10 country do’s and don’ts

By Julie Crist Issue #96 • November/December, 2005 When we moved from the city to the mountains, I kept my eyes open and my mouth shut and and paid very close attention to other people's botchery....

Chicken San Francisco

Recipe of the Week  Chicken San Francisco  Courtesy of Beverly Rossman  Ingredients 1    2 to 2-1/2 lb chicken, cut up to frying size pieces Grated rind and the juice of 2 medium oranges 1 Tablespoon grated onion 1/2 teaspoon...

Put Your Garden to Bed for the Winter

By Jackie Clay Issue #95 • September/October, 2005 During the crispy fall afternoons, we listen often and intently to the weather forecasts. "It's going to be clear tonight," I'd tell my late husband, Bob, and my...

The Forever Floor

By David Lee Issue #92 • March/April, 2005 It is pretty devious starting off an article with an exaggeration but now that I have your attention let me tell you about a floor surfacing method I...

Build a graceful footbridge

By Harrison Stone Issue #77 • September/October, 2002 Tap your heels together three times and repeat after me, "There is no place like home—There is no place like home—There is no place like home, especially when...

An Introduction to Small-Scale Home Hydroponics

By Ben Richards Issue #154 • July/August, 2015 As most people are already aware, hydroponics is the practice of growing plants without soil. This is done by using a water-based nutrient solution to deliver the necessary...

Czarist Chicken Salad

Recipe of the Week  Czarist Chicken Salad  Courtesy of Frannie Burdette  Ingredients 4 chicken breast halves (about 1-1/2 pounds) 4 small red potatoes, boiled, peeled, sliced 1/2 cup coarsely chopped deli-style dill pickle 1 onion quartered, divided 1 rib celery,...

Canning Steelhead and Tuna

By Lisa Nourse Issue #177 • July/August/September, 2019 Any medical professional will tell you that adding fish oil to your diet has incredible benefits. Oily fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which provide many health...

An economical battery of guns for the backwoods home

By Massad Ayoob Issue #114 • November/December, 2008 Everything's getting more expensive. Food. Gasoline. Guns and ammunition. Not everyone who appreciates the rural lifestyle was "born with a gun in their hand" the way some of...

Boston brown bread

Recipe of the Week  Boston brown bread  Courtesy of Darlene Campbell   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1-1/2 cups yellow cornmeal 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1-1/3 cups milk 1-1/3 cups...

Medical kits for self-reliant families

By Jackie Clay Issue #60 • November/December, 1999 There may be a time, as close as tomorrow, when your loved ones need medication or medical treatment and there is no drug store open or doctor available....

Make sourdough with wild yeast

By Leah Leach Issue #151 • January/February, 2015 Those of us who live as self-sufficiently as possible love to forage. From wild greens to wild meat, foraged foods make their way onto our tables as often...

Indian Fry Bread

Recipe of the Week  Indian Fry Bread  Courtesy of Beverly Rossman  Ingredients 2 Cups all-purpose flour 1/4 Cup Instand nonfat dry milk powder 2 teaspoon Baking powder 1 teaspoon Salt 1 Tablespoon Butter or Lard 3/4 Cup Warm water...

Build a wood-fired stock tank heater

By Jackie Clay-Atkinson Issue #138 • November/December, 2012 Keeping fresh water in front of our livestock in the winter has always been somewhat of a problem. A long time ago, when we lived on a homestead...

Life-saving snowshoes

By Len McDougall Issue #126 • November/December, 2010 If you live in or drive through places where winter generally means having snow on the ground from autumn till spring, you should have a functional pair of...

Forget the dog, chicken is man’s best friend

By Richard Blunt Issue #49 • January/February, 1998 The domestic chicken, or Gallus domesticus as the Romans called it, has lived with humans for centuries. It is probably the descendent of a wild asian bird, and...