Chickens — The most valuable animal on the homestead

By Jackie Clay Issue #109 • January/February, 2008 When I was a child, I used to read and re-read the chick section in our Sears and Roebuck catalog. Imagine! For only two cents you could buy...

From triumph to tragedy to triumph again. Dorothy Ainsworth makes her valiant comeback

By Dorothy Ainsworth Issue #50 Mar/Apr 1998 BHM readers are familiar with Dorothy Ainsworth, the log home-building Ashland, Oregon, waitress who spent more than six years building a beautiful log home, only to have it burn...

The Government gorilla in our home

By Dave Duffy Issue #101 • September/October, 2006 The other week, Vince, a contractor who does occasional work for me, was arrested for slapping his 14-year-old daughter on the behind when she talked back to her...

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...

Survival firebuilding skills

By Corcceigh Green Issue #97 • January/February, 2006 Firebuilding skills are essential for those who may find themselves in survival situations. As a testimony to this idea, Americans in the Gulf Coast States experienced a string...

Glazed spiced mocha brownies

Recipe of the Week  Glazed spiced mocha brownies  Courtesy of Richard Blunt   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients soft shortening 5 oz. bittersweet chocolate 6-1/2 oz. unsalted butter 1/8 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. powdered, instant...

By Hook or Crook: A Billhook is a Handy Homestead Tool

By R.E. Rawlinson Issue #173 • September/October, 2018 When compared to our ancestors, we are very lucky to have readily-available tools. Stores are full of anything you could need and with online shopping, you don’t even...

Beans for Sarah

Recipe of the Week  Beans for Sarah  Courtesy of Richard Blunt   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1 1/4 cups dried pinto beans water to soak beans 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 12 oz....

Just for Kids: Take a nite hike!

By Lucy Shober Issue #22 • July/August, 1993 Click on pictures for printable, full-sized versions to color. How many times have you lain awake in your bed on late summer nights listening to the symphony of creatures...

Pecan Crusted Trout

Recipe of the Week  Pecan Crusted Trout  Courtesy of Louis Maher  Ingredients 6 6-oz. trout fillets 2 beaten eggs 1/2 cup milk 1 cup flour 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp. dried thyme 1-1/2 cups finely chopped pecans 1/2...

Make your own lumber with a chainsaw mill

By Jacqueline Tresl Issue #39 • May/June, 1996 Milling a board with a chainsaw lumber-maker. Figure1: The pieces. Beams, joists and walls were made with a chainsaw mill. Figure 2: The frame. Figure 3: The surface to which the chainsaw...

How to use those leftovers

By Marjorie Burris Issue #58 • July/August, 1999 Congratulations! You've worked hard and have enough food stored away to feed your family, possibly for a year or more. Now, go to your store room, pick up...

Build an Old-Fashioned Hotbed and Start Your Seeds in Style

By Roy Martin Issue #104 • March/April, 2007 A hotbed is a miniature greenhouse that is heated to protect new seedlings from cold. The hotbed differs from a cold frame in that it has an internal...

Terrific tamale pie

Recipe of the Week  Terrific tamale pie  Courtesy of Janine Hawley   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped green pepper 1lb. ground beef 2 8 oz. cans seasoned tomato...

The $1 Garden

By Jonathan Nunan Issue #122 • March/April, 2010 The dollar garden is simple in concept: buy as many seeds as you can for one dollar and harvest as much food as possible from the plants you...

Build a poultry killing cone

By Allen Easterly Issue #135 • May/June, 2012 You've worked hard and spent many hours raising your pretty flock of meat chickens from eggs or chicks to nice fat fryers, roasters, or stewing birds. They've provided...