Articles - Backwoods Home Magazine

Animals

Protein — The Cornerstone of a Survival Diet

This St. Bernard backwoods hero saved old Grandma’s life

Raising quail — A home grown delicacy

Mountain lions — Attacks are still rare, but just in case…

Building

Building David’s Cabin, Part One

By Jackie Clay-Atkinson Issue #172 • July/August, 2018 Like most young folks today, our son David graduated high school, got a job, and went to college...

Build a wood crib with free materials

Livestock fencing for the small homesteader, part 2

Build a Trapper’s Tilt

Build a pallet fence

Farm and Garden

Plant Your Trees in the Spring

By Tom Kovach Issue #61 • January/February, 2000 Winter is a good time to plan your spring tree plantings, deciding what and where you want to...

Saving Seeds

Grow Garlic and Reap Health Benefits

Put Your Garden to Bed for the Winter

Companion Planting

Americana and History

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...

The greatest American who was never President

Biological and chemical weapons through history

Doesn’t anyone remember Tom Paine

James Polk — A model for modern presidents

Food and recipes

Tortellini Soup

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

Black beans and rice

Glazed carrots with peas and onions

Self-reliance

The adventures of a first-time homesteader

I heat my house by burning corn

Buying a used mobile home

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

Energy

Keep the Ice On

A solar primer — How it works, how it’s made, what it costs

Build your own solar-powered water pumping station

Solar power trailer Part 1

Guns and Hunting

How big a gun do you need?

By Massad Ayoob Issue #99 • May/June, 2006 We Americans like to do things in a big way. Big houses. Big cars. Big boats. And, yes,...

Firearms handling refresher Part III: Rifles

Thoughts on ammunition

Use the right ammunition!

A used shotgun bargain: The Browning Auto-5

Science

A brief history of health and medicine

By John Silveira Issue #100 • July/August, 2006 As little as a century ago, the average life span in the United States was 49 years. Today...

Gee-Whiz: Bad Fish, Big Fish

Science and truth. Are they related?

Gee-Whiz: Presidents

How big is the solar system?

Politics and Commentary

What kind of Americans sit on our juries?

Want proof of luck, ESP, and psychic powers?

Finding solutions in firewood

Golf’s critical life lessons are under threat

Animals

Is that a good pig?

By Kim Dieter Issue #129 • May/June, 2011 Lean ham, roasts, chops, savory sausage, and thick slices of bacon are the reason pigs are raised at...

Beekeeping basics

Issue #88 • July/August, 2004 Bees have been managed for their honey production for about 5000 years or so. Especially for the...

Forget the dog, chicken is man’s best friend

Broody biddies make sense on the homestead

Where our farm animals come from

Mountain lions — Attacks are still rare, but just in case…

Self-Reliance

Make your own firestarters

How to make money from storage building auctions

Simplifying simplicity

Oregon Trail preparedness: What supplies did the settlers carry?

Farm and Garden

Hügelkultur for the Homestead

By Rose Shelton Issue #176 • April/May/June, 2019 Last spring, I finally completed a long-planned homestead project of constructing two hügelkultur beds. What is hügelkultur? It’s basically a method of recycling junk wood to make a...

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Plant Your Trees in the Spring

By Tom Kovach Issue #61 • January/February, 2000 Winter is a good time to plan your spring tree plantings, deciding what and where you want to plant. When spring arrives you'll be ready. Spring is the best...

Read more