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

7  Editorial:
If you want to survive an emergency, look to yourself, not the Government

70  Ask Jackie:
Finding wild rice seeds, growing great tomatoes, tomato sauce, canning smoked salmon, pecans, dill, powdered eggs, pickling garlic, etc.

30  Ayoob on Firearms:
SOCOM-16: This rugged descendant of the military’s renowned M-14 may be the ultimate “ranch rifle.”

68  Irreverent joke page

81  Claire goes to the movies

83  Letters

90  Classified ads (pdf)

90  Classified advertising form

93  Advertiser Index

94   BHM anthologies, CD-ROMs, & books

95  The last word

96-97  Order form/Subscription Info

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Cover 96
ABOUT THE COVER
This issue’s cover recalls a theme from our Issue No. 13 cover back in January/February 1992. It’s the same woman in the same house. The calendar on the wall in the Issue No. 13 cover was for 1908, and this one, 13 years later, is for 1921. The cat doesn’t look like it’s aged much in the 13 years. Don Childers drew both covers. He used Sears, Roebuck’s 1908 and 1927 catalogues for some specifics, and he was working on the current cover on his 75th birthday. Don has worked for BHM for 16 years.

FEATURES

Building and tools

8  Towers   By David Lee

Build a tower! Improve your view, add to your property’s value, or just get closer to heaven.

55  Build a top-bar bee hive   By Jarrett D. Kelly

Simple and convenient for you, and cozy for the bees.

Alternative energy

19  Need more gas mileage?   By Jeffrey R. Yago, P.E., CEM

With gas prices fast approaching the cost of an elegant dinner, learn about some fuel-efficient alternatives.

Self-reliance

24  10 country do’s and don’ts   By Julie Crist

Ready to make the big country move? Here is a bit of advice from one who has been there.

26  Teaching the joy of reading   By Amy Peare

28  Preparing for home evacuation   By Kelly McCarthy

Think you are prepared for a disaster? Here is advice on what to bring and what to leave behind.

62  Starting over: Part 7   By Jackie Clay

While work progresses on the log home, Jackie hauls out her canning equipment for the first time in a year.

76  Ice dams on roofs   By Tom Kovach

78  Hibernation   By Tom and Joanne O’Toole

80  Frostbite: Don’t flirt with this sneaky danger   ByTom and Joanne O’Toole

Food and recipes

36  Take the chill out of winter   By Linda Gabris

It is soup and hot drinks weather. Savor a bowl of hearty grain soup, topped off with a delicious homemade hot beverage.

46  Make your own nut butters   By Sylvia Gist

48  Shiitake mushrooms   By Linda Gabris

Linda takes the mystery out of growing and preparing these delightful mushrooms

52  Burghul, the noblest food achieved by wheat   By Habeeb Salloum

Not familiar with burghul? Find out about this remarkable cereal that is chock-full of nutrients.