How to organize an outdoor canning party

By Jennifer Grahovac Issue #119 • September/October, 2009 When my husband and I decided to return to Ohio after living for 15 years in the mountains of Vermont, it was with some trepidation and a little...

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...

Cooking from long-term food storage

By Jackie Clay Issue #55 • January/February, 1999 All self-reliant families know they should have at least a year's worth of food and essential supplies stored up in a large pantry. Unfortunately, actually eating from long-term...

How big a gun do you need?

By Massad Ayoob Issue #99 • May/June, 2006 We Americans like to do things in a big way. Big houses. Big cars. Big boats. And, yes, big guns. There are good arguments for all this, of course....

Build an all-purpose ladder

By Robert L. Williams Issue #45 • May/June, 1997 Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 The story never varies. If I am doing outside work and need a ladder, I spend nearly as much...

Build your own home in two years — Get a PhD in homebuilding

By David Lee Issue #115 • January/February, 2009 There is an old Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times." Curse or not, times are interesting. We have world crises, national troubles, state level problems, county...

Dublin Coddle

Recipe of the Week  Dublin Coddle  Courtesy of Russ Brown  Here is a good old world favorite that really fills you up. Dublin Coddle Ingredients 2 pounds potatoes, pealed, thick sliced 2 pounds yellow onions, thick sliced 2 pounds smoked sausage, thick sliced 1...

Turn the poor into capitalists

By John Silveira Issue #137 • September/October, 2012 I'm not a fan of the welfare system and I think it's been more of a failure than a success. It may serve as a 'safety net' for...

Finding, buying, milking, and living with the family milk cow

By Jayn Steidl Thibodeau Issue #36 • November/December, 1995 Have you ever had this happen to you? You've opened the refrigerator door for a cold, refreshing glass of milk only to find an empty jug. You've...

Spiced red beans

Recipe of the Week  Spiced red beans  Courtesy of Richard Blunt   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1 cup dried red kidney beans 5 cups cold water to soak beans 3 cardamom pods 1 cinnamon...

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,...

Installing a steel roof

By Norman Bennett Issue #126 • November/December, 2010 One of the reasons steel roofs have become so popular is the simplicity and economy with which they can be placed over an old shingle roof. Still, despite...

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....

How to achieve affordable health care

By John Silveira Issue #120 • November/December, 2009 Despite all the hubbub about health care, the United States can have affordable health care tomorrow if we want it. There have been real solutions available, solutions that...

The incredible cattail — The super Wal-Mart of the swamp

By Kevin F. Duffy Issue #43 • January/February, 1997 I can think of no other North American plant that is more useful than the cattail. This wonderful plant is a virtual gold mine of survival utility....

Succulent venison stew

Recipe of the Week  Succulent venison stew  Courtesy of Edith Helmich   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 3-4 lbs. fat-trimmed venison, cut into 2-inch cubes Marinade: 2 thinly sliced onions 1 thinly sliced carrot 2 stalks...