Tabla de contenidos para Fall 2016 en Capper's Farmer

Great Magazine I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your magazine. Growing up in the 1960s and ’70s, it was a great deal of fun to visit the small Oklahoma town where our farmer relatives lived. We stayed at my grandparents’ house, and they always had the Capper’s Weekly, along with a few other farm magazines. It was with great happiness that I rediscovered your magazine a couple years back at my local grocery store. I’m glad you brought it back – and I love the new design. Thanks for a great magazine. Keep up the good work. Linda Rader Spring Hill, Kansas Thanks for the kind words, Linda. It’s a joy to be part of a team that puts together a magazine that brings such happiness…

THE problem of building a new barn confronted James A. Jacobson, Hamilton County, Nebraska. He must provide room for eight milk cows, 30 head of stock cattle, and nine work horses. Then there ought to be at least one box stall and two grain bins, besides a large hay storage. He might have built a separate cow barn, a hay shed for the hay, and a horse barn for the horses, but he decided that he would make one roof cover all. The type of barn Mr. Jacobson built is popular in many parts of the Middle West. In the central part of the building, the hay comes down to the ground in a space 24 feet wide. At one side is a lean-to shed for milk cows, and on…

I’ll never forget the day I was walking near our home in Virginia and saw a gaggle of Canada geese foraging in the grass. In the midst of all those geese was an old, lame white duck. One of its legs was deformed, and yet it obviously had been adopted by that flock of geese, as I witnessed when I took a step toward it, and the geese gathered around the frail duck, protecting it. I watched in awe, thinking about how much mankind could learn from nature, if only we would stop and take the time. That poignant phenomenon caused me to reflect upon special times during my childhood when my dad took my sisters and me on long autumn walks through the same woods he had explored when…

Feed Sack Creations I collected old feed sacks for years before I put them to use. I find them at flea markets, antique stores, and on eBay. I choose sacks with interesting advertising slogans and eye-catching logo designs. Clean and rip-free fabric is a plus, although it’s not crucial, as I can fix any sack with stain remover and a pair of scissors. The inspiration for feed sack pillows came about when our new couch was delivered without any toss pillows. I bought small plain pillows off the clearance rack at a discount store, and then tacked my favorite feed sacks down the center. I used thick embroidery thread to stitch a decorative primitive border. Friends complimented my unique pillows, asking how much I’d charge to make them a pair.…

There’s a feeling of satisfaction that comes from completing a do-it-yourself project using reclaimed items. Not only does it keep the materials from ending up in a landfill, it also saves you a lot of money in the process. A couple years ago, we constructed a goat barn using mostly reused building materials – and it cost us less than $1,000. The barn is 16 feet square and of pole construction. The posts we used were of Rocky Mountain juniper (locally known as cedar) that had been killed in a wildfire. Several years ago, we obtained a permit from the Forest Service and harvested the dead trees. Although this particular species is naturally resistant to rot, we applied a layer of roofing tar four feet up from the bottom –…

Even now, some 25 years later, it was an October afternoon to remember. The trees on the Pennsylvania mountainside blazed with color, and the cool breezes softened the warm sun. No stranger to hunting pheasant and rabbits, I had joined friends on a grouse hunt, and we picked our way to the creek bottom below, ears straining for that heart-stopping explosion of wings in full flight. We soon discovered that the grouse were apparently somewhere else – and we also discovered that we were not alone on that Pennsylvania mountain. As we stepped into a clearing, a very nonbirdlike whistle drifted down from above. There, some 15 feet in the air, perched an archer in a tree stand, camouflaged, waving quietly to catch our attention. We returned the wave and…

Last May, I bought a 1950 Dodge pickup from Country Classic Cars in Staunton, Illinois. Someone had done a lot of work on the old truck, but it was still a long way from being a finished product. By some standards, it still is, but I’m probably not going to do a whole lot more to it right now. I’m just going to have some fun driving it around for a while. The original flathead 6 engine runs good, the 3-speed transmission with column shift is functional, and, after installing a new drag link, the steering is once again tight. The truck had been converted to power brakes, and the brakes had been rebuilt all the way around before I purchased it. The electrical system operates on 12 volts with…

During World War II, a woman by the name of Phyllis Nelson wanted to be near her brother, Ivan, who was in the U.S. Army, stationed somewhere in the Philippines. So, in September 1943, at the age of 21, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). She was transferred to The Far East Air Force, which was mostly made up of Australian women, and they were stationed in the Philippines on the island of Leyte – the same island that Gen. Douglas MacArthur was on. That woman is my mother, and for the remainder of the war, she mainly lived in tents, moving frequently to stay ahead of the Japanese Army, who considered capturing women in her group a “high priority target” due to the propaganda of such a…

Lifting, Loading & Hauling Products Any deer hunter knows how tough it can be to haul a deer through the woods, back to the pickup, and then load it. Sometimes it seems impossible to do alone. All that changes, though, with these four products from Viking Solutions. The Rack-JACK Magnum, a hitch-mounted hoist that swivels 360 degrees, allows you to lift, load and field dress big game by yourself. Simply attach the two outriggers and vertical piece to a standard 2-inch rear hitch receiver, and you’re ready to hoist. It’s also great for getting heavy items into the back of a pickup. It features a bracket and slot design that’s fast and foolproof, with no cable threading or aligning of holes and pins, and it uses machined pulleys, so it…

This little lamp is so simple to make, it can be done, start to finish, in less than five minutes – seriously. All you need to make one is a metal chick feeder, a vintage canning jar, an electric light, and some poster putty – and if you’re like me, you probably have all those things already on hand. I just love little “What if I tried this?” moments! 1 Open the chick feeder, and center the light on the bottom of the feeder. Use a little poster putty on the bottom of the light to keep it straight and in place. 2 Slip the electric cord through one of the feeder openings, and put the feeder back together. 3 Turn the canning jar upside down, and twist it into…

This time of year, the barn is filled with the sweet scent of freshly cut wood. The mingled aromas of cherry, hedge and ash greet us each time we step inside. And while it’s a delight to take in, on the more practical side, it plays an important role in our preparedness for winter. In the event that we should lose power this winter, that wood will not only keep us warm, but will also help to feed us. Living in a 148-year-old farmhouse has blessed us with three fireplaces – one in the kitchen, one in the dining room, and another in what was most likely once a parlor. Those fireplaces most certainly kept the original homeowners warm from many a winter storm. However, somewhere through the years, a…

Food is a universal equalizer, required by all people from every walk of life, making it one of the most competitive commercial markets in the world. In 2012, American supermarkets brought in more than $602.6 billion in revenue. In an area of such intense competition, producers are always looking for new ways to make their products stand out. As a result, the last decade has seen an explosion of “new” food concepts, each coming with its own special label. While consumer options are growing, though, so is confusion. What exactly do all of these food labels mean, and how do you pick the right option for your family and your budget? Following is an examination of some commonly found food labels, broken down into three main categories: Produce, Meat, and…

HERB-ROASTED TURKEY WITH APPLES AND ORANGES Yields 12 servings. By Lucinda Hutson Using lots of herbs ensures a flavorful turkey, inside and out. 12-pound turkey 4 to 6 tablespoons butter, softened 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon ground coriander 2 tablespoons paprika 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper 4 small oranges, sliced 1 lemon, sliced 1 green apple, sliced 3 generous handfuls of fresh herbs (such as Mexican mint, marigold, oregano, thyme, sage, pineapple sage, lemon verbena and rosemary) 1 red onion, peeled and cut into thin wedges 1/2 pound pearl onions 2 white onions, peeled and cut into thin wedges 2 cups giblet broth 1 Preheat oven to 400 F. 2 Rinse the turkey well; pat dry. With your fingers, gently separate the skin from the breast. 3 Rub butter…

If cooked properly, big-game meat is even tastier than choice beef. And because it’s leaner than beef, it also has fewer calories. However, the lean meat of big game can become tough and dry if it’s cooked incorrectly. To make sure big-game meat doesn’t dry out, it should either be cooked with moist heat or kept on the rare side. An exception to this rule is bear meat, which should always be cooked thoroughly, because bears may carry trichinosis. The external fat of big game is strong-tasting and tallow, so remove it before cooking. To tenderize tough cuts, marinate them in a packaged beef marinade, or in a mixture of oil and wine. Most recipes for deer work equally well for antelope, elk and moose. Generally, antelope and elk meat…

Doubled Milk Yield in Six Years COW testing records enabled E.C. Adams, Jackson County, Missouri, to double the milk yield of his cows in six years. He joined the cow testing association 11 years ago, just three years after he had entered the dairy business. His 25 cows that first year averaged 5,000 pounds of milk containing 200 pounds of fat. During the last five years, his herd has averaged 10,000 pounds of milk and more than 300 pounds of fat. There are only 12 herds in the United States that have been on the National Dairy Association honor roll five years. Mr. Adams’s herd is one of them. To get on the honor roll, a herd must have a year dairy herd improvement association average of at least 300…

I began growing my own vegetable seedlings more than 30 years ago, and I still remember my sad first attempts. Many seedlings keeled over and died, and some seeds never germinated at all. Experience has taught me how to prevent these problems, and every year I deepen my garden’s diversity, save money, and share favorite varieties with friends by starting seeds indoors. Thousands of superior crop varieties are rarely available as seedlings in garden centers, and the same goes for wonderful culinary crops, such as red celery and seed-sown shallots. If your gardening goal is to fill your table and pantry with an array of homegrown organic food, then starting plants from seed can help you achieve that goal. Starting seeds indoors under controlled conditions, with no aggravation from weeds…

Back in 1955, a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books followed in the My Folks series, all of them filled with true tales from our readers. The following stories were printed decades ago, without any fact checking, meaning that all the details may not be accurate, but instead are what was believed to be true by the…

Through the years, we’ve published tens of thousands of recipes, and we have most of them archived. This section highlights those recipes, which appeared in previous issues of CAPPER’s and Capper’s Weekly. Jeannie Brown, of Kansas City, Missouri, requested a recipe for dinner rolls that could be made a day in advance. This recipe originally appeared in our March 15, 1983, issue. MAKE-AHEAD DINNER ROLLS Yields 1 1/2 dozen rolls. 1 cup milk, scalded and cooled slightly 1/4 cup shortening, melted 1/4 cup prepared mashed potatoes 1/4 cup sugar, or to taste 11/2 packages (.25 ounce each) active dry yeast, dissolved in 2 tablespoons warm water 1 egg, lightly beaten 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 3 cups flour 1 In a large bowl, mix…

My garden supplies about half of my family’s yearly food intake, so I do all I can to maximize the nutritional quality of the vegetables. Based on considerable research and more than 30 years of growing vegetables, I have formulated a homemade fertilizing mix that is beneficial for almost any food garden. This potent, correctly balanced fertilizing mix, composed entirely of natural substances, is less expensive than store-bought organic fertilizers, and it’s much better for your soil than harsh synthetic chemical mixes. In my gardens, I use only this mix and regular additions of compost. Together, they produce incredible results. I’ve recommended this system in the gardening books I’ve written, for more than 20 years. Many readers have written me saying things like their garden has never grown so well,…

Remove silverskin with a filet knife. Cut into one end of the meat to the silverskin. Turn the blade parallel to the silverskin. Hold the silverskin firmly with your fingertips, and push the knife away from you, as though skinning a fish filet. Very little meat is removed with the silverskin this way. Butterfly small-diameter backstraps or tenderloins to make larger steaks. To do this, cut a steak twice as thick as you want. Then slice it into two “wings” of equal thickness, leaving the two wings joined by an edge of meat. Open steak up, and flatten slightly. Cut across the grain of the meat when steaking it or making slices for sautéeing. Cut with the grain, however, when making slices for jerky. Partially frozen meat is easiest to…

This festive brunch menu is as colorful as it is flavorful, and it makes great use of seasonal ingredients. Winter greens, bell peppers, onions, pumpkin, cranberries and more provide sweet and savory flavors, guaranteed to please friends and family. While hosting a brunch can be stressful and overwhelming, this menu allows for some of the items to be prepared in advance, making things a little less hectic for the hostess. TANGERINE MIMOSAS Yields 10 to 12 servings. This tangy twist on a popular brunch beverage takes advantage of the season’s citrus bounty. If you’re unable to find tangerine juice, or you just don’t care for it, use blood orange or ruby red grapefruit juice instead. In addition, if you prefer a nonalcoholic version, simply substitute ginger ale for the champagne.…