Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2020 i The New Pioneer

“We want to move from L.A. to a small farm but don’t know where to go or what to expect. Why don’t you run some articles about it?” an old friend said to me a few months ago. Then a subscriber wrote us a letter in which she brought up the problems people in rural areas face. Shortly after that, I was chatting with one of our contributors, Amber Bradshaw, about her family’s move to the mountains of Tennessee. “It’s not all cutesy-pootsy little chicks,” she said as she described the experience. These comments hit home. In this issue of The New Pioneer , we present a special section spelling out the nitty-gritty about country life—the bad as well as the good, and telling those of you who dream about…

“ Our mission is to produce one of Maine’s best oysters and to have a positive impact on the local community.” When people say they went to visit a farm, it usually conjures up images of cows, chickens, a red barn and maybe even a man in overalls riding his tractor out in a field. On a recent trip to Maine, I had the opportunity to tour a very different type of farm where the animals were underwater, the scenery was beautiful and the farmer wore muck boots and a wetsuit while piloting a boat. This was an oyster farm, and not just any old oyster farm. The Nonesuch Oyster Farm has an incredible story that centers around a unique and amazing lady, Abigail S. Carroll. Although Abigail grew up…

If you have a loved one that you suspect might be caught in a downward spiral, reach out to him or her and to local or national resources such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It’s not uncommon to hear a story of someone who was on the brink of taking his life but didn’t because one person checked in on him. Next, I think that increasing awareness and understanding about what mental health services actually entail helps to destigmatize these issues. Feeling hopeless or having suicidal thoughts isn’t necessarily going to land you in a padded room just because you admit to having these feelings. A lot of people are afraid to speak up because they’re afraid of being judged or of losing control over their own care. The…

Moving to a new area requires detailed research. We spent countless hours devouring information from numerous sources, including books, websites and videos. While I wouldn’t call my family “preppers” or “survivalists,” I’d say the most useful information in our search came from websites, videos and books dedicated to those subjects. I’ve listed a few of my personal favorites but encourage you to do your own research. Websites • SurvivalBlog.com: Created by James Wesley Rawles, this site is a wealth of information. It frequently discusses relocation considerations with daily blog contributors. It also contains a cache of how-to articles, product reviews and other information. This is a moderated, tasteful site that’s well laid out so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. • Tax-Rates.org: This site describes all the taxes…

Although the concept of simplifying one’s life by giving up living space sounds terrific, there are gives and takes—pros and cons—to be considered. Living in a tiny home can save you a great deal of money, but having to give up that extra space means giving up stuff you own and have accumulated over the years. This can be painful for the hoarders among us. There are also many people who have an issue with claustrophobia, so a tiny home is probably not for them. And a tiny home locks you into a small space when the weather is inclement. Without a basement, it could be colder than a traditional house. Issues with city, town or county zoning codes are also a con. Some don’t allow for undersized homes under…

Luckily, seed saving is spread out over months. Some occurs during canning season and seems to correspond well with that activity. For instance, when I harvest seeds from tomatoes, I save the flesh to process into sauces. The chickens get the bits and pieces. Before frost hits, we harvest all our melons, squash and corn destined for seed. The corn is husked, tied up with hay baling ropes and hung to dry thoroughly in our enclosed back porch where the birds can’t eat it. The squash is piled high in our living room and downstairs bedroom (talk about low-tech). Melons in crates go on the enclosed porch since they’ll be seeded first. They don’t keep well past a couple of weeks. Squash needs to cure for about a month in…

Harvesting wild rice on the wilderness lakes of northern Minnesota nourishes my soul and spirit long before I sit down with family and friends to enjoy this tasty, nutritious native food. The dream of harvesting wild rice first grabbed me while duck hunting on northern Minnesota’s Big Fork River. A buddy and I were motoring down the river looking for a place to hunt when we came upon a bed of ripe rice on the river’s bank. A flock of mallards who were feasting on the rice flew off as we approached. “No wonder these northern mallards taste so good,” I thought. “They fatten on wild rice.” Many years later, I found myself in a canoe on Leeman Lake, 106 acres of shallow water in northeast Minnesota’s St. Louis…

Gourds are true international wanderers. One of the first plants domesticated by proto-man was the gourd. When prehistoric man started trekking, gourd seeds were in his pack. The seeds traveled from Asia to Africa, and finally, they showed up in North America thousands of years ago. Radiocarbon dating found that bottle gourds were planted in the Americas by travelers more than 10,000 years ago. Why carry gourd seed rather than food? The seeds provided replacements for pots and bowls that got broken or worn out. Before they ripened and turned to wood, the flesh even made a pretty good meal with a bit of woolly mammoth for seasoning, all cooked within another gourd.…

Wood was likely man’s first fuel. How people manage this remarkable fuel, from hewing to heating, varies with geography, culture and even age. There are a lot of ways to manage your wood heating system, but one thing’s for sure: The system described here works. Not all wood is equal when it comes to heat value, which is typically measured in BTUs (British thermal units)—the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. THE BASICS If you’re buying wood, you’ll typically get a mix of hardwoods, which are at the top of the heap in terms of efficiency. One cord of this clean-burning wood can produce as much heat as 200 to 250 gallons of fuel oil. While hardwoods as a…

Those of us who live the new pioneer lifestyle know that an abundant harvest does double duty: It allows us to “put foods by” to eat during the winter months and gives us ingredients for making holiday gifts. A gift from the hands is a gift from the heart, and harvest time is the best opportunity we’ll have to create memorable, one-of-a-kind edible gifts that say, “I love you,” “Welcome to the neighborhood,” or “Just because.” By preserving ahead of time and using seasonal ingredients, you wind up with a superior product—convenient, thoughtful gifts that come from your own pantry or freezer. Use berries you’ve frozen, herbs you’ve dried and fresh cucumbers you have on hand in these delicious recipes. We’ve also included some sweets that make wonderful gifts or…

“Hard cider” is a modern American term. Traditionally, in this country (and still in the United Kingdom and Europe), the term used was simply “cider.” Historically, cider was made as a way to preserve crops as cold weather neared. The most popular—and effective—way to do this was by juicing it. Some of this juice was certainly drunk fresh, but due to the plethora of wild yeast on it, it would naturally ferment into alcohol. The cider was stored in barrels in the cellar until the dead of winter when people were ready for a taste of summer. There was no need to call it “hard” because it was a given that it would ferment. During Prohibition, orchards were burned, and cider was relegated to the halls of evil along with…

“In my time…I’ve wielded scores of hoes… My favorite, bar none, is the Dutch diamond hoe. In my opinion, it is the perfect weed extirpator.” In my time—and I have gardened from early childhood into my 77th year—I’ve wielded scores of hoes. Draw hoes, push hoes, scuffle hoes, heavy eye hoes and light floral hoes, V-hoes and L-hoes, furrowing hoes and circle hoes, cotton, beet and onion hoes, railroad track hoes and oscillating stirrup hoes, Japanese, Dutch and German hoes—hoes of so many different shapes as to beggar the limits of geometry. And, during my decades as a blacksmith and garden toolwright, I have forged all of them. My favorite, bar none, is the Dutch diamond hoe. In my opinion, it is the perfect weed extirpator. I purchased my first…

The New Pioneer is now on Instagram at instagram.com/thenewpioneer. Be sure to stop by our page, give us a follow and share your photos with us by using #thenewpioneer or #thenewpioneermagazine. Keep your helpful Facebook comments and emails coming so we can provide the information you crave. Your letters prompt us to order feature articles. We do read your comments. If you know a family who might be a good cover story, let us know. We also want more of your helpful “It Worked For Me” stories. Cut and paste your 350-word manuscript into an email and attach a high-resolution photo (between 1 and 5 MB) or two for illustration purposes. We’ll pay $100 upon acceptance. Email us at editdesk@ athlonoutdoors.com.…

BENEFITS TO THE ENVIRONMENT: • They filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, resulting in cleaner water and creating a healthy and robust environment for numerous sea creatures. • Oysters absorb toxins and excess algae, keeping the water clean and oxygen levels balanced for other marine life. • They feed on microscopic phytoplankton or algae, removing the algal biomass from the water. • Farmed oysters isolate nitrogen and CO2 from the atmosphere. FOUR REASONS TO EAT THEM: 1. They contain more zinc than any other food. It’s necessary for proper growth and development, strengthens the immune system and promotes healing. 2. High in omega-3 fatty acids, potassium and magnesium, oysters can help reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke and assist in lowering blood pressure. 3. A good source of iron,…

Here’s a good list borrowed from the Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (save.org). Get help if a person is doing one or more of the following: » Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself; » Looking for a way to kill oneself, or making a plan to do so; » Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose; » Talking about being trapped or being in unbearable pain; » Talking about being a burden to others; » Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs; » Acting anxious, agitated or reckless; » Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge; » Sleeping too little or too much; » Displaying extreme mood swings or giving away one’s possessions; » Withdrawing or feeling isolated…

Many of you have been following our journey or may have seen us on the cover of The New Pioneer back in 2013. My mountain man, Glen, my mountain boy, Austin, and I started our adventure on raw, overgrown wilderness land in northern Idaho in 2010. We had purchased the land sight unseen, and when we saw it for the first time, we were like kids in a candy store. We set up a wall tent that we called home for eight and a half months while we built our solar-powered off-grid homestead. When we moved into our home with a foot of snow on the ground in December of 2010, we had a 30-by-36-foot living space with a woodstove to keep us warm and enable us to cook our…

Before you make a huge lifestyle change like ours, visit or stay with someone who lives the way you want to. There are a lot of off-grid bed-and-breakfasts or homesteads that offer day camps. Check out the off-grid way of life and learn from the experience. Learn about your environment. If you’re moving to a new area, learn about the local wildlife and insect species. You would be amazed to see how many bugs out there can send you to the hospital. It’s a little harder to get to the doctor when the nearest one is almost an hour away. Double your budget. If your budget is $20,000, plan on the finished project costing you $40,000. Decide what you can’t live without and make do with the rest. Brush up…

As is common in pioneer life, the tiny-home community is a close one. Resources abound for those just thinking about downsizing to those deeply entrenched in the tiny-home lifestyle. Here’s a list of suggestions from our experts. ● Tiny House Magazine is a monthly digital publication. (tinyhousemagazine.co) ● From Florida to Vermont, Maryland to California and everywhere in between, you can attend a tiny-house festival. A place to see tiny homes up close and meet members of the amazing tiny-house community, a festival is the ultimate learning experience for living tiny. For a list of festivals nationwide, visit tinyliving.com/festivals/. ● View tiny-house plans created by professional builders. (tinyhouseplans.com) ● The Joy of Tiny House Living, written by Chris Schapdick, founder of tiny-house building company Tiny Industrial and the winner of…

W inter is the time to be prepared—from understanding how to stay safe regardless of the weather conditions to keeping your hard-working hands happy. There’s always something to do during these cold, quiet months outdoors and indoors. It’s a good time to make practical and enjoyable gifts for yourself and your friends. A warm wheat bag feels heavenly after spending time outside in the cold, and the soft glow of homemade candles is welcome on dark nights. Take the time to prepare all the beeswax you’ve collected to make lotion or candles or build a drying rack to use for seeds and small herbs. Here are some more ideas for your winter preparedness and enjoyment. DECRYSTALIZE HONEY Unpasteurized honey crystallizes over time, which doesn’t affect the flavor or the health…

chicken feathers—they’re what people notice first when they see a chicken. The colors, the patterns—there’s no denying that chicken feathers are beautiful. In fact, many a backyard flock has been chosen for looks. Some people keep only red chickens, others buff, black and white or speckled birds. There are lots of choices. But what about their function? Intuitively, we all know some general functions of feathers. You don’t have to go any farther than your local department store to see feathers in action. Down comforters and pillows fetch a high price. Feathered earrings are popular outfit accessories. A down winter jacket is a must-have when temperatures dip. Feathers are all about function. Even their beauty has a purpose. The overarching function of feathers is to keep a bird protected from…

1. I don’t know of pre-made flails or knockers for sale, so you get to make your own! Many Native American families have flails that are decades old. An Ojibwe told me to use dead, dry white cedar for flails because it’s durable, lightweight and water resistant. I got several chucks from a friend’s land, split them with a hatchet to a workable width, about 2 inches, then used knives and a small plain to reduce them to size. In Minnesota, flails must be smooth, under a pound in weight and a maximum of 30 inches long. I checkered my handles for a little decoration and a better grip. Be sure to check all regulations, as they can change. 2. Spread your raw rice out some- where safe from critters…

Carol J. Alexander writes about sustainable living, health, and home remodeling topics for print publications, blogs and websites from her home in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Her credits include Grit, Hobby Farms, and Family Handyman. She is the author of Homesteading Cooking with Carol: Bountiful Make-ahead Meals. Gerard Attoun is a freelance writer and photographer in Joplin, Missouri. He has worked for various newspapers for 25 years and currently teaches journalism at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. Marti Attoun is a freelance writer in Joplin, Missouri. She has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and national publications, including American Profile, Ladies’ Home Journal, Reader’s Digest and Family Circle. Randy Bauman is a writer and photographer with a passion for hunting, shooting and fly fishing. He and his wife…

When Glen built our sawmill, it was a huge turning point for us. It allowed us to make money on our homestead and made it possible to cut wood to whatever size we needed—an actual 2-by-4-inch piece of lumber, for example. The bandsaw mill uses a 23-horsepower Honda motor, along with a blade unit and design from Linn Lumber in Oregon and the track that Glen fabricated. He utilized the handle and lever from a self-propelled push mower so he could easily stop the blade from spinning with the lever. By adding the handle, he created a bit more distance between himself and the spinning blade and mill itself; he could push the mill down the track and the blade was more visible. Glen is a “Jack of all trades…

The saying, “If you feel too small to make a difference in the world, try being trapped in a tent with a mosquito,” proved to be quite true as soon as we made our move into the mountains. During the build of our off-grid home, the five of us lived in a 500-square-foot tiny cabin. You could wake up at any given hour and hear one of us scratching. Ticks, chiggers and poison ivy, oak and sumac alone were enough to drive us back to the city. Then, throw into the mix black bears, coyotes, foxes, ’coons and every other creature that wanted to eat our livestock or forage in our food stores. Try explaining to your 6-year-old why her favorite rooster is lying in your driveway with its head…

Intrigued by the idea of building our own tiny home for our farm as a guest cottage, we headed over to a huge warehouse, the site of Incredible Tiny Homes near Newport, Tennessee. The reason for our adventure was to meet Randy Jones, owner, builder and owner of the business, and our trip was an eye-opener! We witnessed all kinds of construction by dedicated carpenters and other tiny-home craftsmen who were building comfortable, energy efficient little units. Owners choose what they want from one of the designs available and can add custom features. The homes come on a trailer with solar power and a compostable toilet, if desired. One couple’s story summed up for us why tiny homes have become so popular. We found it worth sharing. A New American…

It’s good to know how to identify the feathers you see at a glance when looking at a chicken. By using the correct terms, you can better understand your chicken and describe it when needed. • Hackles: These feathers essentially form a ring around the neck, including the rear and side feathers. Both hens and roosters have hackle feathers, but the rooster’s hackle feathers are more prominent, being long and pointed. • Saddle: The saddle is located along the rear of the back where it meets the tail. A rooster’s saddle area is covered with long, pointed feathers. • Tail coverts: These feathers cover the base of the main tail feathers in roosters and most of the tail in hens. A rooster’s tail coverts are long and showy. • Sickles: The main sickles are…

Nothing about this project was easy; it was a headache from day one. The trench I dug with a pickaxe went through about 10 feet of decomposed rock that broke loose at the rate of 1 cubic inch per swing. Pulling the heavy wiring through the maze of wires, pipes and vent ducts in the garage and workshop ceilings required me to cut (and later patch) five head-and-arm-sized holes in the drywall, even though we used a fish tape to pull it. It was a harbinger of things to come. The same day I picked up the generator, we failed our electrical-underground inspection on a specious technicality. The inspector later reversed his decision after an email exchange with Dave, but while the boys were hashing it out, LaVonne and I…

To some observers, Hawk Knob Hard Cider and Mead in Lewisburg, West Virginia, is resurrecting the tradition of Appalachian cider making, but that’s not how co-founder Josh Bennett sees it. As far as he’s concerned, it never went anywhere. Cider is in his blood. He grew up farming and making hard cider on the border of West Virginia and Virginia in a region of Appalachia called the Alleghany Highlands. “This was a region that never lost its cider-making traditions,” Josh says. One thing that particularly bothers him is that the story of cider making in his region is underrepresented, if it’s represented at all. “Cider has been made there since the early 1800s—before, during and after prohibition. Growing up here, if you were old enough to make hay and chop…

I briefly touched on accent walls in the “Paint With Lighter Colors” section, so let’s expand on that topic a bit. An accent wall can be anything you want it to be. Often, it’s a darker or contrasting color scheme that spikes a certain space’s appeal, appearance and dimension. Spaces typically ideal for an accent wall are bathrooms, living rooms and master bedrooms. In our home, we painted one wall in our bedroom a darker gray that contrasts well with the other three light gray walls. We did the same at the end of a hallway. Our third accent wall is a staggered pallet-board wall in our living room. If you want to go above and beyond just using a different paint color, think more creatively—like we did—or search Pinterest…

A couple of issues back, my hiccups story was about fishing. Somehow, I was able to churn out over 1,400 words without catching a single fish. My goal, and perhaps nobody is more qualified to reach it than ole Roadkill, is to be equally as hapless at hunting. I bet I can write this whole hunting article without actually killing anything. “So, I donned some face paint to match the cows and could peek through the hole as I snuck up on those gobblers.” DECOYS Sometimes, live ducks swim among your decoys as shooting time arrives at dawn’s early light. Other times, there are no ducks on the water—just very realistic decoys. I’ve been known to miss even a stationary target, but I’m proud to say that I’ve sunk plenty…