Safety first

I have enjoyed Backwoods Home for many years. The recent emailed newsletter has a picture of a young man and two young beautiful children on a four wheeler machine. I hope and pray that was a posed picture and that machine was never started and moved with those people on board. That was so ignorant and irresponsible. Just do your research on four wheeler accidents. The young man, if adult, is his own responsibility. If he decides to ride with absolutely no safety gear, that is his right. I hope he does not think he may call an ambulance and expect others to pay for his stupidity, if he has an accident. But the picture shows 2 young children on board. Besides being ignorant and irresponsible, I am fairly certain this is a crime if he actually moves that machine. Let’s get some sense here. Life is dangerous. We are responsible for our own actions.

Let’s not post a photo in your otherwise great magazine of this totally stupid and dangerous act.

Please do not let your magazine be an advocate for yet more onerous laws passed, because of redneck stupidity.

Daniel J. Jones
Chickamauga, Georgia

Used old guns at a show

I really enjoyed Mas’ column on what guns to use a hundred years ago (Issue #154, July/Aug 2015). I recently went through a similar exercise and ended up with some of the same guns he chose.

In my case, I was going to a three gun match which had a theme this year of “Molon Labe.” I figured I’d go with some of the oldest guns in my safe, keeping with the “Come and get them” theme. I ended up shooting the three day match with a 1907 Winchester in .351 WSL, a Smith and Wesson M&P in 38 spl, and a Military issue Savage 720 riot gun (Browning A-5 clone).

The Savage ended up having trouble with light loads, although it worked fine with defensive rounds, so I had to switch to a more modern 1960s vintage Ithaca DS Police Special. The other guns worked great.

All told, the guns added up to 229 years old. I finished the match a bit lower than where I do using more modern guns, but had way more fun. I still beat around 100 people (it was a big match) so I was happy.

Bring your guns to the Hornady Zombies in the Heartland match next year, Mas, and see how they work.

Bruce Fleming
Des Moines, Iowa

Thanks for writing, Bruce, and I’ll try to take you up on that if it’s possible! — Mas

BHM important to inmates

I am writing to inform you how important BHM is to the inmate population in America. As an inmate myself I can tell you that BHM has changed my life. BHM’s articles are inspiring, detailed, well written, and on point. Furthermore, BHM has given me the tools to rehabilitate myself to a great degree. I have been so inspired by BHM that I was able to overcome many self-defeating behaviors. I’ve also changed how I think, feel, and treat others. I even went to school and earned my Paralegal Degree. I can honestly say that BHM has saved my life …

… The BHM staff and contributors may never know how much they have done to inspire and change the lives of inmates. But rest assured, BHM and its contributors have changed my life, and the lives of many others, in a dramatic, positive, and powerful way. That’s more than any prison facility has ever done, or will ever do. Everyone at BHM has my eternal thanks, gratitude, and support. I will definitely not allow my printed subscription to lapse.

Because of BHM I plan on putting my Paralegal Degree to use in order to fight for our U.S. Constitutional Rights in this country. I value freedom more than the average person could imagine. BHM readers should never take their freedom for granted. It is worth more than any amount of money they could possibly think of. BHM is the only freedom we inmates know while in prison. On behalf of us all, thank you for your hard work and dedication to an amazing magazine.

Your lifetime BHM supporter,

Lyle Young
Fort Dodge, Iowa

P.S. Please don’t go paperless. We inmates are not allowed internet access, nor Kindles, and would be forced to lose your wonderful magazine. BHM inspires so many of us that to lose BHM would be like losing all hope. Please stay in print/paper format!

Should have subscribed sooner

After several years of procrastinating, I sent in for a subscription of your magazine. The six free previous issues made up my mind.

As I read the first issue #148 (July/August 2014) it reminded me of the pleasure Countryside Magazine gave me 30 some years ago. It changed when they went overboard in my opinion with the Y2K preparations.

How disappointed hundreds if not thousands of preppers were when the world wasn’t thrown into chaos. I’m not innocent in this. I panicked and spent $99 on a freeplay handcrank radio. Within weeks of the year 2000 dawning that same model radio dropped in price to first $69.99 then $49.99 and I stopped caring after that.

Had I waited for the Backwoods Home Magazines to arrive I would not have renewed my Countryside subscription. I agree with Mr. Duffy. Countryside’s new owners would gladly devote as much press to advertisers as long as subscribers keep buying their publication.

I’m now eager to get more BHM publications.

E.H. Macks
Grafton, Wisconsin

P.S. 29 year apartment dweller. No closer to my own homestead than before. It doesn’t stop me from putting up food in a Mirro pressure canner, growing herbs in flower pots, and dehydrating my own creations.

“Climate change” in CA

I don’t intend to beat a dead horse but there is another topic related to climate change in California. Certain of the “news” creators have focused on the collapse of the ground in some places affected by the drought. They claim that the ground is sinking because too much water has been pumped from the aquafer. If man had not modified the sedimentary structure of the San Joaquin Valley, this would not happen. The valley is an ancient lakebed. The surface of the entire valley was originally underlayed by an unbroken layer of hardpan rock effectively making it like a large stone bowl with a layer of soil on top of the stone. In the old days we would chip a hole thru this stone or blast a small hole thru it using dynamite where we wanted to plant a tree or a sturdy fencepost or a well. Then entrenching equipment like the LeTourneau Rooter began to be used to tear up field sized sections of hardpan. Having dug below the hardpan in 1953 while constructing a new septic tank, we discovered that the hardpan sits on top of and protects a deep bed of sand. We dug a rectangular hole 8-10 feet deep and lined it with concrete. With this protective cap removed I would imagine the sand would drift around and allow for a greater variance in the level nature of the soil surface. So I believe that these described incidents of the soil sinking due to the drought are merely evidence that the sand is washing or drifting out in some places where its protective rock cover has been removed and are in no way related to a lack of rainfall.

Marty Milanese
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Applause

Just received your July/August 2015 Issue # 154 as I was writing to another BHM subscriber, Lily & James Faubus of Yellville, Arkansas. Lo and behold, this newest issue contains several articles both of us will read and re-read! Starting with Dave’s editorial and ending with the pages of temptations (books, CDs, etc.) I couldn’t put this issue down. Every issue just makes your competitors look even less inviting to me. Know that your efforts are appreciated and reflect the needs of your readers. Whether one is living in an urban, suburban, or off-the-grid environment, there is always something in each issue we can use. Thank you for all that you do.

Hope this “makes your day” as your issue made mine so very much brighter on a rainy day in Florida!

Pat Porter
Pensacola, Florida

… honestly, you guys put so much of your heart and soul into the magazine that I feel like you’re a part of my family. I too work in magazine publishing and know just how much labor it is, and from a production point of view you guys do a smashing job. After reading text and edits all day and making sure everything aligns and looks good for print, your magazine is the only thing I look forward to getting in the mail for “purposeful” reading. Keep up the good work, and please pass along to your staff to keep on keepin’ on. Next time we’re in your neck of the woods I’ll be sure to give a shout.

David Justice
Honesdale, Pennsylvania