| Departments: |
| Country conversation | 8 |
| Coming events | 31 |
| |
| Homestead water: |
| A 12-volt "walking" water system | 32 |
| Ice cutting in the 21st century | 36 |
| A homebuilt water system is the heart of this homestead | 38 |
| |
| The summer of the cabin | 40 |
| Build a home for under $5,000 | 44 |
| |
| The woodlot: |
| Notch your logs for a perfect fit | 46 |
| Build a firewood holder | 47 |
| |
| The smithy: |
| Campfire tripod/rack and trammel | 48 |
| |
| Notes from the northwoods: |
| Rise to a new height—the workshop mini-bench | 50 |
| |
| The garden: |
| Security gardens; Is it time to revive them? | 53 |
| A recipe for prolific tomatoes | 57 |
| |
| The country kitchen: |
| Africa's delicious gift to the world | 58 |
| Valentine's Day on a dime | 61 |
| Thinking 'bout oatmeal | 62 |
| |
| The beehive: |
| A love affair with bees | 64 |
| |
| The henhouse: |
| This homemade incubator broods chicks and cures cabin fever! | 67 |
| Guineas, chickens and the persistent setting pullet | 72 |
| Health care for the small flock | 76 |
| How to check for non-layers | 77 |
| The pitfalls of swap meets | 77 |
| Experimenting with chickens: Finding the best meat and egg layers | 78 |
| Annual poultry show brings fanciers together | 79 |
| |
| The sheep shed: |
| Ewe-nique wool products | 80 |
| |
| The horse barn: |
| What's bugging your horse? And how to get rid of it | 83 |
| |
| The cow barn: |
| Are you sure you want to get livestock? | 64 |
| |
| Homeopathy for homesteaders: |
| Homeopathy for poison ivy | 86 |
| |
| Homestead finances: |
| Keeping the books | 88 |
| Prevent money mistakes | 90 |
| The history of money: Why do we need it, anyway? | 92 |
| Hitting hard times: Getting rid of freeloaders | 93 |
| |
| Urban Homesteading | 95 |
| A taste for the plain and functional | 96 |
| |
| Country neighbors: |
| A day in the life of Homesteaders-in-training | 97 |
| |
| Poor Will's Almanack | 101 |
| |
| Question of the month: |
| What's your favoriate winter activity? | 109 |
| |
| Country neighbors: |
| Watching their pennys paid off | 113 |
| Dealilng with "neighbors from hell" | 114 |
| Homesteading in a New Mexico RV park | 116 |
| Getting an early start | 118 |
| |
| Countryside Index 2004 | 120 |
| |
| After Chores: |
| Norman the friendly steer | 130 |
| |
