Free article Archives - Backwoods Home Magazine

Water: a safe supply when you’re off the grid

By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM Issue #71 • September/October, 2001 That remote mountain property seemed like a steal until you found out you could not drill a well. Four years ago we were approached by a...

Chocolate Babka

Recipe of the Week Chocolate Babka Courtesy of Amanda Geller Ingredients 1 cup milk 5 tablespoons butter, plus extra for greasing 1/4 cup lukewarm water 1 package dry yeast 6 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 5-6 cups unbleached...

Build an inexpensive but durable jackleg fence

By Dynah Geissal Issue #45 • May/June, 1997 When we moved to our land in the summer of 1994, we were fortunate that open grazing exists where we live because we had to build shelters for...

Homemade bread: a metaphor for life

By Claire Wolfe Issue #113 • September/October, 2008 My parents never actually bought Wonder Bread; I got my fix only at friends' houses. The breads that entered our little three-bedroom,...

Buying a used mobile home

By Daniel Motz Issue #99 • May/June, 2006 One of the quickest, easiest, and cheapest ways to get your country home is to consider a used mobile home. Sometimes you can even find these homes free...

Fermented dill pickles

Recipe of the Week Fermented dill pickles Courtesy of Olivia Miller You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 50-60 smooth small cucumbers 1 oz. whole mixed spices dill 1 lb. pure salt 1 gallon water 1 pint cider...

Goat birthing and raising kids

By Jackie Clay Issue #112 • July/August, 2008 Dairy goats form one of the cornerstones of our homestead. Not only do they provide milk, cheese, ice cream, cottage cheese, and meat, but they also give us...

Polish Chicken

Recipe of the Week Polish Chicken Ingredients 1 roasting Chicken, cut up, at room temperature 3/4 cup Flour 2 Eggs 1 cup unflavored Breadcrumbs 3 Tbsp. Water 2 cups Sour Cream 5 Tbsp. Butter Salt and Pepper Method Place flour in a bowl and breadbrumbs in...

Crispy onion rings

Recipe of the Week Crispy onion rings Courtesy of Jo Mason You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 4 or 5 medium-sized yellow onions 1-1/2 cups flat beer 1-1/4 cups flour 1/4 cup corn meal shortening for...

Vegetable Scramble

Recipe of the Week Vegetable Scramble Courtesy of Mattie Silverman Ingredients 8 ounces tiny new red potatoes 4 to 8 ounces asparagus spears, chopped 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped 1/2 small onion, chopped 6 egg whites 3 whole eggs 1...

Building and using wattle fences

By Kathryn Wingrove Issue #139 • January/February, 2013 Wattle fences are made by weaving material in and out of posts in the ground. They were often used on the small farms of Victorian England. In fact,...

Apple-glazed Barbecued Chicken with Spring Vegetables

Recipe of the Week Apple-glazed Barbecued Chicken with Spring Vegetables Courtesy of Erika Sheets Ingredients Chicken 1 cup apple juice 4 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons molasses 1/2 cup tomato puree 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce 1 cut-up whole...