Free article Archives - Backwoods Home Magazine

Easy awnings

By Dorothy Ainsworth Issue #149 • September/October, 2014 A window without an awning is like a lamp without a shade bare and glaring. In my opinion there's not a window around that wouldn't look better...

Slug Zapper

By Joel Winters Issue #142 • July/August, 2013 I live in a small clearing in a big forest. This is on the rainy side of the mountains in the Cascade foothills. Slugs are underfoot nearly year-round...

Walden Pond — the solar version: Part 2

By Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM Issue #100 • July/August, 2006 In the last issue I provided the initial steps required to design your remote cabin or retreat for off-grid power. We also reviewed the types of...

Texas Fireballs By Randy Young

By Randy Young Photos by Callie Blanks  Issue #158 • March/April, 2016 Sausage balls are great, period. They've got sausage, cheese, and biscuit, all in one bite....

French Onion Soup

Recipe of the Week French Onion Soup& Julia Child's Beef Stock Courtesy of Richard Blunt Thirty-some years ago the publisher, Dave Duffy, the food editor, Richard Blunt, and I all lived in or near Boston. Butch, that’s Richard Blunt,...

For safety’s sake, homestead fuel storage must be handled properly

By Emory Warner Issue #43 • January/February, 1997 Home storage of fuel is a necessity for homesteaders. Even if you are still on the grid, your truck, tractor, standby generator, etc. will still require fuel. I...

Testing Soil

By Tom Kovach Issue #119 • September/October, 2009 Testing the soil content of a garden is very important and is quite easy to do. Soil tests are needed because some plants prefer slightly acidic soil, while...

Get out of debt, stay out of debt

By Darlene Campbell Issue #67 • January/February, 2001 Decades ago it was advised of young high school graduates to deposit a set amount of money into the bank each month, and when they retired they would...

Questions about global warming

By John Silveira Issue #108 • November/December, 2007 Global warming is in the news, infesting campaign rhetoric and the plot lines of many movies and TV programs. Our kids are being indoctrinated with its certainty in...

An $89 backup generator

By Jeff Yago, P.E., CEM Issue #159 • May/June, 2016 While I strive in all of my articles to only recommend products of high quality and reliability, I realize many of us are on a fixed-income...

Space heater safety tips

By Tom Kovach Issue #90 • November/December, 2004 If you are going to try to take the chill out of your home without turning on your main sources of heat, or if you want to add...

Filipino Chicken Stew

Recipe of the Week Filipino Chicken Stew Courtesy of Raymond Bogan Ingredients 3 pounds chicken, cubed 5 cups water 1 tablespoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon salt 2 large onions, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 4 medium potato,...

Build a homestead Copy Cart

By Charles Sanders Issue #45 • July/August, 1997 I don't know too many homesteaders, gardeners, or small farmers who haven't at one time or another wished for one of those fancy big-wheeled garden carts. It seems...

Blackened Chicken With Guacamole And Black Beans

Recipe of the Week Blackened Chicken With Guacamole And Black Beans Courtesy of Marty Robertson Ingredients Blackened Chicken 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless 2 ounces butter, melted 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon paprika 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2...

Picking a holster

By Massad Ayoob Issue #69 • May/June, 2001 One good thing about being out in the boonies by yourself is that you can carry a gun on your own property. It's a fundamental right that, for...

A used shotgun bargain: The Browning Auto-5

By Brad Rohdenburg Website Exclusive • September, 2014 A 1958 "Light Twelve" Browning Auto-5, with a 28" Improved Cylinder barrel and 'Speedfeed' loading. It weighs less than 7½ pounds, balances nicely, and the stock dimensions suit...