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Correction Re: Icelandic Sheep

Hello,

My husband and I raise Icelandic sheep, and when doing a Google search for something Icelandic-sheep-related, a link to the article, Icelandic Sheep: Triple Purpose Breed by Victoria Varga was listed.

I went to your website and read the article. One glaring statement is that Icelandic sheep 'rival' the current dairy breeds of sheep. The production records for these sheep do not 'rival' the Lacune or the Freisian. Some lines of Icelandic sheep have excellent milk production and the lambs frequently gain a pound a day for the first couple of months, but that does not equate to rivaling the long-time established dairy breeds of sheep. The general hardiness of the Icelandic sheep, and vigor of the lambs, is where they excel compared to the long time dairy breeds.

This year is the twentieth year that the Icelandic sheep has been in North America, and the general information distributed by the Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America (http://www.isbona.com/icelandicsheep.html) has been updated to avoid potentially misleading statements regarding their dairy capabilities. There are a couple of breeders who are using the purebred Icelandic sheep in their commercial dairy operations, and more definitive information should be available in a couple of years. Information regarding the quantity of milk produced and length of lactation which should provide more reliable numbers for comparing to the current dairy breeds of sheep. One thing that has been noted thus far is the outstanding quantity of milk solids contained in the milk from Icelandic sheep, and thus, it is a superior product for making cheese.

Thank you,

Peggy Ann Nelson

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bin Laden vs. Falwell

December 1, 2004

I enjoyed visiting your web site, and thank you for your efforts. Your response to J.D. entitled "peace is not patriotic" was exceptionally well put; however, I take exception to your comparison of Farwell and Robertson and al Queda.  I am not a Christian, and find these men less than tolerant, but have never heard of them suggesting the use of terrorism as a political tool. They, and many well meaning Americans, think that the policy of democratizing the world is the duty of America. I disagree profoundly, but do not think that their misguided opinions define them as violent criminals.

I often find folks that I agree with on political issues condemning the opposition for intolerance, while they themselves have little tolerance for the opinions of others.

-Iver

Your point is well taken, Iver.  If I may repeat the whole statement, it was, "Modern terrorism isn’t a fact of our lives because of our lifestyle, but because groups like al Queda have perverted the teachings of Islam in much the same way that Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson pervert the teachings of Christianity."

The intention was to suggest that all three men have fashioned their faith to fit a personal or ideological agenda.  When I wrote that, I was remembering the comment Falwell made shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'"

I don't think this was meant to incite terrorism, but it is an example of using terrorism as a political tool.  9/11 happened so everyone should blame the ACLU.  It's hard to see what this has to do with democratization.

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Hillbilly in a Concrete Canyon

I stumbled upon your site and found it interesting. I have one suggestion. I live close to a large city-Houston, Texas. I enjoy gardening and have raised rabbits for meat. However, there are some of us that enjoy aspects of homesteading, but will probably never go whole hog. Have you thought about articles that relate to those of us who are the "betweens"? I would like you read articles about veg. gardening, alternate shelter (as in cheap and homemade), and saving electricity-perhaps even going partly self generating. Thanks.

David

I've been encouraging our contributors who query to produce more articles on vegetable gardening, Dave.

We're also interested in articles about building affordable and appropriate homes, but not temporary ones.

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Butter'n'Eggs Redux

July 12, 2004

Editor,
Since I wrote the article for Homestead about "Butter'n'Eggs (Without the Manure) I've gotten lots of great response and orders for my pamphlet. Thanks!
A lot of readers, and potential small business people, have asked me about reviewing books, something I touched on in the Butter'nEggs pamphlet. So for the benefit of new profiteers in the used book business, I've written a thorough addition to the pamphlet covering that aspect of the market. Most people who have books and buy books can sell books, and because they like to read books, they can also review them. It increases the profits of the used book business because review copies are most often brand new and current, so the re-sale value is high. Not to mention the giftability factor.
So maybe you'd care to let your faithful readers know about this new addition to my pamphlet - the price for the pamphlet is the same, $8.00 (cheep!). If someone wants just the review portion, I'll send it for a buck.
Contact me at butrneggss@yahoo.com for details.
Many thanks for your help -- best of luck with Homstead.org!

Barbara Bamberger Scott

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Kudos

May 30, 2004

I just discovered your site, and I'm never leaving!
My husband and I have a dream of homesteading when he retires from the military (8 years from now) so we're trying to garner as much information as we can now in order to hone our homesteading skills in preparation for this move. Your site is not only the most informative one I've come across, but the most entertaining too! I loved the 'Easter chicks gone bad' article and found the book review most helpful. I have no doubt that both my hubby and I will be regular visitors here...thank you for providing this place, it's
absolutely wonderful!

Karen Frederick

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Organic Standards: An Opinion

March 31, 2004

We've often been asked by outsiders as well as customers if we are an organic operation, or if we have plans to "go organic" with our small, grass-fed livestock operation.  Our response has always been, "why?"   With the new Federal standards, I think this is an even more important question.

It's our experience that the agri-business community will create meanings for words that serve their sole purpose of making money.  That's what's happening with the label "Natural" or "All-natural."  Does this mean the animals are raised in a natural, sunshine and green grass environment?  No.  Does it mean they are not fed growth hormones so they grow at normal rates?  No.  Does it mean they are treated with natural medications for sicknesses instead of regular treatments of synthetic antibiotics in their feed?  No.

That's what natural means to us and that's what natural means on our farm label, but as we've told our customers over and over, to really know what you are eating, you need to know who produced it.  Do you really know who Tyson Foods is?  Can you go visit their farm and see their chickens scratching bugs in the field?  When they say they're feeding you like
family, do you really know what their family eats, and that it comes from the same field as the food they sell you?  Does it even come from a field, or did it come out of a muddy feed lot or a dust-filled chicken house. And how would them being "Certified Organic" truly answer any of these questions for the consumer?

Farming isn't about a word on a label that Legislators can make mean anything they want depending on how they write the law.  Organic still doesn't mean that the cows eat grass or the chickens eat bugs.  It doesn't mean that their hogs spend every day, all day out in the fresh air and sunshine instead of in hog barns from birth to butcher.  We don't use chemicals.  We don't feed animal by products.  We track each and every one of our animals from birth to butcher and know them all by name too, and being Certified Organic has nothing to do with the reasons why.  We do it because that's the way farming should be done, and our customers know that when they buy from us, which is why they pay as much as they would for
something "Certified Organic" without us paying fees and inspection costs to the government for the privilege of raising healthy food.

Jamie Oliver

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Great Website  

March 19, 2004

Dear Editor:

Please keep me a forever reader no matter what. I so enjoy your editor-style and beautiful opening photographs to appeal to the senses. Although I am mostly different from yourselves, I am aesthetically and happily drawn to almost all of your selected articles, looking forward to each new one as it is added. Thanks for leaving out the nonessentials and providing ongoing interesting topics at your own pace. There's some kind of editorial touch here and your writers are a great bunch. Thanks.

M. Coker
 

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Don't Ruin Your Site  

February 29, 2004

Hey guys, your site has a wealth of practical information. Why not keep it that way and drop the slamming of religious and political ideology. My oasis, your site, is starting to read like the local commentaries found in a cheap paper. Please don't ruin this wonderful web site. Thanks GF.

We've decided we're going to keep ruining it, G.F., but we'd be happy to tell you why.

First of all, we disagree with you that our site is a "wealth of practical information".  That's what we INTEND for it to be, after a lot of hard work, but right now, we're just getting started, and there's much, much more that we plan to add over the months and years ahead.  So as much as you seem to like our pages, whatever they're "starting" to be is what they've been from the beginning.  Funny you didn't notice, this being your oasis and all.

In this column, we will discuss virtually any topic that our readers choose to write about.  Differing views don't upset us.  We have had a few letters that we didn't print because they were just plain incoherent, or because they railed on attacking us for positions that no-one here had taken in the first place, but given that qualification we want to have fun with this endeavor, and that means being open in our words and thoughts.  In short, we want to be used for reference, but we have no aspirations to being an encyclopedia.  We want to write from the standpoint of who we are, as if we were speaking to friends, and not have to sanitize every statement to avoid stepping on someone's ideological toes. 

There are homestead-oriented websites of all kinds available at your fingertips.  We don't feel any compulsion, or any desire, to appeal to everyone, so if you read something here that you don't like, you can simply scroll down to something else or, and we mean this in the very nicest way, go someplace else. 

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Specifics, Please

February 7, 2004

I would  love to learn more details from Kristen Embry about her goat-milk soap. Thanks ,Terri

We forwarded your letter to Kristen, Terri, and she told us that she put everything she could think of into the article.  She urges you to write her directly with specific questions. 

Other readers might wish to remember that general questions are frequently too general.  Let us know what you want to learn.

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Organic Certification

February 4, 2004

I believe a group of rich people, while sitting around having drinks, came up with a way to make their rich friends even richer. What was their idea? Organic Certification. They had a law passed that allowed their friends in power to charge organic gardeners a fee to call our produce organic. Even better then that, now they can tell you who you can buy your seeds and supplies from. I don’t know what you think about this but I would like to hear.

Andrew King  andrew.king2@worldnet.att.net

We confess ignorance, Andrew.  On it's face, Organic Certification seems like a good thing, but how is it to be defined, and enforced?  We'd like to hear from our readers about their experiences and opinions.  If you have knowledgeable opinions you'd like to share, send them to: LettersEditor@Homestead.org

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Them What's Doin' It.

February 2, 2004

Thanks for your website and your attitude toward life.
I am a combat-wounded VietNam Vet who agrees with
your banner, "Peace is Patriotic"...And to me, peace
means more than just the absence of war. It means
social justice, availability of health care, and
everyone sharing in the responsibilities we have to
each other as a community.

We have been living on our homestead for over two
decades now. Still powered by the sun...though we've
added panels and appliances over the years. Still in
our underground house with an outhouse, hand-pump and wood heat.

We love the way we live. Large gardens, orchards, vineyard...surrounded by the love of the animals and plants of the woods.

What I would like to mention to folks starting out is
this: When you build, remember that someday you will be much older than you are today...take that into
consideration. Stay with one level, wide doors, open
space. Someday you may be in a wheelchair, or have
difficulty seeing. Build your gardens with raised
beds to make bending over less necessary. Learn to
use tools that keep you in comfortable positions.

Build community where you are. All politics are
local. The best political statement you can make is
how you live your life.

Thanks again for your site and the connection.


Bruce balancing_stones@yahoo.com

http://www.potkettleblack.com/natbild/lilacfarm.html

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Fan Letter

January 27, 2004

I LOVE YOU. Not you, but your new web site.
I read your letters and agree with your come-back answers to small-minded people.
To me, religion and spirituality is a personal thing.
No one man can tell another what to believe or how to live.
We know that most of these preachers on TV these days are about one thing ( money, money and more money. ).
I watched them for years bleed my mother out of what little social security money that she had.
"Send me your money and God will work a miracle in your life."
"Of course, also He will send me a five million dollar home and a stable of horses and when no one is looking a stable of women."
There is only one preacher in this country that I have any respect for and that is Rev. Larry Rice of Missouri.
He walks the talk and trys every thing possible to help the poor, homeless and down-trodden.
He is trying to educate people on sustainable living and alternative energy.
Trying to get net metering in Missouri and he needs everyone's help in the state.
He is more saint then preacher in my eyes.

BE WELL AND PROSPER
LARRY C. WITTE  LARRYCW2@webtv.net

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The Virtues of 12 Volts

January 14, 2004

Last night while surfing the web, I came across your web site. It is, to say the least, very interesting.

 Well, as you can tell by now, I'm not a writer. However I do have something to give all your readers.

 I call it “the virtues of 12 volts”. What does that mean? Well let me add a few comments first.

 All that you read on the web, in books, and everywhere, has to do with a meager, or primitive way to survive a disaster.  Through my own experiences in survival mode, I have learned to use my talents, imagination, and skills to be quite comfortable when the a/c goes out through the use of 12 volt technology.

 Let’s face it, 12 volts is obtainable just about everywhere, cars, boats, etc.

 Did you know that you can buy or build a lot of everyday 12-volt appliances these days for really low cost, (not much more than a/c appliances)? I have a pizza oven, portable stove, toaster, frying pan, fans, hair dryer, coffee maker, wet/dry vacuum cleaner, soldering iron, and a lot more. I have seen ceiling fans, heaters, electric blankets, and other items.  Compact, or full size, they all run on 12 volts.

 Whether it’s for your cabin in the woods, your camper, or to keep at your residence, no grid or ac generator is needed. To recharge, just plug in a solar cell or generator, or take the battery for a ride to town when you have to go. Bam!

 For instance to convert an ordinary A/c 110 volt lamp,  12 volts DC, you just cut the cord (the A/C two or three prong plug), then add a 12 volt cigarette lighter type plug.  Polarity doesn't matter, because it is a heating element, and doesn't care which is + or -. Then go to almost any store, with an outdoor department, and buy a 50-watt 12-volt DC bulb. Wham! You’re in business. The cost, depending on where you buy these two items is about $1.50 for the bulb, and $1.00 for the plug. Now pug this into any 12 volt source, and you have instant light. . See, there’s nothing to it!  I use one of those self-contained battery boosters. This will last about 8 to 10 hours with no risk of fire, as in a lantern or candles. Let me add, that you could buy a lamp to start with, but I'm sure most of us have one around the house they could convert. That's cheaper than you could buy one at the sporting goods store and it’s a lot brighter - the same as an AC 50-watt bulb, but don’t use an ordinary AC bulb.  It must be a 12 volt bulb.

  Well, I hope you can see the value of this idea. If I can be of any help to your readers as to the merits of 12 volts, or if they should want more information, You can e-mail me at this address.

 Thanks for taking the time to read this. Good luck with Homestead.org.

 Dave  rstco@msn.com

 

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Politics/Religion

December 16, 2003

I just recently came across your site while looking for ways to raise some chickens and build a chicken coop.

I was reading your "letters" and responses and noted that you stated that "Pat Robertson has perveted Christianity."

I do not think he has and take offense to the wonderful work that he does.  Could you please show me, or direct me to where you came upon this opinion?  An Iranian cleric recently called for his death and also that of Franklin Graham for denouncing Islam.

Would you say that Franklin has also perveted Christianity?

I think that if you are going to make a bold statement such as that, you should be able to back it up.

Regards,
Ken Huizinga  huizingak@ubesarnia.com

 

We came upon this opinion by reading the papers and watching the news on television, Ken.

What we consider the perversion of Christianity (and Islam and Judaism, for that matter) is when these religions are used to foment hate while promoting secular business interests. 

Yes, we're aware that Robertson has given away a lot of money. We're also aware that bin Laden has made many charitable contributions to good causes in his part of the world. To offer a little perspective, the rest of us do a lot of good work too, since we pay our taxes, a minor detail with which neither Pat nor Osama have to concern themselves.  Unfortunately, this doesn't make up for any of the wrong things we do.

Saddam was a devoted family man.  Should we forgive him?

Judaism, Christianity and Islam all worship the same God and if scripture is any indication, it's most likely that He would prefer that we all just get along. 

History shows us that when religion and politics are combined, they don't make a very healthy combination for those living nearby.  Nowhere is this more obvious than in the Middle East, but don't forget all the other bloody battles that have been fought over the eons in the name of religion.

Pope John Paul has apparently made it one of his goals to unite Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  For this, we applaud him.  This is the work of a real religious leader. 

As we see it, the televangelists and the Taliban have a lot more in common with one another than they do with the ordinary people they incite to do their bidding.  They all agree that September 11 was America's fault.  They all consider people of other faiths to be without faith.

They are hate mongers.

- Ed.

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Seizing Your Neighbor's Land - When?

Sirs:

  I 'm trying to find out about ,when you fence in a piece of property is it yours if you keep it fenced in for 7or 8 years, There is a fence on the property behind us and it is a complete different from ours and I need to know if there is a such thing as homestead law in AR. could you please let me know something

        thank you

I just came across your web site as I have been surfing to read article on raising free range animals.  I enjoyed the articles and can personally relate to many of them. I'll add you to my favorites & check in again.