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...

Brew your own root beer

By Tim Murphy Issue #130 • July/August, 2011 Ah, root beer! That sweet, dark elixir of kidhood, majestically topped with a beige pillow of foam. It's the perfect companion to Bazooka bubble gum, baseball cards, wiffle...

Build a chicken feeder on the cheep cheep cheep

By Linda Slate Issue #119 • September/October, 2009 While searching for a large quantity (five pounds or more) feeder for my backyard flock, I kept running into the same problem—cost. My last trip to the farm...

The real gun criminals

By Dave Duffy Issue #63 • May/June, 2000 If a person robbed a bank and murdered someone, and you drove the getaway car, would you be guilty of accessory to robbery and murder? If a man...

Orange honey pudding

Recipe of the Week  Orange honey pudding  Courtesy of Sharon Freeman   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 3 Tbsp. cornstarch 1/2 cup honey 1 1/2 cups water 1 tsp. butter 1/8-1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 cup yogurt 3 Tbsp....

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...

Eggnog

Recipe of the Week  Eggnog  Courtesy of Larry Cywin   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 4 egg yolks 4 Tbsp. sugar 1 cup heavy or whipping cream 1 cup brandy (or whiskey or rum) 1/4 cup...

Making a great rug from the rag bag

By Lois A. Adams Issue #18 • November/December, 1992 Recycling makes a lot of sense in these days of dwindling landfill space and non-renewable resources. But I can remember practicing recycling in my home when I...

The burglar does far more than steal!

By Dave Duffy Issue #89 • September/October, 2004 "Never mind about stealing the damn stuff! This is the wrong place! We have to leave!" "That's what they were saying Dad, right outside my window," my 12-year-old son Jake told...

Exotic Plants for the Homestead

By Corcceigh Green Issue #85 • January/February, 2004 Isn't it funny how even the things we step on while walking on the lawn have value? I learned this first hand last summer as I discovered some...

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...

Preparedness for travelers

By Brad Rohdenburg Issue #81 • May/June, 2003 When the subject of preparedness comes up, do you think of having a stock of supplies in your kitchen pantry in case of a storm? Maybe a backpack...

Gather rose hips for health

By Gail Butler Issue #95 • September/October, 2005 Vitamin C-rich rose hips can be found in dried form in most health food stores, but why not gather your own? You'll save money and you'll know where...

Dill-onion bread

Charles Bryant O’Dooley Ingredients 1 Tbsp. dry yeast 1/2 cup warm water 1 beaten egg 1/2 cup cottage cheese 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 1 Tbsp. butter 2 cups whole wheat flour 1/3 cup whole bran cereal 1/2 cup wheat germ 1 Tbsp. honey 1 Tbsp....

Dealing with heat stress

By Joseph Alton, M.D. Issue #154 • July/August, 2015 In the wilderness, there may not be shelter to protect you from the elements. Even on a working homestead, physical exertion in hot weather can easily lead...

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...