accomplish in the homestead kitchen. While there are many wonderful cheeses out there to...

Growing Productive Strawberries

By Edna Manning Issue #86 • March/April, 2004 Here on the Canadian prairies, I have found strawberries to be perhaps one of the most delicious, least-demanding and productive fruits I can grow in our Zone 2...

Butterpeas

Recipe of the Week  Butterpeas  Courtesy of Alice Brantley Yeager   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 3-4 strips of cured, sliced bacon 1 qt. shelled and washed butterpeas 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped...

Just for Kids: Visit the great prairies

By Lucy Shober Issue #35 • September/October, 1995 Did you ever get an urge to just take off and go someplace exotic? Maybe the North Pole or the Amazon river basin? If you would care to...

Gabion walls for form and function

By Joe Mooney Issue #153 • May/June, 2015 I think there has to be something ingrained in the human brain that loves things built of stone. Maybe it's our desire for strength and safety or the...

Chow-chow

Recipe of the Week  Chow-chow  Courtesy of Marjorie Burris   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1 peck (12-1/2 lbs.) green tomatoes 8 large onions 10 green bell peppers 3 Tbsp. pickling salt 6 hot peppers, seeded...

Make your own firestarters

By Claire Wolfe Issue #129 • May/June, 2011 I bought an old house last summer and inherited lots of the former owners' stuff — some of it good and welcome, some strictly landfill-fodder. Among other things that...

Quince preserves

Recipe of the Week  Quince preserves  Courtesy of Jackie Clay   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 3 cups sugar 2 qts. water 7 cups pared, cored, quartered quinces Method When preparing quinces, discard all gritty parts....

The black man’s worst enemy is not racism

By Dave Duffy Issue #16 • July/August, 1992 The recent riots in L.A. and other communities following the acquittal of four white L.A. police officers accused of beating black motorist Rodney King are yet another symptom...

Dill-onion bread

Charles Bryant O’Dooley Ingredients 1 Tbsp. dry yeast 1/2 cup warm water 1 beaten egg 1/2 cup cottage cheese 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 1 Tbsp. butter 2 cups whole wheat flour 1/3 cup whole bran cereal 1/2 cup wheat germ 1 Tbsp. honey 1 Tbsp....

Medicinal uses of garlic

By Joseph Alton, M.D. and Amy Alton, A.R.N.P. Issue #134 • March/April, 2012 One of the greatest gifts of natural medicine that can be found on this earth is garlic, or Allium sativum. It has been...

Life-saving snowshoes

By Len McDougall Issue #126 • November/December, 2010 If you live in or drive through places where winter generally means having snow on the ground from autumn till spring, you should have a functional pair of...