A biography and moving story of a remarkable lady, who is an avid horsewomen since the day she was born. Homesteading days in southeastern Montana on the prairie is about a strong hard working family surviving hardships and heartbreak including love along the way. The mode of transportation was usually a horse or horse and buggy. No electricity, inside plumbing or water just the light of the kerosene lamps. During the depression years the family made their own good times with many humorous stories and made the best of the bad. This story takes you to Missoula, Montana then to Grand Coulee Dam as it was being built then later to San Francisco during World War 11 where she raised her three teenaged daughters and then the fun began.
By shedding light on Montana's first women homesteaders--determined 19th- and early 20th-century pioneers--Carter reveals inspiring stories filled with joy, tragedy, and redemption.
"The Homesteader of the 21st Century!" - Tyler Danann, author of "Mountain Hold" Best Seller In Its Amazon Category! The author takes the reader on a journey from his first awareness of the need to prep and survive to his eventual decision to move off grid into the wilderness of Montana and start a bugout homestead. Not a "How To" manual, but more of a journal outlining the events and the readying of the new homestead. With dozens of photographs and detailed explanations of methods, he narrates how he built an 800 square foot cabin with the help of only his wife and kids and a few simple tools.Featuring sections on grey water discharge systems, installing a well pump, how to supply water off-grid, and calculations on how much land is needed and what kinds of food to grow on it and more. This is the version of the book with B&W pictures inside!
Discover the Ultimate Guide to Self-Sufficiency with "Homestead Montana"! Are you ready to embark on a journey towards a more sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle? "Homestead Montana" is your comprehensive roadmap to transforming that dream into reality. Inspired by the untamed beauty and boundless potential of Montana’s vast wilderness, this book dives deep into every aspect of homesteading, from selecting the perfect plot of land to establishing a thriving, independent homestead. **Embrace the Dream** Start your adventure by understanding the irresistible call of Montana's wilderness and setting your vision for the perfect homestead. Overcome initial doubts and build the confidence needed to take that crucial first step. **Land Selection** Factor in crucial considerations like water rights, soil quality, and terrain to select the ideal location for your homestead. Make informed decisions that will set you up for long-term success. **Building the Foundation** Master the essential steps to lay a strong foundation for your homestead, from strategic layout planning to securing your perimeter with effective fencing solutions. **Sustainable Resources** Learn how to harness natural water sources, implement rainwater harvesting systems, and ensure sustainable well drilling and maintenance. Discover off-grid energy solutions, including solar power, wind energy, and backup generation systems that keep your homestead running smoothly. **Constructing Your Homestead** Get detailed insights on designing an efficient home, building techniques tailored for harsh climates, and adding essential outbuildings to your setup. **Food and Livestock** Dive into the wonders of growing your own food with expert planning tips, seasonal planting schedules, and soil enrichment practices. Explore the world of raising livestock, with guidance on choosing the right animals, building shelters, and caring for them through the winter. **Hunting and Foraging** Develop skills in ethical hunting, identifying edible wild plants, and preserving your harvest to sustain your homestead all year round. **Food Preservation** Master canning, jarring, dehydrating, and root cellaring techniques to keep your pantry stocked with nutritious food. **Building a Community** Engage with like-minded neighbors, participate in local markets, and host community events to create a supportive network. **Gaining Essential Skills** Equip yourself with crucial self-sufficiency skills, utilize online and local resources, and commit to continuous learning to thrive in your homesteading journey. **Handling Emergencies** Prepare for the unexpected with smart strategies for natural disasters, building emergency kits, and providing essential first aid and medical care. Reflect on your remarkable journey, celebrate achievements, and inspire the next generation to embrace the homestead dream. "Homestead Montana" is more than a book—it's your gateway to a fulfilling and liberated way of life. Start your homesteading journey today and experience the empowerment of self-sufficiency.
Discusses how to grow fruit trees in a garden or backyard, including such considerations as tree selection, planting and early care, growing fruit in containers, and pest and disease control.
“His memories flow as naturally as his writing. . . . The reader is transported back to the day when a six-year-old stepped from the train into a new life.”—Smithsonian As a grown man, Percy Wollaston almost never spoke of the homestead where he grew up—until, in 1972, nearing the age of 70, he wrote this book about his childhood years. Lured by the government’s promise of land and the promotional literature of the railroads, six-year-old Percy Wollaston’s family left behind their home in North Dakota in 1909, heading West to “take up a claim." They settled near Ismay, Montana, where they attempted to carve a successful homestead out of the harsh plains. In compelling, plainspoken language, Wollaston tells of his pioneer family’s everyday existence—constructing a sod house, digging a well, trapping and hunting, courtships and funerals, an influenza epidemic, and a superstitious Irish neighbor. He also recalls the events of the world beyond Ismay, from the sinking of the Titanic, to Prohibition, to World War I, as well as the first sign of the town’s demise during the Great Depression. With a foreword by Jonathan Raban, who discovered this memoir while researching his award-winning Bad Land, Homesteading is a rich and vivid look, seen through the eyes of a hopeful young boy, at the forces that shaped the destiny of a family, a town, and the American West. “Vivid . . . plainly written and satisfyingly detailed.”—The Washington Post
The form then asked to add any family stories or first-hand experiences you would like to share relating to homesteading/farm life in Montana. There is a wide variety of material, based on the time each respondent took to reply. Thus some files are very rich in information, and others are quite scant. (Manuscript Collection 340)
Homesteading on the Dry Fork of the Marias River chronicles the family histories of Montana homesteaders Vivian and LaVern Keil. Their story, which spans from the 1700s to today, is quintessentially American. Their ancestors immigrated to the United States in search of a better life-to claim their own small piece of the American Dream. They came from Russia and Switzerland, drawn by promises of "land for the taking" for those willing to make the perilous trek. Their journeys eventually brought the families to the rugged frontiers of northern Montana, where they put down roots as homesteaders. They experienced hardship, triumph, and adventure as they attempted to tame the rugged land. Through the sacrifices, endurance, ironclad work ethic, and endless courage of pioneers like them, the American West was conquered and settled. Technology and farming practices have changed throughout the years, but the spirit of adventure endures, as Vivian and Lavern continue to farm and ranch the same precious land to this day. Meticulously researched through sources both oral and written, Homesteading on the Dry Fork of the Marias River serves as a lasting testament to the pioneering spirit of America.
"A study that draws on a new dataset to reexamine established critical interpretations of the Homestead Act, including the overall success of homesteading, fraudulent claims, Indian land dispossession, the participation of women in homesteading, and the formation of both farms and communities in the homesteading process"--
