Articles - Backwoods Home Magazine

Dorper sheep — Revolutionizing the meat sheep industry

Installing a steel roof

By Norman Bennett Issue #126 • November/December, 2010 One of the reasons steel roofs have become so popular is the simplicity and economy with which they...

Build your own home in two years — Get a PhD...

Five building tricks for super strong framing

Building and stocking your pantry

Companion Planting

By Beverly Mettot Issue #81 • May/June, 2003 Companion planting is nothing new, and yet in recent years it has made an extraordinary comeback, not only...

Use Old Newspapers to Make Your Starter Pots

Quilts — Masterpieces of the heart and windows into women’s history

By Marlene Parkin Issue #22 • July/August, 1993 Many of the quilts of yesterday took a lifetime to make. Perhaps the mystical part of quiltsthe aspect...

Habeeb Salloum — Poet, Traveler, Recipe Writer

Was the first government gun confiscation attempt foiled by an unsung...

10 ways to make money on your land

Just for Kids: Killing some time (Create an afternoon time warp)

Powering medical equipment during a utility blackout

Walden Pond, the solar version: Part 1

Add solar power to your truck camper

Solar Power 101 — Batteries: Part 2

Military surplus and military “clone” rifles

By Massad Ayoob Issue #116 • March/April, 2009 One reader writes to ask if military surplus rifles are still a good idea for hunting, recreational shooting,...

Choose your ammo… police style

Understanding the gun debate, part 3

Cold weather shooting considerations

Gee-Whiz: Dinosaurs

By O.E. MacDougal July/August 2014 Backwoods Home Biologists and paleontologists are now pretty certain that birds are part of the dinosaur lineage. Their extinct relatives include...

A doomsday scenario to sleep on

ID cards are an idea whose time should never come

Concealed carry laws reduce crime

Hog butchering — Using everything but the squeal

By Charles Sanders Issue #142 • July/August, 2013 A 450-pound hog will provide a lot of delicious meat. Hogs are raised throughout our neighboring Amish community for...

Get to know your spiders

By Jerry Hourigan Issue #109 • January/February, 2008 Every landowner and homeowner creates the perfect environment for spiders. Not intentionally, of course, but spiders seem to...

Chickens — The most valuable animal on the homestead

Dorper sheep — Revolutionizing the meat sheep industry

Jackie’s tips for hardcore homesteading

Self-reliance for women — Surviving a biochemical attack

Drawing the line on timber trespass

By Jackie Clay-Atkinson Issue #153 • May/June, 2015 Carrots are an old-time homesteader favorite. They can be frozen, canned, dehydrated, or simply stored in a cool location. They are nutritious, too, being a great source of beta...

Saving Seeds

By Jackie Clay Issue #129 • May/June, 2011 I go through dozens of garden seed catalogs in preparation for each year's new (and better!) garden. I have a lot of "old reliable" varieties that I grow...