Articles - Backwoods Home Magazine

Keeping homestead animals healthy

A contrary guide to feeding animals

Forget the dog, chicken is man’s best friend

Livestock fencing for the small homesteader, part 2

By Don Lewis In the last issue of Backwoods Home Magazine, we covered Part 1 of livestock fencing for the small homesteader. The article included...

Composite lumber helps outdoor projects resist water, weather, and sun

Build a wood crib with free materials

Garden Seeds — A Great Winter Pastime

By Jackie Clay Issue #67 • January/February, 2001 Start your garden this year while the snow is still on the ground. I start all of my...

Clover — From Livestock Forage to Medicinal Tea, This Humble Plant...

The greatest American who was never President

By John Silveira Issue #60a • November/December, 1999 "The election's next year, right?" I asked. Dave Duffy, the publisher of Backwoods Home Magazine, was editing a rather...

James Polk — A model for modern presidents

Declaration of Independence: The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States...

The Great Depression — A reminiscence

Presidents’ wives of the past Part 4 — Cunning, vindictive, and...

Toffee Bars, Maple Kisses, and Chocolate-Nut Cloud Candy

Canning 101 — Pickles, fruits, jams, jellies, etc.

An easier way to cut firewood By Larry LaVan

Energy class: Part 2 — Understanding your electric bill

Choose your ammo… police style

By Massad Ayoob Issue #93 • May/June, 2005 One of our greatest modern gun experts, Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper, USMC, Ret., once made the observation that...

Answering some well asked questions about personal defense

How long should your gun’s barrel length be?

The M1A — A rifle that makes a statement

Firearms and cold weather considerations

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...

Can we make a Tyrannosaurus rex from a chicken?

Science and truth. Are they related?

Animal rights loonies save the chickens but ruin the County Fair

Getting the state out of marriage

Fake lawsuits, stacked juries, and LAWYERS!

Dorper sheep — Revolutionizing the meat sheep industry

By Darlene Polachic Issue #75 • May/June, 2002 If Henry Soderberg's predictions are right, Dorper sheep could revolutionize the meat sheep industry. A South African breed...

Raising your own beef for your family

By Charles Sanders Issue #57 • May/June, 1999 For most homesteaders, the raising of livestock plays a crucial role in the home based economy. The types...

Kinder goats — A small breed for milk and meat

How to buy your first sheep without getting shorn

Protein — The Cornerstone of a Survival Diet

Medical kits for self-reliant families

Caring for wounds in the field

Getting out of Dodge — 10 Things I am doing to prepare for the move to the country

Food security 101, part 3: Why I love my vacuum sealer (and more)

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...

Secure and Economical Livestock Feed

By Sherry Willis Issue #145 • January/February, 2014 The recent droughts in the midwest have meant hard times for many livestock owners. Areas without irrigation saw parched earth without a scrap of green anywhere. Corn withered...