Building the coyote rifle

By Rev. J.D. Hooker Issue #107 • September/October, 2007 Feral dogs, coyotes, and those odd-looking "coy dogs" like to feed on my neighbors' livestock on occasion here around Kendallville, Indiana, and for years the neighbors looked...

Ham & Kidney Bean Soup

Recipe of the Week  Ham & Kidney Bean Soup   Courtesy of Beverly Rossman  Ingredients 1 pound spicy or sweet Italian sausage 2 Smoked pork hocks, sawed in half by butcher. 3 medium Potatoes, peeled and cubed 3 Celery...

Solar Power 101 — Batteries: Part 2

By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM Issue #88 • July/August, 2004 This article is the second in a series of what will be a beginner's course in solar electricty. Simultaneously we have instituted a Home Energy Information...

Your honey will love your sweet buns

By Jennifer Stein Barker Issue #51 • May/June, 1998 Sweet rolls (or sweet buns, Danish pastries, sticky buns, coffee cake, etc.) are an American tradition for breakfast. Sometimes they are served with eggs and cooked meats,...

Cooking with seeds — A surefire way to sow good health into your family’s...

<!-- Cooking with seeds --> By Linda Gabris Issue #100 • July/August, 2006 Even though it sounds a little seedy, planting an array of tasty seeds in your daily cooking is an economical way to sneak an extra dose...

BHM hosts Appleseed marksmanship event

By Massad Ayoob Issue #139 • January/February, 2013 Long a supporter of the Appleseed concept, Backwoods Home Magazine hosted one in Gold Beach, Oregon, in second quarter 2012. Naturally, a good time was had by all....

Green Shrimp Soup

Recipe of the Week  Green Shrimp Soup  Courtesy of Larry Elderson  Ingredients 1 medium Onion, chopped fine 1 large Carrot, chopped fine 1-1/2 teaspoons Butter 3 cups beef broth, hot 1 Tablespoon fresh Savory, chopped fine 1 teaspoon Tarragon, chopped fine 1 pound Peas, cooked 5...

Running your own business: a mother’s perspective

By Ilene Duffy Issue #62 • March/April, 2000 When my middle son, Robby, was a baby, he had two seizures. After the second one the doctor informed me that I needed to get him to the...

Raising Rabbits

By Linda Gabris Issue #133 • January/February, 2012 If you take pride and pleasure in growing your own organic garden foods and raising your own chemical-free meats, then consider rabbits. Domestic rabbits are an easy-to-raise, reliable meat...

You can safely and easily can your own meat

By Jackie Clay Issue #105 • May/June, 2007 Of all the foods I can every year, the most useful is the wide variety of meats. While we aren't huge meat eaters, these rows and rows of...

Tips and handy hints for 4X4 living

<!-- Tips and handy hints for 4X4 living By Jackie Clay --> By Jackie Clay Where Jackie lives, a 4x4 is essential Issue #71 • September/October, 2001 After spending more than 35 years living in homesteads that were so out of the...

For health & comfort, try wild herbal teas

By Cynthia Andal Issue #76 • July/August, 2002 The mention of herbal teas brings to mind pleasant conversations in a warmly scented kitchen, aided by the fragrant steam of a cup of Fireweed tea. Completely aside from...

The vanishing outhouse

By Tom Kovach Issue #79 • January/February, 2003 A person recently wrote to a large Midwest newspapers' advice column asking for information about outdoor privies. It seems that this person's family inherited a log cabin from...

Pita bread

Recipe of the Week  Pita bread  Courtesy of Richard Blunt   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1 pkg. active dry yeast 1/2 tsp. granulated sugar 1 cup warm water (110°-115°) 4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive...

Your Manure Pile — For Fuel, Fertilizer, and Maybe Even Improved Water Quality, You...

By Rev. J.D. Hooker Issue #87 • May/June, 2004 It's been well over a decade now since I first heard my friend Pete voice his amazement at my practice of spreading animal manure as a fertilizer....

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...