I've found that I reread postings alot. Really trying to figure out if the poster wants advice or just needs to vent. If they want advice, I only comment on what they need. I never pass judgement because I've probably been there myself. I realize there are some folks out there that don't 'look before they leap'---buy a cute chick at the feed store and have no idea how to care for it. Sometimes we are their first stop on "how to" and it's our responsibility to be friendly and not pass judgement. Getting ugly with hateful comments will probably just send that person packing and they'll stop researching how to deal with their problem. In the case of animals, they are the ones to suffer the most. I've been known to give advice that the poster needs NOW, and gently offer my favorite book on the subject for LATER. Basically, I treat others as they'd like to be treated. That said, I had some time on my hands last night and a certain poster has posted on 52 forums! I also notice that that person hasn't posted in two days. Wonder what's up (sort of);) Take care all, Carla

Face book has a bunch of good forums. Black Fox, Blue yurt, rusty plow. o mention just a few. start there and surf the links til you find what you like.

Hi. I just posted to the farming forum here, but I will repeat the links that are helpful. Thanks, Littledog, for posting about NAIS. One of the biggest obstacles in fighting this 'scheme' (as you so aptly put it:-) is that small, home, or the general non-farming public are in the dark about it. Please visit the links. One of them is a 'real-life' experience of living under NAIS. Thanks for helping us fight to keep our way of life, our privacy and our freedom. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SDBookMom/ 'Real-life' experience under law. Check out her link to Homesteading Today for an excellent letter written by a lawyer and executive director for Farming for Life. http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/newsroom/news_2005-6-21.shtml One of several 'news' items on USDA site http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/index.shtml NAIS home http://www.in.gov/boah/new/IDruleSummary.htm Indianas version-comment at end of summery. www.stopanimalid.org More info here http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/369063795 The petition to sign against it; I donÂt have a lot of faith in petitions, but perhaps to will help a little.

My thought too about Backwoods...its like you should be building a backwoods compound! I'm a lefty I suppose :) Mother Earth News is great for someone like me who is years from homesteading (I'm 24, a new teacher, with dreams that get stronger every day my students beat me up mentally, UGH!). It seems more introductory, but also with useful tips. I found contrysides website a few weeks ago and read much of the back issues on the site and quite enjoyed it. I suspect that I'd get a subscription to both before I head out into my dream and then after a year or 2 get down to whatever one i found most useful.... I do have some MENs that i found at a used book store from the 70's, I enjoy them!