Emergency Preparedness and Survival Guide

Jackie, I love your articles in Backwoods Home. I’ve been on the survival kick for the last 20 years and you speak my language.

I have the “Emergency Preparedness and Survival Guide” and it’s a fabulous little book. Everybody should have one and I’ve sent several copies as gifts.

I was so glad to hear you talk about food not spoiling for years. I agree. I have lots of wheat, beans, rice, etc. that I fully expect to be good when I open them.

We, my two daughters, one son-in-law and myself moved to the Ozarks nine years ago from California. We have 170 acres of woods, pasture, and a river. We run a canoe business mainly from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I love it here (I was originally from Kansas) after 40 years in California.

I have never bought food in #10 cans and after reading about your year’s supply of food for the family, I realize I need #10 cans of dry milk, cheese powder, and eggs.

I have lots of cases of canned vegetables. I’m too old (83 years and handicapped) to do any canning anymore. I do have lots of food I dried several years ago and I keep buying every week to add to our supply.

I feel sure that the bottom will fall out one of these months and we’ll be dependent on our stored food.

Your articles are the ones I read first when Backwoods Home arrives. I can’t use your CD-Rom because I don’t have a CD player. I’ve only gotten a TV since 9-11. I hate the thing but I do watch the news now and Oprah. She’s a shining light in this world.

Keep on giving us all your wonderful info. I admire your bravery in living so far in the wilderness, I live vicariously through you.

Esther Young
Caulfield, MO

Anthologies/website

Thank you so much for the anthologies you have put out. I have the first 8 and now am ordering the 9th. I hope finances are such that I can order #10 next month.

If you put out a #11 I will order it too if I can afford it.

These books (anthologies) are great. The wife and I read a lot of stories in them when there is nothing on TV or we don’t have work to do. She is handicapped so she gets more reading time in. Thank you again.

Robert Kager
Mt. Vernon, WA

You make my day! Thanks so much for all the wonderful work you do on our behalf. I found you about three years ago and have been enjoying every bit of each magazine since. Now I also have five anthologies and take them everywhere with me to read when I have a moment or two. I have learned so much about being self-reliant and living a really fulfilling lifestyle. Who would have thought you could teach so much to an old retired couple!

My regrets are twofold; wish you were published each month as I just can’t get enough, and wish we had found you in the very beginning. I’m really sorry we weren’t on board at the very beginning. Another joy is the BH Forum (www.backwoodshome.com). I’ve met some splendid people and not only learned from them but also have been able to share from my store of information. This is very satisfying.

Deanna Juhl
gmadear@neotek.net

Guns Save Lives

In your article about the book “Guns Save Lives” you mentioned the fact that many acts where guns save lives go unreported every year and reported acts go unmentioned in the news. I have an idea for an article that I would like for you to pass around your staff.

Perhaps we need a new gun law. This law would require police to keep records on crimes that are prevented or stopped by gun owners. The law would also require public publishing of such data on a quarterly basis. If a citizen called in or otherwise reported a foiled crime, the police would be required to validate and document the act.

Such a law would give us solid statistics on how much crime gun owners prevent each year.

“massey3j”
massey3@cox.net

Thanks

I just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know how much I enjoy your magazine. I am a resident of [Canada] and started reading your publication about two years ago. My wife and I were in a drugstore in a small town picking up some odds and ends when she noticed your magazine. Since accidentally discovering Backwoods Home, it has become our favorite magazine and we look forward to each new issue. I can honestly say that Backwoods Home is the first magazine I have ever bothered to read cover-to-cover, including all the ads!

Since discovering your terrific magazine, I have recommended it to many like-minded friends who have also become devoted fans! I always knew there must be others like myself out there, somewhere, who believe in personal freedom, self sufficiency and the pursuit of a life free from “Big Brother’s” constant intrusions. Here in Canada, people who believe as I believe, are few and far between. Thanks for publishing a magazine that lets people like us connect and know that despite having to live in a society that seems more and more deviant by the passing day, there are still decent, normal, conservative people out there who are not afraid to put common sense into print!

[Name and location withheld by request]

Just read Jan/Feb 2003 again! Probably for the third time, and I just got it yesterday.

Are ya’ll mind readers? Dave Duffy is right on the money.

Jackie Clay, I’d gladly do your grunt work, just to hang out with ya’ll.

I think this is the best magazine I have ever received. Without naming names, the others pale in comparison, although I still receive a few. BHM is always packed with good info. I’m really glad that ya’ll took over.

Well anyway, I hope ya’ll enjoy putting out such a great magazine as much as I like reading it.

David Hill
Caldwell, TX

This is a letter I have anticipated writing for many years now. My term of incarceration will soon be over and I ask that you change my address in your records so your wonderful and very useful magazine will continue to find its way into my hands.

Before I close I want to applaud your recent decision to continue to accept subscriptions from those of us who have made bad decisions in our lives and ended up as members of Big Brother’s growing community of felons. I’ve been a subscriber for hmm, about seven years now and couldn’t begin to tell you how valuable your magazine has been towards my future. I’ve a small 50 acre place in southeastern Tennessee that is covered with hardwood trees, has a running creek, lots of deer and turkey, and I’ll utilize many of the articles from Backwoods Home as I clear land, put in my power system, plant my gardens and fruit orchard, build my barn, and acquire livestock. Of course, after ten years of incarceration I’ll be looking for someone to assist me in all my endeavors and grow old with. Guess I just may be sending in a personal ad in the near future. I’ve found that the kind of folks I want to know and associate with all read your magazine. Thanks for helping get me through the hard times and for the help you will provide in the future too.

Rocky McFarlin
Dayton, TX

Cancel my subscription

I just finished reading the article by Claire Wolfe in the number 80 edition of Backwoods Home Magazine. I have never read such a stinking piece of dog dung in my life. How can you print this piece in your magazine by this Tijuana burn out. I really can’t believe it.

Please cancel my subscription now, don’t ever send me your warped rag to my home again.

Frank E. Herout
Downers Grove, IL

City vs country

Just found your website today, and truly enjoyed it. I live in the DC area with my husband and four children and I agree in most part with your comparison of the big city vs. country living. Very fair and accurate. However, you never touched on one of the most important aspects in a decision such as that…education.

I teach public High School and am just miles off the DC line. The average SAT score here is 1100 and 97% go on to college. While looking to move out to the country to give our kids a more peaceful life, I started comparing those statistics, along with the types of classes offered, computer labs, etc. The farther I got away from the city, the lower the SAT scores and the lower the percentage of children going to college.

Also, one has to consider retirement. In the big city, you have big companies, established, that can provide a retirement after 30 years. of service. In the country, these types of opportunities are few and far between, meaning there is a greater chance you’ll be working for all of your life.

Just my thoughts. I’d love to hear yours on those two subjects-

Diane Moore
dmoore80@yahoo.com

Colin Powell editorial

Your “My view” in issue #79 was just perfect. It prompted me to view other editorials on the website.

It is easy to get the impression that Backwoods Home is a “red neck” type magazine. Thoughtless, knee jerk, ignorant sort of publication.

Oh contraire…as Miss Piggy would say. Your editorials give the lie to that. I love them. It said all that needs to be said. And gives me hope that all is not lost for this country. We need more thoughtful people to speak up. And we need more people to see that folks in the country are not just a bunch of “yahoos.”

The question remains…how do we get the general public, especially in NYC, to see that…I have sent your comments on to friends. Maybe they will see that rationality still reigns in backwoods country.

MacDale1st@aol.com