CSRL FAQ PAGE

2 - Resources
2.1 - Companies
2.2 - Websites
2.3 - Mail-Lists
2.3.1 - Homestead Lists
2.3.2 - Simplicity Lists
2.3.3 - Year 2000 Lists
2.3.4 - Animal Specific Lists
2.4 - Books

0 - FAQ Info

0.1 - FAQ Administrator

Any changes, additions, or comments on this FAQ should be directed there.


0.2 - Wish List
Need help with the resources section. If you submit an item, please
include along with it a small blurb about the site, list, book, etc.
See all those blank sections? It's up to you to help fill them in!

0.3 - What's New
Updates to reflect the new mail server information.


1 - Introduction to CSRL

1.1 - Mission/Purpose of the List
CSRL was founded in November 1996 by a Mr. Orrin Converse. CSRL is a forum to discuss the issues and needs of homesteaders, and anyone who wishes to practice "voluntary simplicity". There is no fee for receiving CSRL, we consider it to be our ministry to you. However, should you ever feel so moved to help support this service, with your time or finances, please drop a note to us at

1.2 - Definitions - Some definitions are in order at this point:

1.2.1 - Self-Reliant: As Christians, we can NEVER be totally self reliant - we will always depend on our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus for everything! In the worldly sense of the term, we mean eliminating as much of the dependence on government, society, supermarkets, etc that we have grown used to. Self-reliant folks grow their own vegetables, raise their own meat, teach their own children, make their own clothes, solve problems themselves, and basically
try to live life fully through the work of their own hands. Note that few do all of these things, but each does what that have to ability to do wherever they happen to be, in the country on a farm, on a small one acre parcel, in town in a large city lot, or even in an apartment building. Above all else, self-reliance involves creativity!

1.2.2 - Homesteading: (from the homestead.org FAQ) Countryside and Small Stock Journal defines homesteading best as:  A reverence for nature and a preference for country life;
A desire for maximum personal self-reliance and creative leisure;
A concern for family nurture and family cohesion;
A certain hostility toward luxury;
A belief that the primary reward of work should be well-being rather
than money;
A certain nostalgia for the supposed simplicities of the past, and an
anxiety about the technological and bureaucratic complexities of the
present and future;
And a taste for the plain and functional.
"Homesteading is not a single idea, but many ideas and attitudes. Homesteading
is a simpler way of life led by a special kind of individual who cares about his
or her family and the earth on which they live. Homesteads are as different as
the individuals who create and operate them. If you practice the attitudes
and ideas in a way that best suits your situation, then you're doing it. You're
a homesteader!"

1.3 - List Ownership

Any personal inquiries to the list owner may be directed to that address or to the list address with a subject of PRIVATE.

1.4 - List Operation

1.4.1 - The Software
We are now utilizing the mail-list management services of ecosoft.com, running Majordomo.

1.4.2 - Command Functions
Majordomo operates on commands in the body of a message.
With the following list of command actions, you can subscribe to either
list or digest versions, put your mail on "hold" for a time, etc. The
important thing to remember about commands is that they must be in the body of the message. Send your commands to

SUBSCRIBE CSRL - subscribes you to the mailing list.
UNSUBSCRIBE CSRL - unsubscribes you from the mailing list.
SUBSCRIBE CSRL-DIGEST - subscribes you to the digest.
UNSUBSCRIBE CSRL-DIGEST - unsubscribes you from the digest.
HELP - sends you a help file on using majordomo.
SET CSRL NOMAIL (SET CSRL-DIGEST NOMAIL) - places your mail on "hold" until you send the command MAIL to resume receiving traffic
SET CSRL DIGEST (SET CSRL NODIGEST) - change between "digest" and
"non-digest" versions of the list.
INTRO CSRL - returns this FAQ file.
END - tells majordomo to stop processing commands (useful if your mail
program adds a signature file.

1.4.3 - How to Post
Please follow these simple rules when posting:
A. Check the subject line of your message. As topics go on, they begin to diverge from the original post. Many people skim subject lines to find the posts that they wish to read. Make sure that your subject line always reflects the current topic that is being discussed. Along these same lines, we request that digest subscribers do not send posts in with the default "CSRL Digest xxx" subject line. Change your subject line prior to posting. There is no need to add [CSRL] to your subject lines, our software does this automatically. Also, please eliminate extra "re:"'s from your posts.
B. Please limit the length of your posts. If you have a 30K article that everyone just "HAS" to read, provide a URL for it instead of sending it to the list.
C. CSRL is not the place for doctrinal debates. I have no interest in refereeing these discussions, so I choose not to entertain them on CSRL. We have enough volume as it is without these threads also. There are plenty of apologetics forums available on the internet. We do not have this policy to "sterilize" the list, or to avoid "hurt feelings" or to create an ecumenical paradise where every version of "Christian" is as valid as any other. CSRL has the primary purpose of creating an environment where people can talk about homesteading and simplicity without experiencing the attitudes listed in the first paragraph of this FAQ.

1.4.4. - List vs. Digest
Many have asked what the difference is between the "list" and the "digest" versions of CSRL. First, both contain *exactly* the same posts. The difference lies in how YOU receive those posts. In the LIST version, you will receive individual posts from each person, as they are sent.
This means that you will receive between 60-100 messages each day. In DIGEST mode, our automatic list software compiles the posts into one long message, with a subject list at the top. Currently, we generate a digest message every 20 posts. The result is that you will receive
3-5 messages a day of 25-35K each. As for which you will like better, it depends on personal preference. (Note: if your e-mail provider puts limits on how many messages you can receive at one time, consider getting the digest version.)
You can change your subscription at any time by unsubscribing to one version and subscribing to the other. Follow the instructions in section 1.4.2.

1.4.5 - "Bounced" messages
We receive around 300 returned messages each day that we send traffic.
These usually come from users who's mailboxes are full, and their e-mail providers start rejecting any further traffic until the current load is retrieved. If your account bounces traffic back to us for more than a couple of days, we will remove you from the distribution until
you get in contact with us again. You have a couple of options if this is a problem for you.
1) Check your mail more often. 2) Change providers to one that doesn't put such restrictive limitations on your account.

1.4.6 - Restrictions on JUNO subscribers
We have many subscribers to CSRL who use the free e-mail service provided by JUNO. You will find that you are somewhat limited as to what you can do with your e-mail. JUNO limits you to messages under 60K. We have this pretty much under control, but occasionally a digest may slip over that limit. JUNO has some of the most restrictive limits on how many messages you can receive at one time. Most of our "MAILBOX FULL" bounces come from JUNO. If you miss posts because your mailbox fills up, I'm afraid that there isn't anything that we can do for you. I do not have the time to re-transmit traffic to everyone who misses it. Last, you will not be able to view any URL's that are posted by other subscribers. I hope that this doesn't sound too harsh, but we have done all we can to accommodate JUNO's limitations at this end.
The only thing left that can happen is for you to write JUNO and protest the limitations that they place on you, but then again, the service *IS* free.
I recommend that all JUNO members subscribe to the JUNO_ACCMAIL list. This mail-list is a discussion forum for JUNO members to talk about the service and to find ways around the limitations. They have also developed ways to retrieve web pages via e-mail. Send a subscribe juno_accmail in the BODY of the message.


1.4.7 - List Moderation
I will  be monitoring the traffic very carefully for inappropriate postings.

2. RULES
The list rules are meant to be simple, to keep the list on target to
it's intended purpose.

1) Christian homesteaders do what they do often for much different
reasons than the world. We understand that those reasons will often
come out in your postings. However, CSRL is not intended to be a place
to debate doctrine. The doctrinal issues are important, and NEED to be
discussed, debated, tossed around, compared, and considered - just
not here. :-) (There is a need for a doctrinal companion list to CSRL.
We would like to see someone contribute the resources and time
to filling this need.) Any post referring to a spiritual reason for
doing something MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY SCRIPTURE, reference and text,
used IN CONTEXT. By the way, I do not believe the books
of the Apocrypha to be inspired scripture. I know that's terrible of me,
but it's the truth.

2) If you disagree with something said, and feel the need to offer a
counterpoint, that's why I leave e-mail addresses in with the posts.
Please reply via private email. I really have no interest in refereeing
doctrinal debates, so I will not entertain them on the list.

Posts coming in trying to discuss something spiritual that do not
conform to these two rules will be cheerfully returned along with a
short note. Please do not take a return personally.

3) Posters are required to double check the following items
on any post submitted to the list:

A) Amount of quoted material - to this day, I still get messages that
are 17K long that consist of nothing but quoted text (sometimes from
three previous messages) and two lines saying "I agree." or "Great post"
Please delete any quoted text that is not absolutely necessary to
provide understanding of the message being replied to.

B) Subject line - please check you subject lines to ensure that it
matches the content of the post. This also goes for you digest
subscribers - I get messages with a subject of "CSRL Digest #90 (1/3)". This says
nothing of the contents of the message.

C) Articles - I would prefer that you provide a URL for your 30K
articles that you feel everyone should read. Juno subscribers, and all
of you without web access, please ask (via private e-mail) for the
person with the article to email it directly to you.

D [[]]S-
If you post material to the list, please understand that this list is
for public consumption.
That is, other Christians SHOULD be able to feel free to share it with others by
forwarding, sending to other lists, web sites, etc. That being the case,
be very careful about posting [[]]ED material to the list that belongs to YOU. Do you want to share it?
PLEASE DO NOT POST [[]]ED MATERIALS THAT DO NOT BELONG TO YOU TO THIS LIST!
That includes outdated material, material no longer in print, etc. In addition, if you don't want something to shared with others by users of this list, then don't post it.
Short references, such as a short review to other's works seems OK, as are links, with the owner's permission, but complete copies would violate the law. Any material posted to the list should be considered by the sender as  having been sent with an EXPLICIT consent to reproduce it in any
manner, including at a later time in the list and also on the CSRL Web site, currently under construction. Of course, complete credit will be given, if desired.

4. I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY KIND OF FLAMING!!!
I will also not tolerate any behavior I deem disruptive behavior on the list.
Your first offense gets you put in a "time out" mode,
where you can recieve but not post any messages for a period of
five days.
Your second offense gets you booted and banned from the list.
Period.

I will be the single and final authority for this list
on what is flaming and what is disruptive behavior.

1.4.9 - Flaming
I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY KIND OF FLAMING!!!
Your first offense gets you put in a "time out" mode,
where you can receive but not post any messages for a period of
five days.
Your second offense gets you booted and banned from the list.
Period.



1.5 - CSRL Trading Post
OUT OF SERVICE AT THIS TIME

1.6 - CSRL policy on Y2K ABOUT Y2K????WHAT ABOUT Y2K????
I think perhaps there were some misunderstandings regarding the policy
about no debating about y2k.
Here is the short version:
Do I think that I should prepare for any possible hassles resulting from
Y2K?
YES!
Do I think it is appropiate for members to share their Y2K preparation plans w/ others on the CSRL
List?
YES!
Do I want to DEBATE the Y2K issue this list?
NO!

This is a Self-Reliant Living and Homesteading list, as it says. This list is NOT to debate whether y2k is going to be the end of society as we know it, whether it's just going to be an inconvenience, or whether nothing's going to happen. There is plenty of information 'out there' about that topic. If you want a debate, it's easy to find. This list was not created to debate or speculate about
y2k. If you joined this list because you're worried about y2k, and you
want to learn how to be self-reliant, that's perfectly fine. You found
a good place to learn. But, the issue is that you're learning about
self-reliance, notabout debating y2k.
To answer the question above, those who are concerned about becoming
more self-reliant in preparation for Y2K are more than welcome on this
list.
But, they are not here to argue over what will happen with y2k.
Of course we all have opinions, but none but God really knows. They are
here to learn how to prepare for whatever they think will come, which is
what we all must do. As for free communication, what can I say? You
don't goto a math class to learn proper grammar (you go to an English
class), youdon't go to a swimming class to learn how to do algebra (you go to a math class),and you don't go to a homesteading list to DEBATE y2k (you
go to a y2k debate list).
It's not an issue of freedom of speech, it's an issue of appropriate
speech in the appropriate place. So, why don't we put this argument to
rest and get on with learning self-reliance? : )

2 - Resources
This section is not intended to list every source of information on every topic, but is intended to be more of a list of the "best" of each category. Please note that CSRL is not responsible for, and may not agree with everything you might find in the following resources, but they are
provided for your convenience.

2.1 - Companies - note, this is not just a compilation of suppliers. Each of the companies listed here have been used by members of CSRL, and are personally recommended:

Lehman's
One Lehman Circle
P.O. Box 41
Kidron, OH 44636
Tel: 330-857-5757
Fax: 330-857-5785
http://www.lehmans.com
One of the first resources for the serious homesteader. Lehmans carries items that are hard to find anywhere else. Primarily a supplier to the Amish community, this company carries a vast selection of non-electric tools and appliances.

Homestead Products
http://www.teleport.com/~dany/mill/
A good resource for many "off-grid" items such as grain mill, mylar bags, Alladin Lamps, etc

2.2 - Websites -

The Online Homesteading and Small Farming Resource
http://www.homestead.org
This website has one of the most detailed lists of addresses,
websites, and articles one will find anywhere, on any topic.


2.3 - Mail-Lists

2.3.1 - Homestead Lists

The Homestead Work List
Homestead-Work-request@UserHome.com

The Homestead Mailing List
homestead@listserv.oit.unc.edu

The Homestead List
homestead-l@igc.org

The Young Homesteader's List
mdaemon@yonderway.com

2.3.2 - Simplicity Lists

2.3.3 - Year 2000 Lists

2.4 - Books

The Encyclopedia of Country Living
by Carla Emery, ISBN: 0912365951

Back to Basics, How to Learn and Enjoy Traditional American Skills
by Readers Digest, ISBN: 0895779390