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A Backwoods Home Anthology — The Nineteenth Year
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DEPARTMENTS
6  Publisher’s Note

7  Editorial:
Starting the hurricane

76  Irreverent joke page

31  Ask Jackie:
Preserving chestnuts, lye soap, chickens in the city, brined dill pickles, small ears of corn, etc.

77  Ayoob on Firearms:
The .22 handgun

83  Movie Reviews:
Eight sweets for you and your sweetie

84  Letters

89  The last word:
A doomsday scenario to sleep on

88   Advertiser Index

90  Classified ads (pdf)

90  Classified advertising form

93-95   BHM anthologies, CD-ROMs, & books

96-97  Order form/Subscription Info

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Cover 109
ABOUT THE COVER
This issue’s cover is a painting by longtime BHM artist Don Childers. As a model he used the house built by Lee Greiman in his article that begins on page 8. Don set the house in a snowy winter scene and added a frozen creek at the front.

The warmth from the glow of the windows and the cool reflection of the moonlight off the snow makes the cabin an inviting place. The dog waiting at the door seems to have been temporarily forgotten by the lone wood splitter that resides within.

FEATURES

Building and tools

8  A cabin for one   By Lee Greiman

42  I built my affordable beach home just over the border in Mexico   By Allen Schwartz

Self-reliance

26  The joys of idleness   By Claire Wolfe

49  Get to know your spiders   By Jerry Hourigan

52  Starting over, part 14   By Jackie Clay

72  Wildlife tracking 101   By Len McDougall

Energy

36  Solar power trailer: Part 2   By Jeffrey R. Yago, P.E., CEM

Farm and Garden

12  Chickens—the most valuable animal on the homestead   By Jackie Clay

23  Feathered to finished in 15 minutes   By Jackie Clay

Recipes

64  Rhubarb—vegetable or fruit   By Gail Butler