7 Solar Water Heating System Designs
By Michael Hackleman
Issue #65 • September/October, 2000
(Rob Harlan is a general and solar contractor with 25 years of experience with solar water heating systems in Mendocino County, California. Rob primarily designs and installs photovoltaic...
The many benefits of garlic
By Joe Knight
Issue #113 • September/October, 2008
Garlic, used throughout the world for the taste it adds to foods, is also well known for its medicinal benefits. Known as Allium sativum in the botanical world,...
Flowers Brighten the Garden
By Alice B. Yeager
Photos by James O. Yeager
Website Exclusive • March, 2006
Along with raising food plants, I like to tuck in a few flowers both annuals and perennials. There's something about bright orange...
Easy, no-knead bread by Melissa Souza
By Melissa Souza
Issue #156 • November/December, 2015
There is nothing more delicious than homemade bread hot out of the oven.
This no-knead bread costs me about a dollar per loaf to make, and it's so easy...
Want More Fruit From Less Space? Espalier Your Trees!
By Rev. J.D. Hooker
Issue #79 • January/February, 2003
After originating in the semi-arid regions of the middle east, espaliering (is-'pal-yer-ing) became a commonly employed fruit tree growing method of the Greco-Roman world. Later, during the...
Slaughtering and Butchering
By Dynah Geissal
Issue #23 • September/October, 1993
Fall is butchering time, a period of joy in the harvest of the year's work and of sadness that the lives of your beautiful, healthy animals have come...
For Extra Production, Try Mound Gardening
By Edward Love Johnson
Issue #44 • March/April, 1997
I began experimenting with mound gardening several years ago, due to limited garden space. Then as time went by, I found other reasons (or should I say...
A solar primer — How it works, how it’s made, what it costs
By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM
Issue #72 • November/December, 2001
Buying a solar power system is not like buying a kitchen appliance or power tool. These, unlike a solar system, have published capacity and performance data...
Ruth’s old-fashioned zucchini pickles
Recipe of the Week
Ruth’s old-fashioned zucchini pickles
Courtesy of
Richard Blunt
You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here
Ingredients
7 lbs. zucchini or yellow summer squash
1 large sweet red pepper
4 large white onions
1/3...
Build a lean-to greenhouse
By Dorothy Ainsworth
Issue #154 • July/August, 2015
Just thinking about a greenhouse can stimulate the senses. In our minds' eyes, we can see the filtered light shimmering down on rows of greenery, feel the moist...
Raising cattle on your own place
By Charles Sanders
Issue #85 • January/February, 2004
Winter won't last forever. It won't be long before spring will arrive and pastures will start to green up. This may be the year for you to consider...
Old-fashioned baked beans
Recipe of the Week
Old-fashioned baked beans
Courtesy of
Jackie Clay
You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here
Ingredients
2 cups dry navy beans
1/4 cup ham or bacon
1/2 cup dehydrated chopped onions
8 Tbsp....
Confronting the enemy
By Dave Duffy
Issue #81 • May/June, 2003
I got a lot of criticism a couple of issues ago from liberals when I pointed my finger at black Americans and asked why they had their heads...
Installing a propane heater
By Watt Jones
Issue #177 • July/August/September, 2019
Even with a 12,000 BTU Mini Split System installed in our cabin, my wife and I have experienced some spotty outages with our local electric cooperative and numerous power...
Anne’s Sausage and Cabbage
Recipe of the Week
Anne's Sausage and Cabbage
Courtesy of
Elizabeth Flora
Ingredients
8 slices Bacon
4 Italian Sausages, casings removed
1 large Onion, chopped
1 large Cabbage, shredded
1-1/2 cups Chicken Broth
Salt & Pepper to taste
Cayenne Pepper...
Fireplace cooking cures the winter blues
By Robert L. Williams
Issue #19a • January/February, 1993
Several years ago we experienced a prolonged winter storm that left power lines down and thousands of people without heat, hot water, and operative cookstoves. And for...






























