Nature's Ailing Medicine February/March 2000 According to a joint survey by the World Wildlife Fund, the World Conservation Union and the Smithsonian Institute, one in eight plants worldwide is endangered. Wild medicinal plants in particular are being severely threatened

Hay Hay, My My February/March 2000 Farmers in Iowa have found that switchgrass, a marginal crop grown mostly for ground cover and hay bales, can also fuel power plants. Indeed, the waist-high prairie grass may prove to be an especially effective bio-fuel, give

Ralph Nader has been hammering away at the traditional way of dealing with America's political problems since 1963, when at the age of 29 he abandoned his law practice and hitchhiked to Washington, D.C. After writing Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-in Dangers of the American Automobile (Grossman) in 1965, his name became an immediate cause for hand-wringing in Washington and in the boardrooms of corporate America. Founder of many consumer's rights organizations and often presidential candidate for the Green Party, Nader was good enough to spend an afternoon with us.

One winter, thinking he might have SAD (Sunlight Affect Deficiency), Ernold goes open-fishing inside his wife’s greenhouse.

Berkeley, California, now requires its schools to provide students with pesticide-free, herbicide-free and hormone-free food. Educators hope to integrate gardening know-how with classroom education.

Franken-Poo? February/March 2000Issue # 178 - February/March 2000 If a pig's manure could do less harm to the environment than the poop of ordinary porkers, would it still stink? Probably, but in a biotech breakthrough, scientists in Canada claim they have designed the first environmentally sensitive swine.

Genetically altered seeds continue to produce as much controversy as they do crops. Canadian farmers claim they are the victim of unwanted cross-pollination and worry that their conventional crops could be contaminated by wind-borne genetic pollution.

A step by step guide to making a pair of simple customized shoes using a piece of leather, soling, synthetic heavy-duty thread and Barge or rubber cement.

Growing your own herbs as you experiment with herbal remedies and discover their values for health and healing. As with any crop, the scale of herb production varies wildly, from large fields and well-manicured gardens to small boxes in or outside the kitchen window.

A list many of the more popular herbs that appear in American gardens. each herb is identified as an annual or biennial, and pointers are included on where, when and how to plant each one.

Forget those blanched, out-of season tomatoes and wilted, travel-weary heads of lettuce lining your grocery store shelves. Whether you live in Maine, Montana, Mississippi, you can reap fresh produce straight from the garden year-round. Let planting guru Eliot Coleman show you how to beat the seasons.

Today's mass-produced hybrid veggie seeds may win points for predictability, but what about taste? Growers of old-time heritage varieties know how important garden diversity is, and they are committed to helping others grow vegetables that don't just taste like, but actually are, the kind grandpa used to grow.

AND THE WINNERS ARE February/March 2000Issue # 178 - February/March 2000 Just in time for spring planning and planting, All-America Selections (AAS) has announced its winning seed choices for 2000. A nonprofit organization dedicated to testing and trumpeting outstanding new cultivars, AAS has for the past 67

Nothing gives you a head start on spring - not to mention close long-season veggie varieties - like the tried-and-true hotbed. Now Mother tells you how to get the most out of this classic planting-season extender.

A hotbed that is rugged enough to last for many years, while withstanding the worst weather that nature can muster. The best part is that it’s easy to build, and you can do it in a weekend.

A working knowledge of metal crafts has too-often-neglected place on the self-reliant homestead. From basic tools to working with metals as various as bronze and high-carbon steel, our guide will have you smithing in no time.

Tapping maple trees, boiling down the sap, then savoring the flavor of fresh syrup on a steaming stack of pancakes'– eatin’ just doesn’t get any better. Follow along as veteran tree-tapper Alan Garbers shows you how to mine your maples for a taste of heaven

Sandy Hevener talks about the differences between the northern and southern syrup making.

Instructions on making a do it yourself evaporator for maple syrup making.

March 2000 will witness the latest peak in an approximately 11-year-long cycle of solar activity. Solar activity includes such events on the sun as the huge expulsions of atomic particles called solar flares and coronal mass ejections, phenomena that can charge up Earth’s magnetic field to awesome ways.

People look for graceful, swooping swallows traditionally return from their distant wintering grounds: the most definite - and delightful - signs of spring. Human pressures on these birds have apparently reduced their numbers and made their return date less reliable.

February 29, 2000 is a day unique in the history of human timekeeping. It is the first time the civil calendar of the entire world puts into practice the role that says leap day shall occur in centenary years evenly divisible by 400.

ALMANAC February/March 2000 FEBRUARY 2000 1 Don't miss the spectacular close pairing moon and Venus in the hour before sunrise tomorrow;, in 1920, barometer climbs to over 31 inches of mercury (extremely high) in Maine and northern New England; in 1790, first m

Cool New Tools February/March 2000 We pick the best from the National Hardware Show. by Sam Martin So my hotel wasn't the best Chicago had to offer. So what. The way I see it, room service and cable TV are for tourists, and touring (I can

The First Crop February/March 2000 From bulgar to kasha: Secrets of cooking with grain. by Anne Vassal If you wanted to eat like a prince, you had to be one. Even nobility had to rely on the occasional bowl of gruel to sustain them as they hung

Grain Glossary Whole grains are among nature's most complete health foods. While most of us are comfortable with wheat, corn and oats, we may be less sure about strange grains such as quinoa. Here is a list of some grains that, if not already familiar, you'll want to get to know. February/March 2000 By the

Ant Flavoring April/May 2000 In answer to Mary Ezzell's request in TMEN No. 4 for a nat ural insect repellent: She might start with ground cinnamon, which repels ants in the house. I sprinkle it along the kitchen windowsill and around the mouse's cage and have actuall

Build a Better Earthworm Home April/May 2000 Issue # 179 - April/May 2000 Perhaps you would like to tell your readers about a plan to grow earthworms. A neighbor used this method in her small garden in 1964: Open up the side and bottom of a gunnysack, lay it on the ground and throw your dishwater on the sack fo

An Immodest Proposal April/May 2000

Look Down, Kid April/May 2000 Issue # 179 - April/May 2000 It's not hard to teach a bottle-fed goat kid to drink milk from a pan, if you use the technique recommended by Laura Underwood of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Laura simply holds a rubber nipple's large end down in a shallow container of milk at feeding time.

Wrapped Green Tomatoes April/May 2000 Issue # 179 - April/May 2000We're always reading about wrapping green tomatoes individually in paper to ripen them for canning and eating. Up here in northern Maine, we're lucky if we get any ripe tomatoes outside before frost. If I had to wrap and check on each fruit, I'

The Complete Bean Protein April/May 2000  Issue # 179 - April/May 2000There have been several mentions of the fact that beans alone - though high in protein - are not a complete protein and lack certain amino acids. However, if beans are eaten with rice or corn at the same meal, the protein is complete. Man

Milk Bars for Birds April/May 2000 Issue # 179 - April/May 2000 Connie Toops turns half-gallon milk cartons into handy bird feeders around her home in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. First, she makes 2 slits parallel to (but 1 up from) the bottom at all four corners. Next, she folds the carton's edges inward abo

Cold Weather Crops April/May 2000

Evasive Maneuvers April/May 2000 Issue # 179 - April/May 2000 The loss of Wilson Clark, the environmental/energy specialist who died in a car crash when he swerved to avoid hitting a dear, is lamentable. Perhaps this tip can help others avoid a similar fate. A deer tends to veer away from any dark object chasin

Coke a Nut April/May 2000 Ernst Erbe - an El Paso, Texas, reader reminds us that that cola can be a quick substitute for penetrating oil when you've got a rusted nut and bolt. Just soak the parts in the soda overnight, and the next day they'll come right apart, just as if they'd been soaking in the real thing.

Mormon Tabernacle Dryer April/May 2000I knew from the awful sound my clothes dryer was making that it needed some help, but I also knew that I didn't want to pay for a house call from a repairperson. Since machines are often diagnosed by sound, I decided to use my tape recorder and take my ailing appliance to t

Extracting Mosquitoes April/May 2000 An old country formula to ward off gnats and mosquitoes is to mix a tablespoon of vanilla extract into a cup of water. I rubbed this on my children's faces and it worked so well I tried the solution on my horse's ears and eyes. It worked like a charm. Joan Chevalier, McEwan,

The Ultimate Pancake April/May 2000 I'll bet I flip the lightest, fluffiest whole wheat pancakes ever made. I mix three eggs, two cups of milk, half a cup of oil, one tablespoon of brown sugar and one teaspoon of salt in a blender for three minutes or until the liquid is frothy. Then I add two cups of whole whea

Soil, Courtesy of the Swamp April/May 2000 Whenever I go fishing or find myself around swamp or bog, I take along a five-gallon spackling pail - the kind with a tight-fitting lid. I look for black, watery muck with lots of decomposing vegetation, such as sphagnum moss. Using my hands, I scoop the stuff into my p

Just One Whiff April/May 2000 To keep cats, rabbits or other rodents out of your garden or flower bed, sprinkle cayenne pepper on the perimeter of the area you want pro tected. One whiff, and these critters will not be the least bit interested. Use bird feed

A Fine Pickle April/May 2000 There seem to be hundreds of good uses for vinegar. Allow me to humbly submit one more: It's a great sunburn soother. Yes, even knowing full well the pain of a good sunburn and the constant warnings to use sunscreen, I still manage to g

Ten-Gallon Blackfly Hat April/May 2000 About 30 years ago, a man wrote to the Bangor Daily News saying, If everyone did this the state of Maine wouldn't have a blackfly problem. His suggestion was to wear a hard hat smeared with oil. Unappealing? Absolutely, but

Befuddling Burglars April/May 2000 The old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure couldn't be applied better than in protecting your home from burglary. Before you toss money into an alarm system, make sure you haven't overlooked far simpler ways to kee

Doghouses, Done Dirt Cheap April/May 2000 An inexpensive and easy-to-make doghouse can be created very quickly by using an old 50-gallon barrel. The barrel, with one end cut out of it, makes a good shelter where Fido can get out of the wind and rain. With a little straw for

DotCom Guy logs on... for an entire year!

Gore and Bush report to eco-school.

Elvis and George Washington sell trees.

Michael Fogler has a novel way of solving your personal problems: leave your job and never go back.

A new toothbrush made of recycled plastic and virgin nylon bristles can now ease both our oral and moral consciences.

NATURE's MOOD BOOSTERS April/May 2000 Five natural supplements to combat stress, anxiety and depression. MOTHER raised the subject recently with Dr. Richard Firshein, an expert in nutritional research and medicine. He agreed to give us the lowdown o

When we began designing the layout of our retirement hobby farm we decided that we wanted the land and buildings to have the look of an 1800s backwoods homestead

For a fraction of the cost of a traditional home in the US, Camille and Steven Dannucci bought 100 acres of verdant ranchland gently sloping toward Mexico’s Pacific coast. There, they set to building a better life and to finding happiness worlds away from the daily job frenzy.

It is these and similar nightmares that conspire to keep us awake at night the first time we hear a leak from the part of the house that is a total out-of-sight-out-of-mind mystery: the roof.

Is experimental gene swapping, genetically modified crops, going to save us or sink us... and what can we do about it?

Need to save time and money in your garden? You can fertilize, mulch and prevent weeds and add organic matter all in one easy step. Just grow your own cover crop.

The freshest, tastiest food comes from your local farmers' market with recipes for white bean and tomato salad, pesto spread, grilled vegetables, peach crisp.

Holy days and haunting songs.

ALMANAC for April-May 2000 April/May 2000 Holy days and haunting songs. by Fred Schaaf APRIL 1 April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day; the sun should now be near the maximum in its roughly 11-year cycle of sunspots and other activity - so in

WHIP-poor-WILL... the voice of a bird almost never seen but almost always heard.

HANDLING GRAY WATER SURPLUS TOMATOES AND YOUNG HENS April/May 2000 Dear Mother: I love the magazine and enjoyed the article on yurt living (A New Life on the Rio Grande) in the September 1999 issue. In the article, author Lisa Mower mentions an easily constructed five-gallon bucket filter that goes beneath t

LAMINITIS: A HORSE's WORST NIGHTMARE April/May 2000 An ounce of prevention could save your horse a world of pain. By Jon Geller, D.V.M. Fort Collins, Colorado, November 1994 The stallion was sedated and quickly settled down. Sure enough

The last laugh

SSRIs and MAOIs April/May 2000 Antidepressants are drugs designed to block or reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Most all affect the levels of one or more neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, in the brain-including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Lo

Are All Supplements Created Equal? April/May 2000 Not according to ConsumerLab.com, an online consumer watchdog company that has undertaken quality testing of some of the more popular dietary supplements. Late last year, the company released the first of its findings: of 30

How to keep your roof on while allaround you are losing theirs. April/May 2000 by John Vivian DRIP! DRIP! DRIP! Every experienced country householder hasheard it. Not the tinny little dripdrip-drip of aleaky faucet. Nor the tentative drip, drap, splatwhen

Follow The Money April/May 2000 With merger-mania sweeping the seed and agrochemical industry, and large corporations gobbling up smaller interests, the world's food supply is quickly falling under the control of a very few large international companies. In fact, according t

Congress Steps In April/May 2000 Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) has introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act (House Resolution 3377). The law would require the labeling of any food that either contains genetically engineered material, or was prod

The Biosafety Protocol April/May 2000 On the international stage of GMO politics there are two sets of players: those who are convinced of the benefits of GM agriculture and wantto liberalize trade of these goods and those who denounce it as unsafe and want more regulation o

THE CROPS April/May 2000 LEGUMES Edible legumes can be grown for food as well as cover. When sown in fall, they provide protection against winter soil erosion. Flowering in spring, they provide a food source for beneficial insects. And, even when the pods are harvested, the

The Market Scam April/May 2000 Like anything else, there will always be a few nuts among the berries. I'm talking about the commercial produce that you may encounter at your farmers' market that you suspect didn't come from a small, local farm. (I once attended a market

Risk Factors for Laminitis April/May 2000 By the MOTHER EARTH NEWS editors Moderate and severe cases Pounding pulses above feet Sole of foot painful to hoof testers Evidence of irregular hoof growth rings (previous laminitis) Heat felt at coronary band Severe cases Unwilling

Fish Stories April/May 2000 Perhaps no GMO story has raised more eyebrows than the fish gene in the tomato story. Who hasn't been warned of (and repulsed at the thought of) fruit that will stare up at us from our plates? Yet Dan Verakis, spokesman for seed giant Monsanto, ca

Sure, we'd heard the rumors about paper houses, but our initial reaction was largely incredulous: What homebuilder with a lick of sense would invest his time, energy and money in literally a house of cards?

DO-IT-YOURSELF FUN FOR THE KIDS June/July 2000 Need the cheapest fishing pole possible to catch panfish? Attach an empty spool of thread to the thick end of a stick with a one-inch nail. On the thin end of the stick screw in an eye screw. Put a line on the spool and rein it t

Air-Conditioned Bananas? June/July 2000 Three days after the photograph at right was taken, a drought was declared in our area. It was the driest summer in ten years. Even the grass around our banana trees was brown from the lack of rain. Yet our banana trees flourished

Vermicultural Tidbits June/July 2000 To create the best organic material for a garden, build a 4 x 4 enclosure, add potting soil and fill this type bed with earthworms. Feed the earthworms table scraps and cornmeal and the worms will multiply quickly. Within a short period o

Scrap-Box Bargains June/July 2000 Just a note in reference to the February 2000 Country Lore article on shoemaking. If you're in a small town or lucky enough to have a saddle maker or a saddle repair shop in your city, you can go in and ask to pick through their scrap boxes.

A Step Up for Paint Ladders June/July 2000 When painting roof eaves or high exterior walls while working from an extension ladder, finding a place to put the paint tray can present quite a problem. A piece of scrap lumber or plywood can be quickly made into a removable

New Use For An Old Pillow Slip June/July 2000 A close friend told me the story of when she was a young girl of five or six and went from her farm home for a visit to her aunt in the big city of Omaha, Nebraska. Much to her alarm, when she got ready to go to bed that first night,

Simply Delicious Simple Pies June/July 2000 I found some old, old recipes that belonged to my great-grandmother and thought your readers might be interested in not only the content, but the brevity with which they chose to keep recipes. Rice and Apples

Mother Knows Best June/July 2000 My mom had two great ideas when we were growing up. I am 71 now but still use them: To rid roses of black spot, mix: 1 gallon of water 1 tablespoon baking soda 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 tablespoon dish

Shave and a Hair Cut, Two Bits June/July 2000 A concern to all people who use a razor is the life of the blade. If the user would store the razor, between uses, in a plastic jar with a lid containing a 1/2 of isopropyl alcohol, you could get twice the amount of comfortable

BUILD A DECK... WITHGROCERY BAGS June/July 2000 Recycled plastic finds new life as lumber. Dear Mother, The redwood timbers I used for my raised beds need to be replaced, and someone suggested that I use recycled plastic wood. But I've also heard that th

Drumbeat for Mother Earth June/July 2000 If unchecked, pollution may accomplish what centuries of war, land attrition and prejudice could not: the end of the Native American. The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), along with Greenpeace and most recently t

The struggle for Native American health

A new biodegradable polymer from corn may revolutionize the plastic industry.

Environmentalists, engineers and artists lave begun collaborating to create land art with a purpose

Simple cures for the stings, scrapes and sprains of summer.

Our three-part special on taking charge of your own water systems begins with a complete tour of homesteading water possibilities, from catching rainwater in arid climates to digging deep wells to tapping freshwater springs. PLUS! how to build an old-fashioned springhouse.

SPARE THE ROD? June/July 2000 Does a water witch have magic powers or is she/he just another psychic friend? Dowsers. Water witches. Are they human Geiger counters dabbling in the paranormal? Any city dweller with two coat hangers bent in an L shape can wander

Harnessing the power of water in your backyard is a homesteader’s dream. Find out how one couple runs their home off of 1 kilowatt of hydroelectric power... and a steady stream from Mother Nature.

Here in farm country, most folks think of soybeans as either an easy-to-grow market crop or as an animal feed. But with protein content of 40%, soy can play a vital role in a healthy diet.

A WORD OF CAUTION June/July 2000 BABIES AND SOY: Considering all of soy's health benefits, it is tempting for new and expectant mothers to see soy-based infant formula as a miracle food and to stock their pantries sky-high with the stuff. Well, hold on there, mama: That

They eat their weight in organic garbage, aerate the soil around your plants and fertilize a garden better than any store-bought product. Here’s how you can put nature’s original gardeners to work.

JOHN ADAMS: HISTORY's UNSUNG HERO June/July 2000 Reexamining the mad to independence. by Fred Schaaf Adams had in 1776 a remarkable and prescient vision of what July 4 would come to mean to Americans. I am apt to believe, he wrote, that [Independence D

JULY's RARE AND AMAZING ECLIPSES June/July 2000 The July 1 partial solar eclipse will be visible only from southernmost South America. However, the total lunar eclipse of July 16 and the partial solar eclipse of July 30 are a different story. Both will be at least partly

WHEN MAN's BEST FRIEND ISN'T June/July 2000 Getting more than you bargained for from your pets or livestock. By Dr. Jon Geller, D.V..M. When a group of veterinarians get together, it is always an entertaining experience. Lengthy, colorful recountings of unusual cases abound, and inevitably the descripti

An old recipe book takes us back to the 19th century.

The last laugh.

WATER CONTAMINANTS TO TEST FOR June/July 2000 Issue # 180 - June/July 2000

SIFTING THROUGH THE FILTER JARGON June/July 2000 Which model works best? First and foremost, have your water tested and determine what specifically needs to be filtered. Despite advertising claims, no filter can remove all water contaminants - and some remove too m

THE HOLOPUMP June/July 2000A do-it-yourself PVCmanual well pump.by John HertzOut of frustration, I hit the drawing board, determined to devise a solution. The result is an invention I've dubbed the Holopump, a PVC manual well pump capable of efficiently drawing water from as deep as 60 feet. All o

CHECKLIST FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE DESIGN AND MATERIAL SELECTION June/July 2000Issue # 180 - June/July 2000CHECKLIST FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE DESIGNAND MATERIAL SELECTIONThe following checklist was adapted from Environmental Building News.DESIGN Smaller is better: Optimize use of i

The Multi-Vitamin Garden June/July 2000 The hunter stalked his preythrough the awakening forest. As the early rays of the sun filtered through the branches overhead, he moved noiselessly from tree to tree. Finally halting, he quickly but carefully fitted an arrow to his

Garden for Essential Vitamins and Minerals June/July 2000 Garden for Essential Vitamins and Minerals The following listing contains major plant sources of important vitamins and minerals. The information is approximate: It's impo

USING WORM SOIL TO ADVANTAGE June/July 2000 To get the most out of my worm soil, I practice crop rotation. Fresh-from-the-pile worm soil is used in early spring to plant members of the nightshade family. Afterthese are harvested, I follow up in the same rows with a fall crop

ALMANAC FOR JUNE-JULY 2000 June/July 2000 June 2000 1 Marilyn Monroe born, 1926; Helen Keller dies, 1960, at age 87. 2 NEW MOON, 8:14 A.M. EDT; Grover Cleveland, while president, marries Frances Folsom, 1886. 3 Edward White spends 21

How to Prevent Zoonotic Disease June/July 20001 Maintain good vaccination programs for livestock and domestic pets. Consult with your veterinarian to establish a sensible program for your animals.2 Aggressively deworm livestock and pets and submit fecal samples for annual testing. Puppies and kittens shou

ZOONOTIC DISEASES June/July 2000

The global construction industry uses 3 billion tons, or 40% of the raw materials taken from the planet every year. There is a growing movement in the recycled building material industry, however, that promises less expensive, less wasteful and less toxic homes.

SPIDERWEB SECRETS August/September 2000 I am a Reiki Master Healer and have rediscovered a wonderful - and seemingly forgotten - method for treating cuts and scrapes: spiderwebs. Apply spiderwebs to cuts and scrapes for almost instant wound sealing. There seems to be no cross-contamination. I have used this reme

Beating Burns with Aloe Treating burns with aloe vera by rubbing the juice on the burn for an hour. August/September 2000 By the MOTHER EARTH NEWS editors I can't believe everyone doesn't know about my magic burn remedy. One day when my wife was resting in a recliner chair she spilled hot tea on her

An improvised kettle grill using an old basketball hoop, two c-clamps, and a piece of one-inch steel pipe about five feet long driven into the ground.

Stinky Skunk Remover Here is an excellent and inexpensive skunk odor remover: hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. August/September 2000 By D. Makowiak Here is an excellent and inexpensive skunk odor remover. Living in northern Wisconsin and having three dogs, I think it is a must recipe to have on ha

Heavy jeans stuffed into boots, a thick shirt, leather gloves, a tied-on wide-brim hat to protect the face; and foot sections of worn-out socks as inexpensive wrist protection against double edge thorns.

An earth-friendly gnat, fly and bug repellent: dish liquid in a spray bottle.

Here’s a proven, early tornado warning system

Stop That Ant! August/September 2000 I read in your May 2000 issue about using ground cinnamon to repel ants (Ant flavoring, Country Lore) and thought I'd pass along my natural technique. In the summer months, we leave our back door ajar while we are going in and out

One of the quickest ways to improve the enerficiency of every home is to caulk, seal and weather-strip all seams, cracks and openings.

An alternative to building a root cellar is a plastic storage box underneath a hole, mounded with leaves or sawdust.

Creating a match extender by simply attaching two clothespins to a match

A clear plastic tennis ball container with a plastic top to store rubber work and garden gloves

Homemade tips to keep your smile shining, including mouthwashes and toothpaste.

The sooner clean air is a nationwide mandate, the sooner we can all breathe a little easier.

Score One for (Eco) Team August/September 2000 Leonardo DiCaprio aside, the 30-year-old environmental movement is as strong as ever. According to a Gallup Poll conducted in March, 73% of the 1,004 adults polled consider ecoawareness as, if not more, important than it was in

NASA's Space Garden August/September 2000 In response to these suspicions, NASA and the ALCA have commissioned former NASA research scientist Bill Wolverton to study the impact plants may have, if any, on indoor environments containing poisonous chemicals. Wolverton's

Seeking to consolidate the current patchwork of organic or natural labels on foods, a national standard that will regulate the production and processing of organic foods and ingredients is proposed

BETTER DEHYDRATING & DEXTERS August/September 2000 Classic food preservation method reborn. Dear MOTHER Do you or any of your readers have plans for a dehydrator? I live in very windy Wellington, so dehydrating out of doors can sometimes be haza

Want to build your dream house for only $2,000? Pete and Arlene Charest’s low-impact hideaway cabin provides the answer with their diamond shaped house.

After more than a decade of legal struggle, we electricity buyers are finally able to choose where we get our power. But clean energy, whether from wind turbines in Wyoming, from solar panels in California, or geothermal power plants in Hawaii, demands careful consideration before you buy. Here’s our guide to the power players and the possibilities of renewable energy.

Though long misconstrued as an exclusively tropical plant, bamboo can actually be grown as a farm crop in much of the United States. Once you learn how to plant, grow and utilize this fast-growing, beautiful and functional backyard resource, you may never go back to wood.

The Bamboo Fence: Beauty Meets Strength August/September 2000 Nothing embodies beauty, simplicity and strength like a bamboo fence. In Japan bamboo fencebuilding is an art form. Yet you don't have to be an artist, or even particularly handy, to construct this basic picket design d

Everything you need to know to prepare for storms, lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, flash flooding, and excessive heat.

Selecting and raising sheep for wool can be a rewarding experience for animal - and pocketbook-lovers alike. Breeds renowned for their silky and highly marketable wool can be raised on remarkably little land and with a minimum of toil. Let MOTHER's sheep guru show you how.

preserve a culinary and cultural tradition that revolves around corn

August's Star-Crossed Lovers August/September 2000 To glimpse the heavens' most legendary star-crossed lovers, glance up on any clear August night when the moon shines dimly in the evening sky (this year, the first few and the last ten days of the month are a good bet). There

ALMANAC FOR AUGUST- SEPTEMBER 2000 August/September 2000 August 1 Lammas (loaf-mass), also called the Festival of St. Peter's Chains or of the Maccabees; Gaelic holiday Lugnasad. 2 President Warren G. Harding dies in office and is succeeded by Vice Preside

The last laugh.

The single best reason we know of to keep a home garden is the incredible flavor of a summer tomato picked fresh from the vine. Our guide to MOTHER's favorite natural variety.

THE HOMESTEAD HOUND August/September 2000 Part I: Raising a healthy young dog. by Jon Geller As Rod Carpenter's 1976 Ford F-250 pickup rolled to a stop, I glanced up at his flatbed load of bay silhouetted against the agate-blue Colorado sky. Pe

Closing the Clean-Air Loophole August/September 2000 In December 1999, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered 392 electric generating power plants in the Midwest and South to cut their emissions in half, New York State breathed a toxic sigh of relief. The Empi

Country Lore: The best home remedy for bee, wasp and bumble bee stings is an onion.

When our potatoes are about a foot tall we drag the clippings out to the garden and carefully pile their warm contents around the base of the plants covering them until only the tips of the plants show above the grassy compost

Country Lore: Tricks for recycling wood handles : sand and heat

Country Lore: Need to get rid of an infestation of fruit flies? Lemongrass essential oil in a spray bottle.

Country Lore:A pineapple-flavored zucchini tropical drink

Country Lore: Build your own cheap and easy to use compost tumbler: plastic trash can drilled with holes and secured with nuts and bolts.

Country Lore:Chap Stick to remove sticky sap, adhesives and sticker gunks

Country Lore: Egg membranes for splinters and eggshells to repel slugs

better way to peel hard boiled eggs using a needle or stickpin punch hole in butt end of egg before boiling Add a small amount of apple cider vinegar and salt to water Start eggs in cold water bring to boil and let boil for ten minutes

Country Lore: Scarecrows made of compact discs to keep chickens and guinea hens out of gardens and flower beds.

When You're in a Jamb October/November 2000 Sometimes a project requires you to draw a straight line down the side of a pipe, dowel or other cylindrical piece. The rather difficult job of drawing the straight line along the length of a cylindrical surface can be quickly and

I found this idea in a 1948 book of household hints: Is the carpet on your stairs old and worn? Make it look new by moving the carpet up or down half a step. That way the unworn riser sections will now rest on the steps, and the thread

The prognosis for climate change in the US in the 21st century looks pretty hot - but don’t rush to the beach.

Emu oil is making a comeback in the medical industry.

Using chickens along US/Canada border to test for West Nile Virus.

A talk with Peter Huber about his increasingly controversial opinions.

Dursban is an organophospate insecticide and a member of a class of chemicals developed during World War II to attack the nervous system Chlorpyrifos can cause headaches seizures and even death Dursban is found in everything from flea collars to garden

The Department of Energy and Champion Enterprises teamed up to construct the first manufactured home built entirely from energy-saving materials.

Nine age-old remedies for stress

FALL PRESERVING TECHNIQUES October/November 2000 Root cellars, waterglass and a better mouse trap. Dear MOTHER, We need to store approximately 600 pounds of potatoes. What is the best way to keep them? Ed T. Hamilton, IN

Our guide to the Internet will help you surf and shop safely.

The McGroarty Backyard Nursery: a family business that earns them thousands of dollars a year on less than an acre.

A Seed's Life October/November 2000 Good beginnings can equal a great garden by Kris Wetherbee These lima bean seeds pop out of the soil with vigor and promise. I'll never forget the year I ordered seeds for a new variety of yell

No-gun and no-hunting legislation in rural areas long devoid of natural animal population controls (such as wolf packs) have permitted an explosion among wild critters whose numbers are best controlled these days by selective hunting

When our lights stayed on New Year’s Day, the lights went out on the woodstove craze. This year, gas and electric stoves regained their prominence in the marketplace, but innovations continue to make woodstoves the perfect choice for a country home heater.

The four types of fire extinguishers.

Build an economy saw table and
sawdust evacuator for $100.

Author Roy Kain gets off his stump and offers a step-by-step guide to building a chair.

DISCOVERING AMERICATHE DEBATE CONTINUES October/November 2000 Tear marks what is believed to be the 1,000th anniversary of the landing and brief establishment of Viking settlements in Newfoundland and Labrador. So, this year Scandinavian-Americans will gain more attention

Important events and forecasts for October 2000 and November 2000

Jupiter and Saturn, two giant worlds of our solar system, take on some added significance this fall and winter.

Homestead Hound, Part II: raising a healthy adult dog.

Thanksgiving doesn't have to mean a crowd of folks and hours of labor. Enjoy a simple, savory Thanksgiving feast with these easy recipes.

CATCH AND RELEASE October/November 2000 Getting off the hook. by Jo Novara Beautiful, he exclaimed. But you mean to tell me you keep these fish like pets just to make bambini to put in lakes and. . . what do you call. . .little rivers?

LORE you CAN LIVE N October/November 2000 Bee Sting Salve The best home remedy for bee, waspand bumble bee stings is to cut an onion inhalf and apply it right to the sting. After afew moments of slightly sharper stinging,the pain will diminish almost immediately,and the

PROTECTING CHILDREN ON THE INTERNET October/November 2000 You should be ready to address Internet issues with your children the same way you would discuss other problematic topics such as drugs, crime, sex and violence. In either case it is up to you when and how to do this, but y

Who's After You October/November 2000 Is it Joe or Josephine Hacker, a 15-year old kid with too much time on his hands, or a determined hacker after personal information? Hard to say. But the security experts I've talked to place the culprits in three camps. F

LARGE CRITTER CONTROL October/November 2000 Keep your garden and yard safe from curious intruders. Suburban While tailed Deer by John Vivian Kindhearted suburbanites set out high-frequency soundmakers or sprinkle on proprietary

FIRST AID ON THE FARM October/November 2000 E ven if you take every precaution to prevent your dog from injury or illness, there are times when you might need to apply a little first aid. Most serious illnesses should be treated by your veterinarian, but if you're stuck out

Adventures in Yellowstone December/January 2000by Sam MartinIf you thought GPS mapping and satellite photography had uncovered every inch of the lower 48 states, think again. Paul Rubinstein, Lee Whittlesey and Mike Stevens would like to show you a few things they've found.Inspired by Lewis and Clark's unfi

Roads Less Traveled December/January 2000 There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but sometimes you can get a little cash for a clunker. Signed into legislation in July 2000, the California Assistance Program (CAP) will contribute $500 toward repairs, or $1,000 compensation for vehicles that do not meet the

e-i-e-i-organic December/January 2000The new entrepreneurial farm.M ove over, Old MacDonald: a new era of farming has dawned. Organic farming practices are going high-tech and getting organized - at least, that's the case in Rappahannock County, Virginia.In 1995, David Cole, a former president of America On

Future So Bright December/January 2000Online and Off the Grid.Computer gurus spend hours hunched over glowing screens, listening to whirring hard drives, speaking a kind of foreign language and rarely seeing the light of day. But Marc Overman, founder of startup Internet service provider (ISP) Solarho

Road Salt blues December/January 2000It's more than just your paint job at stake.It may melt slippery ice, but at what cost to the environment? Environment Canada, a science-based department of the Canadian government, has concluded that wintertime road salts do more than mess up your car's paint job.In

The Long Now December/January 2000An Interview with Stewart Brand.In 1968 Stewart Brand published the Whole Earth Catalog, a handbook (some say bible) of environmental tools and guidelines needed for an independent lifestyle. In 1970, in the thick of the counterculture, MOTHER was there to embrace the

Easy Gasket Replacement December/January 2000Here's a situation that most all back-to-landers and farmers face at one time or another. When you're changing the oil in your truck, tractor or roto-tiller, the drain plug gasket is sure to break or get lost. You don't have to go to town for a new one. Simply dig th

Homemade Handy Wipes December/January 2000 Cut one big roll of Bounty paper towels in half and remove the center cardboard roll. Place the half-roll in a ten-cup Rubbermaid container and pour in the following: two-and-a-half cups water, two tablespoons antibacterial liquid soap or baby shampoo, and one tablespoo

A Thawing Idea December/January 2000Fresh air gives line-dried clothes the best scent I can imagine. During our long winter months, however, I froze my hands fighting with clothespins that froze to my lines. An elderly neighbor offered me a hint to my chilling problem: brine. Could it be so simple? Yes, it was.

Recumbent Again December/January 2000 I thought I'd write and give your readers an update on a new Retro-Recumbent I've put together. This rear-wheel version was made from an 18-speed, dual shock Huffy mountain bike ($129). A set-back seat and backrest enable the rider to sit in a semireclining position. The ri

Beetle Control December/January 2000 To help control those nasty Japanese beetles without using dangerous pesticides, you can do some preventative maintenance in early spring. Spray your yard with a light mixture of dishwashing detergent and water. This also reduces the surface tension of the water and allows yo

A Coal Miner's Hammer December/January 2000 Ladies and gentlemen, I stumbled onto this one somewhere and thought I'd give it a try. To prevent tools from rusting, put a couple of chunks of coal in the toolbox. The coal will absorb a sufficient amount of oxygen to prevent the rusting process. I put about three fi

Peat Pot Replacement December/January 2000by PAUL COVERThese converted milk cartons are a great improvement over peat pots for tomato plant propagation. The conversion takes a little time, but the plant's roots are easily released without damage. We also use the half-gallon cartons by restapling them and cutt

For a Bright Blaze December/January 2000 If you want pinecones that flare brightly when you toss them in a fire, try this: In a large plastic bucket, mix one gallon hot water, one teaspoon dishwashing soap, and one pound of rock salt, Epsom salts, and baking soda or boric acid. Add the pinecones and weight down

Toilet Cozy December/January 2000I have a camp in northern Ontario, 200 miles north of Sault Saint Marie - where temps hover at times in the -40° F range and even colder - and I have a suggestion for a really comfortable outhouse seat, especially for winter. Take a piece of Styrofoam or bead board - not the rig

Old Basins Never Die December/January 2000I recently received an old enamel basin from a friend who was cleaning out his house. It's about 4 high and 16 across, and my friend said it had been in his family for generations. I took it home thinking it would make a nice planter. Before I could get plants in it,

Quilting Jeans December/January 2000 My great-grandmother used old clothing to make her quilts and following her example, I have a quilt made from castoff jeans that will last for many years. As resources, friends' closets and garage sales are a good place to find cheap - even free-used jeans. I cut squares (th

A better mower for the money December/January 2000 What is the best riding mower for my money? MARK Melrose, New Mexico First, avoid no-name or house-brand, bargain-basement power equipment from garden centers, mall or hardware stores unless the stores have their own in-house service and repair

The Neutraceutical Revolution December/January 2000The Hidden Medical Miracles in Everyday Foods .Photograph by John BlaisFrom the pages of the newspaper to your grocer's aisles, neutraceuticals are everywhere you turn: eggs enriched with omega-3, margarine that claims to lower cholesterol, and

The Neutraceutical Hotlist December/January 2000According to Richard Firshein, D.O., author of The Neutraceutical Revolution (Putnam 1998), many of the ailments from which we suffer today including fatigue, asthma, diabetes and cancer can be prevented or treated with dietary changes and a core group of neutrace

The Most Important MEDICINE You'll Ever GROW December/January 2000 COX-2 Inhibitors can ease pain and fight cancer - naturally. by Dr. James Duke We live in a painful world. An estimated 40 million people suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), and between 2 and 3 million more suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA

true BREW December/January 2000 Steep a cup of tea ...for the health of it. by Marguerite Lamb It's a wintry afternoon and you've just come in from your favorite fishing hole, where the only thing biting is the wind. Chilled to the bone, you need something to warm you from the inside out. But before lungin

Growing Nuts For Food & Fortune December/January 2000 Selecting, planting, tending and harvesting the perfect homestead crop. By John Vivian Illustrations by John T. Burgoyne What if we told you that you could grow a supernutritious, easily stored food crop for home use, as an emergency food supply

almanac December / January December/January 2000 DECEMBER 2000 1 In 1831, New York City experienced a record cold December with a mean temperature of 22°. 3 FIRST QUARTER MOON, 10:55 p.m. EST; International Day of Disabled Persons; in 1967 the first human heart transplant was performed by Dr. Christian Ber

This Perfect HOUSE December/January 2000 An environmental checklist for new home buyers. by Barry Chalofsky When we buy a car or a new computer, we often read consumer and specialty magazines to get the background information we need to make an informed decision. But when we buy land and a house - perhaps

RECYCLE This Article December/January 2000 America's garbage dilemma comes around. by Sam Martin To understand the national obsession with saving our garbage we have only to look to the pages of the Seguin Gazette, a newspaper in South Texas. Nothing is junk - save all scrap metal so it can be recycled,

Recycling, Homesteading Style December/January 2000What would you do if you were living in a tropical paradise, needed a place to call your own, and were troubled by a proliferation of empty plastic bottles littering an otherwise unspoiled beach?That was Richard Sowa's situation two years ago. The 46-year-old

When the hearth dies down and the wind starts howling, the last thing I want to do is dash out into the rain and snow for a load of firewood. Here are plans for a functional woodbox that doubles as an attractive piece of furniture.

Not Your Mother's SOLAR POWER Anymore December/January 2000 Solar markets flee overseas and leave a curious legacy behind. by Matt Scanlon When photovoltaic (PV) energy panels were first developed at Bell Laboratories in the early 1950s, scientists envisioned them primarily as an onboard source of power f

CHASING to the cut December/January 2000The art of wound management on the farm.by Jon Geller, DVMLiters of blood ran down my arms, soaking my coveralls and congealing like cherry pudding in puddles around my boots. All bleeding eventually stops, I said over and over to myself as the blood from a geld

WRAP IT! December/January 2000There's good stuff inside, but it isn't a tie.By Anne VassalPhotography by David JohnsonWith all due respect to the festive holiday paper we use to adorn gifts, I'd like to talk about a different kind of wrap. • Though the winter season can be filled with laughter and c

jokee's revenge December/January 2000 Old gags find new life. . . unfortunately. by Joe Novara As I watched a dust cloud chasing a raggedy pickup from a long way down the road, I felt an internal response. Clutch. That's his name. That's also what my belly does every time he shows up. Clutch is one of those

Neutraceutical All-Stars December/January 2000 They may be the biggest thing to hit our dinner tables since broccoli, but what are neutraceuticals? And where can we find them without paying for the privilege? American Ginseng has been used by Native Americans for centuries as a general ton ic. Nowadays, it

Medicinal and Historical Mistletoe? December/January 2000The most traditional holiday herb wasn't always an invitation to a kiss. According to Norse legend, Balder, the god of peace, was slain with an arrow made of mistletoe wood. Other gods later restored Balder to life and put mistletoe under the auspices of

A List of Herbs and Some of the Natural COX-2 Inhibitors They Contain December/January 2000• chamomile• celeryseed• ginkgo (ginkgo leaves are not a food) for apigenin• skullcap (not a food) for baicalein• hops, barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, yellowroot (none of these are foods)

Iced Teas December/January 2000 Of the 50 billion cups of tea Americans drink annually, 40 billion of them are iced, according to the Tea Council of the U.S.A., Inc. Nowhere else in the world is so much tea served cold - not a surprising fact, perhaps, given that iced tea was invented in America, at the 1904 St.

Nutwood Lumber December/January 2000 With a good-sized nut orchard, you might find yourself running a small nutwood sawmill and plank-drying but in a decade or two. A prime nutwood sawlog with a diameter of 2' or 3' at the base of the trunk will sell for $1,000 or more, up to five figures for veneer logs of blac

Paper or Plastic? December/January 2000You've heard the question a hundred times. Whether you're stopping off for a quart of milk or a weeks' worth of dinner, you'll find yourself in a grocery store checkout line where the cashier will ask the inevitable, anxiety-provoking question about your environmental corr

Discovery Timeline December/January 20001839 Edmund Becquerel, a French physicist, observes the photovoltaic effect.1880s Selenium PV cells are built that convert light in the visible spectrum into electricity - they're 1% to 2% efficient. Light sensors for cameras are made from selenium to this day.In

Heavy Hitters December/January 2000When it comes to value the bigger panel is the better buy.Utility-intertie systems are a snap with Evergreen Solar's EverSun AC Module package, which can be plugged directly into your home power supply and produces between 90 and 200 watts (depending upon model choice).

Wound Treatment Basics December/January 2000Wound Treatment Basics1. Control hemorrhage with persistent pressure.2. Flush, flush, flush with dilute disinfectant, saline solution or water.3. Debride (trim away) dead tissue.4. Suture the wound closed or leave it open and apply bandages.5. Apply ho

My Holiday Blues-Beater December/January 2000Last Christmas I went on strike. I was tired of tinsel on display since before Halloween. I was depressed about the prices, confused about what gifts to buy, and pressured to hurry and decide. All this aggravation, and for what? The Christmas morning five-minute gift

Country Lore: One the biggest secrets for growing beautiful roses: banana peels.

No-Stick, No-Burn Canning Hint February/March 2001 This home-canning tip has saved me many frustrating moments when I am knee-deep canning tomatoes, corn, carrots and venison. To prevent the lids from sticking together after they've been boiled - and to keep from burning my finger

How Re-Soleful! February/March 2001 I resole my family's sports sandals for a fraction of the cost of replacement and get better traction to boot! A trip to an honest shoemaker provides me with one-size-fits-all rubber hiking soles and nonhardening glue. At home, I remove th

A secret trick to delay mold formation in cheese using vinegar.

After weeding the garden, don’t throw tiny thinnings from newly sprouted plots in the compost bin - put them in the salad bowl.

Country Lore: Vegetable cans work much better at protecting the little pines, and serves as catch basins when watering.

Country Lore: Keeping birds off your garden with crow feathers

Country Lore: Rubbing alcohol and hair spray for removing an itch

An alternative to old nests for baby birds: a brown paper sack

A long-lasting, puncture-resistant pool bottom, using foam insulation boards.

A completely enclosed cage, with a strong center post for keeping the pests out of your garden

Is It A Beautiful Day In Your Neighborhood? February/March 2001 E-MAPS Show... •Superfund sites •Abandoned, idle or underused industrial/ commercial facilities. • Air pollution emitted from electric power plants, steel mills, factories and universities.

The Scrap Tire Management Council (STMC) is investigating ways to clean up existing stockpiles of tires and find uses for new cast-offs until all tires are recycled.

With three photovoltaic arrays, two composting toilets and two greenhouses, the Environmental Living and Learning Center, an ecologically friendly residence hall of Northland College has set a precedent for Northland College.

As fuel prices soar and concern over the environment's health grows, the time seems ripe for a gas additive that would boost mileage and reduce automobile emissions.

New research is revealing additional sources of flavonoid antioxidants in food... and they're turning up in things you might actually consume.

For over two years, Julia Butterfly Hill scaled Luna, a 1,000-year-old California redwood tree that was in danger of being included in a massive clear-cut and her resilience garnered worldwide attention for the preservation of the planet’s endangered wood.

Worms and septic tanks, crabapple tree sucker, soil additives, fence posts, wash and rinsewater, composts and chickens.

readbaking is cloaked by a bit of undeserved mystery - many people assume it takes a long time and involves complicated steps and expensive kitchen equipment.

Venus' Departure February/March 2001 The evening star looks for daylight in front of the Sun. Venus is always the brightest heavenly light after the sun and moon, but in February 2001 the planet will shine more brightly than usual and be visible for sever

almanacFebruary/March February/March 2001 FEBRUARY 1 FIRST QUARTER MOON, 9:02 A.M. EST; brilliant Venus sets maximum of almost four hours after sun; Jupiter-Saturn-moon in line tonight; RCA issued first 45 rpm phonograph record, 1949. 2 Groundhog D

Cowbirds: Unwelcome Nest-Guests February/March 2001 In March, a small relative of blackbirds and grackles that lives year-round in the southern U.S. but spreads north in spring may become quite noticeable on the ground in fields and pastures. Named for their feeding habits, c

Summer's BRIDE February/March 2001 The medicinal power of calendula. by Bruce Burnett The word calendula comes from the Latin caleo, meaning warm or to glow, a name that appropriately reflects the blossom's sunny, golden hue. Christians call

How one family took a leap of faith into the world of solar-power - and wound up being their own utility in the process. PLUS: a lowdown on going solar, even if you’re already on the grid.

The basics of a grid-tied photovoltaic systems.

When it comes to gardening, choosing the right companion plants can reduce pests and diseases, increase the growing season, and magnify the bounty of your harvest.

For 10,000 years, the nutritionally balanced trio of corn, beans and squash have supplied the native people of the Americas with an unwavering dietary foundation.

Forget about your ho-hum garden on the ground and reach for the sun with our vertical trellised tomatoes, squash and cucumbers.

In 1996 Congress passed the Food Quality and Protection Act (FQPA) to give the EPA authority to screen all 400 of the nation's commonly used pesticides. To date only eight have been reviewed, and of those eight, seven have been banned. Why is the EPA gambling with our health?

Some shopping guidelines to eliminate cutlery confusion and help you zero in on your knife needs.

Two projects to get you started - a workbench on wheels and a belt sander.

Pollen, dusts and dander are only a few of the irritants that plague allergy sufferers and housekeepers alike. Read about a handful of air filters that could cut down - if not eliminate - these airborne pests.

Fending off the weeds: This time, it’s war.

Breadbaking Tips to Live By February/March 2001 LEFTOVERS If you have a chunk of dough left over after the first rising, don't toss it out - freeze it! Thaw it out later for an easy pizza crust. It can also be mixed in to sourdough and other yeast breads.

Guerrilla Solar February/March 2001 A term coined by Richard and Karen Perez, the editors of Home Power Magazine, the guerrilla solar movement started when solar advocates, fed up with the bureaucracy of utility companies, took things into their own hands. Activists across t

All That Glitters is Not (Mari)Gold February/March 2001 There's not a whole lot of hard science backing up most companion planting suggestions - they're based mainly on folklore and the educated guesses of experienced gardeners. Perhaps one of these days a lot of this advice

Plant Families February/March 2001 Issue # 184 - February/March 2001

Some Garden Friends and Adversaries February/March 2001 Issue # 184 - February/March 2001

Squash Patrol February/March 2001 The biggest enemy to your squash will be the hideously hard-headed Squash Vine Borer (right). The adults emerge in June and lay groups of small, blood-red eggs at the base of the vines of curcubit: cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and melons

Easy Beans - Tipi Style February/March 2001 Growing beans on tipis is a great way to maximize your growing space. While beans, peas, gourds or other vinous plants grow up along the tipi poles, you can plant semihardy crops, such as lettuce, in the space underneath.

Building Tomato Towers February/March 2001 Of all the methods devised to support tomato plants, nothing compares to homemade, solid, woven-wire towers. 1 Start with a roll of 4 x 4 or 6 x 6 woven wire fencing. Anything smaller than 4 x 4 makes it difficult

Banned... but not till it's gone February/March 2001 Even when the EPA negotiates a partial or total pesticide ban, it can be years before foods containing the chemical clear store shelves. Written into the 1996 Food Quality and Protection Act (FQPA) is a cha

Hidden Ingredients February/March 2001 Your average apple doesn't come with an ingredients list, but if it did, you'd need a degree in chemistry to read it. Azinphos-methyl, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, endosulfan, thiabendazole: these are just a few of the dozens of pestici

Knife Lingo February/March 2001 to prevent that blank look on your face when the salesperson speaks of a full tang. STAMPED KNIVES: Most less-expensive knives are stamped from sheet steel and are lighter and thinner than forged knives. Stamping can produce a

Cutlery Care February/March 2001 Issue # 184 - February/March 2001    USAGE : Restrict your knives to cutting food - other objects can dull them - and use a legitimate cutting board. I prefer wooden cutting boards, which provide a gentle surface for knives and don't retain bacteria the way plastic bo

A Better Edge February/March 2001 How to use a sharpening steel. If you're going to invest in a good knife, you'll want to hone it frequently. The sharpening steel is a maintenance tool that, if used correctly, will restore your blade's tiny teeth. A steel doesn't

Shaving minutes off your projects The project involves working with metal as well as wood, but the extent of the metalwork consists solely of modifying standard hardware-store items.

A Fair Exchange February/March 2001 If you have a newer, more airtight house, the indoor air may only be exchanged with outdoor air every few hours. Older homes, on the other hand, have more frequent air exchanges because they do not have vapor barriers or as much insul

10 Tips to Attack The Source February/March 2001 Wherever possible you should try to limit your exposure to dust, smoke and allergens. Besides practicing the obvious - not smoking, not having pets, and cleaning frequently - you should also consider these measures:

Do They Work? February/March 2001 One of the challenges, if not the challenge in buying an air filter is that there is no one way to judge performance. A dozen manufacturers include the AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) test sticker and/or logo (right a

The Case of the DOWNER HORSES February/March 2001 Tetanus and botulism ...a detective story. By Jon Geller, DVM Illustration by Allen Brewer The Navajo who owned the horse offered the mare a handful of alfalfa and she ate readily, despite her recumbency. H

Tetanus and Botulism February/March 2001 What the homesteader needs to know Any case of suspected botulism or tetanus is lifethreatening and should receive immediate veterinary care, and possible public health intervention. This information is provided as a gu

Gold Medal Veggies February/March 2001 By the MOTHER EARTH NEWS editors All-America Selections is the oldest seed testing organization in North America, as well as our personal favorite. Trials have been conducted by AAS every year since 1932 and can involve as many as 200 test gardens. Honey Sele

One Person's Trash... April/May 2001 Your community's public works maintenance and surplus yard may be an excellent source of inexpensive, durable and usable materials for yard and garden paths. Using discarded water meter covers as paving stones, my sister and I built

Country Lore: Here’s an easy way to freshen the inside of work boots, sports shoes or other odiferous footwear, using cedar wood chips.

Country Lore: From fried green tomatoes before frost begins to cherry tomatoes in our salads all the way up to Thanksgiving.

Hold Everything! April/May 2001 Sometimes you need a way to clamp thick books or magazines open to review recipes or other material while reading or copying. Pianists and other musicians may find clamps useful for holding flimsy song sheets in place on a music rack, and doze

Country Lore: Favorite tips for keeping flowers fresh with sugar and removing a spot of rust from knives, with an onion.

Country Lore: A tip for getting beet seeds to germinate

Country Lore: A helpful hint on detecting rooster eggs

Country Lore: Tips for dusting under furniture and hard-to-get-at places, cooking oil spills, loosening any burned-on grease.

Country Lore: A simple way to make an effective firestarter with just a few items.

Country Lore: Wide rubber bands for opening stubborn lids on jars.

Country Lore: Got a few stem cuttings you want to root - and you’re planning a trip away from home? Do you have cuttings that are picky about moisture and subject to damping off? Make your own version of a Forsyth pot.

Country Lore: Two inexpensive and effective ideas on gardening with PVC

Charcoal: the Antidote April/May 2001 Here's an old-time remedy that really works wonders: I was stung by yellow jackets this past summer. The pain and swelling were relieved almost immediately by using activated charcoal. Make a paste with charcoal and water (charcoal capsu

Country Lore: To treat chest congestion from a cold : brown paper bag, butter or shortening and nutmeg

According to the Children’s Health Study, youth in the most polluted areas of Los Angeles are suffering a reduction in lung growth and capacity by an average of ten percent.

Forget about building a better mousetrap - scientists are developing a better light bulb - an ultraviolet, vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.

American Horticultural Society (AHS) has developed the new AHS Plant Heat-Zone Map in response to the high temperatures associated with the overall global warming pattern.

Xenobiotic Detection Systems (XDS) has developed a test to detect the presence of dioxin (the carcinogenic byproducts created in the manufacture of chemicals and products like processed animal feed) in the environment.

It's a Bird, Its a Plane April/May 2001 Until recently, researchers in need of oceanic data had to rely on the limited information gathered by satellites and airliners. But that will change this summer when Seascan, a flying robot, makes its debut. Weighing a mere 29 pounds

Looking for a fuzzy, earth-friendly way to turn a profit on a small farm? Described as a huggable investment, alpacas, the camelid cousins to llamas, may be just the ticket.

One of today’s foremost travel writers, Pico Iyer discusses how to find roots without having a place to set them, and how to travel without leaving home.

Science restores an old medicine, as studies show that regular consumption of cranberry juice cocktail decreased the frequency of urinary tract infection. Cranberries may also have broad-spectrum antibiotic value against E. coli and other harmful bacteria, and they are an excellent source of vitamins A and C and potassium.

Summer is just a turn in the road away, and if you've longed to celebrate it with a real fieldstone barbeque with all the amenities, look no further.

Lessons on small-town protocol April/May 2001 Sprouting mushrooms, cleaning cast iron and successfully raising echinacea. A Fowl Conundrum I live in a small rural town where the city council plans to ban residents from keeping fowl within city limits.

Straw bale construction can either be loadbearing, without stick-frame support, or incorporated into a traditional frame. This home will have the roof and lateral loads supported by bales alone.

if you're serious about swapping the urban rat race for a life of frugal, back-to-the-land self-sufficiency, the right equipment will make the difference between paradise and peril

Introducing the most efficient, cost-effective way to heat and cool your home: geothermal power, by transferring and storing heat from the earth, with a geoexchange system.

After seven years growing nearly 100 kinds of tomatoes, more than 50 varieties of peppers and at least three dozen varieties of lettuce, our own Kris Wetherbee has declared the winners.

MAKING CHEESE in God's Country April/May 2001 A back to basics skill reborn. by Anne Vassal With a name that is German for good cheese, Roth Kase is the largest cheesemaking facility in the United States to produce handmade cheeses. Of

Understanding popular misconceptions about tornadoes can help you better prepare for an unexpected tornado.

almanacApril/May 2001 April/May 2001 APRIL 1 Daylight-saving time begins, 2:00 a.m.; FIRST QUARTER MOON, 6:49 a.m. EDT; April Fools' Day (All Fools' Day); Venus returns as the morning star, bright and low in the east about 45 to 30 minutes before sunrise.

Few North American birds can beat the male cardinal for brightness, but the scarlet tanager certainly draws the eye. The male tanager is a fiery scarlet, but surprisingly less visible.

IT's A BOY! April/May 2001 By Jon Geller, DVM The frigid morning air prompted a shiver, and then a yawn, from me as I anticipated the end of my shift. One more heifer to calve and I could retire to my bunk. Every night for four weeks, we helped deliver 80 to 100 calves to first-time heifers. The Padlock Ranch,

Growing up gardening.

remove mildew from white cotton items such as sheets and T-shirts, mix a box of baking soda

Installing Your Own Geoexchange System April/May 2001 Installation of a geoexchange system is not so much difficult as it is time-consuming. The installer needs to have an excellent background in ducting, high-voltage (240-volt) and low-voltage (24-volt) controls wiring,

GEOTHERMAL HOME April/May 2001 Check list If you think geothermal power is right for you and your home, the following checklist can save you or your contractor valuable time and money. 1 Calculate your home's heat gain and heat loss by contacting yo

CREAM OF THE CROP April/May 2001  Issue # 185 - April/May 2001 1 SOURCES 1) Johnny's- Selected Seeds, (207) 437-4395, www.johnnyseeds.com ; 2 ) Nichols Garden Nursery, (541) 928-9280, www.nicholsgardennursery.com; 3) Pinetree Garden Seeds, (207) 926-3400, www.superseeds.com; 4) Seed Savers, (319) 382-5990, ww

Recipe for Clay Paint or Alis April/May 2001 Step 1 MAKING A STARCH PASTE Add 1 part white flour to 2 parts cold water, and set aside. Boil 1 1/2 parts water. When boiling, add the above mixture of flour and cold water. Turn heat to low, continue to

When a wheelbarrow is not a practical solution for everyday use, a sled is the answer. A Country Lore tip previously titled A Sled for All Seasons.

Bike inner tubes can enjoy a useful second life as utility straps. A Country Lore tip previously titled Fit To Be Tied.

Reuse plastic milk bottles to freeze water, tea or lemonade for long trips and to keep your freezer cold. A Country Lore tip previously titled Freezer Pleaser.

If you're going to be out in the heat, bring along some plain water and tomato juice to keep you rehydrated. A Country Lore tip previously titled Heat Stress Relief.

You can use plastic containers as water reservoirs in your garden. A Country Lore tip previously titled D-I-Y Garden Reservoirs.

Spearmint works well not only to repel ants, it also freshens a musty closet. A Country Lore tip previously titled Spearmint Sublime.

Here's a solution for those folks who want to locate articles in past magazine issues. A Country Lore tip previously titled Organizing Mother.

Ways to put your loose and old socks to good use. A Country Lore tip previously titled Sock Sense.

Tips for making an extension cord holder, string dispenser, and finding studs behind wallboards. A Country Lore tip.

A tip for frozen or broken-off bolts. A Country Lore tip previously titled Bolt Be Gone.

Roaches carry disease and are a cause of asthma, but well placed caulk and boric acid powder can help you get rid of cockroaches.

Peat bogs that accumulate water exclusively by precipitation are facing devastation after the Clean Water Act’s scope is being limited to exclude wetlands that are not attached to another body of water. Peat bogs play an essential role in mitigating climate change by keeping billions of tons of carbon buried beneath them.  

While arsenic is toxic to humans, the brake fern (pteris vittata) grows stronger and healthier in soil contaminated with the toxin.

The manatee population faces a wide range of problems: pollution, boat accidents, being stranded between canal doors during migration. These challenges can affect the stabilization of the endangered manatees’ population. But new underwater technology may rally their revival.

Choosing between antique and new farm windmills for well-water retrieval is largely a matter of choice, but the first thing you need to do is find a reputable merchant.

You can make your yard and garden irresistible to birds and enjoy natural pest control. Originally published as “The Bird-Friendly Garden in the June/July 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

The past few years have seen an addition to the family of gardening tools. Combining long handles and well- made heads, these new tools make any gardening tasks easier, yet surprisingly few gardeners are aware they exist. Brook Elliot tells us what’s available and where to find them in this special report.

When doing larger construction projects, such as remodeling a house, even the most experienced do-it-yourselfers often need to hire a professional builder. Here's our guide to hiring a contractor. Originally published as “Go to a Pro in the June/July 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

For many people, lawn maintenance is a laborous chore. Every weekend finds us trudging to the garage and fighting to start our reluctant, gas-powered rotary mower. Then we push the snarling little demon over wet, slippery grass, never minding the half-inch thick cutter blade whirling at 2500 rpm just inches from our tender toes.

Why do we do it? And how can we stop doing it? A low-maintenance lawn is easier to achieve than you think.

Originally published as The Working Lawn in the June/July 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

The American backyard in the summer isn’t complete without burgers on the grill. Spice up the basic burger with these unique recipes and tips.

All about the cute, quirky and surprisingly low maintenance llamas. Our country vet outlines their preventive health program.

Animals adapt to the environment or face extinction, while some humans seem too stuck in their own old ways.

Finally you yank out the last few stubborn weeds - a bunch of vines with stringy roots - and stand to admire the new perennial bed youve just cleared along the edge of woods bordering your driveway.

Imagine building a wooden boat that is easy to build, transport and store. Follow these easy instructions to make a portable boat for rowing, fishing or just plain relaxing. Enjoy building MOTHER's take-apart skiff. Previously published as Float Your Boat.

The Toxic Four June/July 2001 Western poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) Considered the poison oak by some botanists, this plants is common on the Pacific Coast (except for the Olympic Peninsula) from southern British Columbia to northern Baja California

The Hanron homesteading family learned how to live off the grid, cutting their connection to commercial energy sources and utility bills forever. This article was originally published as Grid-Free Forever.

The Short Of It June/July 2001 Despite the obvious benefits of long-handled garden tools, many gardeners still prefer those with shorter handles. Multipurpose tools - and quite a few head de signs - seem to come strictly with the short handles. Most of these tools, howe

Preventive Health Program for Llamas June/July 2001 VACCINATIONS · Clostridium C/D plus tetanus: three ml subcutaneously, annually to all juvenile and adult llamas. Also vaccinate pregnant females one month prior to birthing · Leptospirosis (in high-risk areas):

Day lilies come in a rainbow of vibrant colors that can brighten any flowerbed.

Cane borers can infest and destroy raspberry plants, so how do you get rid of them?

 Saler cows are a fairly rare, ancient breed that is strong, lives long and is a great calf milk-producer.

Here is a quick and easy whitewash recipe that is perfect for painting a fence.

You can grow new green onions from your leftover cuttings after harvest. This article was originally published as Onions Do Double Duty. A Country Lore tip from the August/Septmeber 2001 issue.

A tiny dab of sulfur mixed with molasses and taken in early spring will help to repel ticks. This article was originally published as Icky-Tasting Tick Tip. From the August/September 2001 issue, a Country Lore tip for wiser living.

For easy cleanup after splitting firewood, use a tarp to catch the chips and sawdust. This article was originally published as No Muss, No Fuss. From the August/September 2001 issue, a Country Lore tip for wiser living.

Bury your kitchen scraps in the garden to make nutritious garden compost for your plants. This article was originally published as Compost Work Around. From the August/September 2001 issue, a Country Lore tip for wiser living.

Here's a temporary herbal treatment using sage that will make your sore gums more comfortable. This article was originally published as Sage Advice for Painful Gums. A Country Lore tip for wiser living from the August/September 2001 issue.

Here are some useful household tips for using old pantyhose. This article was originally published as New Use for Old Stockings. A Country Lore tip from the August/September 2001 issue.

Here is how you can freeze eggs for longer storage or for winter use when your hens are laying less. This article was originally published as Eggs that Winter Well. A Country Lore tip from the August/September 2001 issue.

Hans Carlier, a natural-garden designer, tells how to build a useful garden house tower in which a variety of critters can find a good home during all seasons. This article was originally published as All Along the Creature Tower. A Country Lore tip for wiser living from the August/September 2001 issue.

Bus-mounted bicycle racks are a popular commuting program  in many cities. This article was originally published as Have Your Bike and Ride It, Too. A Country Lore tip from the August/September 2001 issue.

A report from the Journal of Ethnopharmacology shows that weeds often have important medicinal uses.

Real-life gardening rehabilitation programs for prison inmates inspire the new movie “Greenfingers, which stars Clive Owen as an inmate who experiences gardening’s restorative qualities.

Learn about the health and environmental effects of methyl bromide, an acutely toxic pesticide used to grow strawberries. Originally published as “Strawberry Fields Forever?  in the August/September 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

Have you ever considered living in a treehouse? These custom treehouses may just inspire you to get your eco-friendly home building plans off the ground. Originally published as Home Sweet Treehouse in the August/September 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

Before you get your treehouse plans underway, consult this expert advice about everything from location to building a proper platform to floor and door options.

Heirloom vegetables are hot these days, thanks to their superb old-time taste. Here's how the Garden State Heirloom Seed Society is helping growers cash in on this market gardening opportunity.

Attract bats to your property, and enjoy the natural insect control and enhanced ecosystem biodiversity that accompanies them. Originally appeared as The BAT PATROL in the August/September 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

Retro patio furniture never goes out of style. The wooden lawn chair and retro chaise lounge fit the decor of any patio, porch or backyard. And the best part is that you can build them yourself with our step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow diagrams. Originally published as The Retro-reclining Summer in the August/September 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

Taking care of a cat doesn't have to be complicated, but there are several common symptoms and health issues that you can look out for to help your cat live a long and healthy life. Veterinarian Jon Geller takes the case of one feline patient over 15 years to discuss common cat health problems and how to prevent and treat them.

Beat the heat with these delicious summer recipes: sparkling strawberry lemonade, chilled melon soup, mango chutney chicken salad, raspberry-peach sorbet and basil hummus.

The meteorological science behind the sound of thunder is complex, but the basics are easy to understand.

John Stuart and Carol Mack have spent 25 years homesteading on 40 acres in the woods of northeast Washington. Here's what worked, what didn’t and why the family wouldn’t trade their rural living experiences for anything. From Firsthand Reports, August/September 2001.

Landfills nationwide are experimenting with a new gas recovery technology to meet the demands for renewable energy using landfill methane gas.

Funerals are often more expensive than we expect. Find out how much the average funeral costs and how to plan a low-cost funeral. Plus, learn how having a green funeral can be good for the Earth and save you money.

Lisa Carlson has become a noted expert and author on the topic of do-it-yourself funerals. Learn more about what you do get to decide about funerals, including how being more involved can save you money.

The secret to a naturally weed-free garden? It’s easier than you think! By minimizing soil disruption, protecting the soil surface, preventing soil compaction and using drip irrigation, you can significantly reduce your weeding chores while also improving plant and soil health. Plus, one of the great appeals of weedless gardening is the ease and speed with which you can get plants up and growing. Learn all about using natural, weed-free garden techniques that will save you time and labor and create a healthier, thriving garden.

We should find ways to improve energy efficiency and tap into passive solar design.

Have your picnic and eat it too; here's how to safely control yellow jackets and bees that are after your lunch. Originally published as Yellow Jackets in their Dinner Jackets in the October/November 2001 Country Lore department.

Here are some useful kitchen tips that will help to make cooking and cleaning tasks easier to do. This article was originally published as Squeeze Pancakes, Roll Lemons. A Country Lore tip from the October/November 2001 issue.

Learn to love high-bush cranberries with this Alaskan cranberry jelly recipe. This article was originally published as Learning to Love High Bush Cranberries. A Country Lore tip from the October/November 2001 issue.

Step-by-step instructions on how to tan a hide. This method of tanning leather is low cost and low labor compared to other methods of tanning. Originally published as “Home Tanning Process Preserves Pelts in the October/November 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

By combining the two energy sources into a single system, the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight have all the pep and power of traditionally powered cars, but with benefits to both the environment and pocketbook. Find out how these hybrid cars work, whether one is a good option for you, and what incentives Toyota and Honda are offering.

We’ve known for years that organic farming is better for the environment than conventional growing methods. Now research from Washington State has found that apples grown using organic methods are also better-tasting than those that are conventionally grown, and that organic apple production produces similar cumulative yields.

Wilderness reminds Barbara Kingsolver of man's place in the world, and that the choices we make today will matter a great deal in the future. Originally published as Knowing Our Place in the October/November 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS. 

These simple home energy improvements will reduce your energy bills by up to 50 percent!

Beautiful and helpful in controlling pests, turkeys are easy to raise and fun to watch. Plus by raising turkeys at home, you'll have farm-fresh turkey for holiday meals. Originally published as Homegrown Turkeys are Terrific! in the October/November 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

These 22 top garden seed catalogs from some of America's best seed companies will bring you fun and success in your garden.

Plant Your Garlic Now. Use our step by step instructions to cultivate your own patch of this savory, easy-to-grow, fall planted crop.

Garlic has a long and illustrious history of promoting good health, so you can’t go wrong including this delicious herb in your diet. Celebrate this healthful, scrumptious herb with these recipes for everything from simple garlic dips to more elaborate garlic soup to out-of-this-world garlic ice cream!

You can make your own wooden sled by following these simple instructions and diagrams. Originally published as “Down-Hill Thrills in the October/November 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

Good caulk will help you save energy, avoid moisture damage and prevent pest problems. The best caulk for the job depends on the situation.Originally published as CAULK in the October/November 2001 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious virus that affects all cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and deer.

Each year in October, this homesteading family celebrates the joys of self-sufficient living. From Firsthand Reports, October/November 2001.

The Turkey Trailto Domestication, and then . . . October/November 2001 As early as AD 600, the people of the area that is now the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico domesticated turkeys, which were an important source of meat for them. George Washington and

Mad Cow Disease October/November 2001Issue # 188-November 2001Separating Fact from FictionMad Cow Disease, or bovine spongioform encephalitis (BSE), and foot-and-mouth disease are totally unrelated. BSE is a very slow developing infection of the brain caused by protein particles known as prions, which a

Here's how to preserve apples, tomatoes and corn.

Seed Planters December/January 2001 Years ago, many of the farming families had small push seed planters to use in the garden. Do you have any idea who makes these today, or is this something that has gone away? Boyce Howell Rogers, Arkansas Earthway still makes a nifty seed planter that furrows, pl

Simple Skillet Bread December/January 2001My mom tells stories of the best bread she's ever tasted, and it came fromMOTHER EARTHNEWS sometime in 1980. She says I helped my dad make it while she was studying when she was in school at the University of Houston.I think it was just called Skillet Bread,

Make Yourself a Little Pat of Butter December/January 2001By JENNIFER BLACKEWith little know-how and not much money, you can make butter easier than your ancestors did. The result is satisfyingly tasty, easy on the wallet and part of a healthier diet.There are several reasons to make butter instead of purch

High-and-Dry Oregon Gardening December/January 2001 By MARALEE GERKE Gardening in the high desert of Oregon is very challenging and rewarding. We have a short growing season, early and late frost times, hardpan soil and only 7 inches of rain a year. Those of us who have gardened here for a long time have learne

Give the Gift of Fresh Mountain Air December/January 2001by ELIZABETH R. BORCHI like to make fragrant balsam bags for Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers. You can recycle your balsam fir Christmas tree or wreath for next year's gift. Balsam fir has the aroma associated with Christmas greens and wreaths: like

Toilet Paper Rolls Become Prime Pest Repellent December/January 2001 By Les Oke By LES OKE Cutworms are a perennial problem in our carrot patch. Because of its nocturnal nature, this pest is hard to eliminate by conventional means. My wife, Jane, and I came up with a rather interesting solution

Humbler Tumbler December/January 2001By BARRY DOWLINGHere is a picture of a compost tumbler I built out of recycled material: one old 55-gallon drum, an old hospital bed frame and rollers, one old hinge and some scrap pieces of aluminum. The only things I bought were the latches. Since this picture was taken,

Over-Wintering Peppers December/January 2001 By MATT BARTHEL Although most of us grow them as an nuals, pepper plants are actually perennials, and I have found that the following technique works wonderfully to give them a longer life. Dig up the pepper plant, shake the soil from the roots and trim off all leav

Starlight, But Skies are Too right December/January 2001by Fred SchaafOne half of our natural world is rapidly disappearing. It is the half we call the night. Today, most young Americans have never seen a naturally dark and starry sky. The awesome sight of the universe's brilliance, which has inspired

Nature Defeats GM0s December/January 2001Researchers reporting in the journal Science have made a discovery that fur ther confirms warnings that pests can and will become resistant to genetically mod ified organisms. Scientists have found the first insect genes resistant to the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis,

Green Building scene December/January 2001Energy efficiency and historic building are terms that almost never find themselves in the same sentence. But the people at Ecotrust and ShoreBank Pacific recently opened a building that is the epitome of both.The new Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center in Portland

Arsenic seeps into the Spotlight December/January 2001 Everyone who's ever been in a high school drama class knows arsenic is a poison. But many people don't realize that most deck and playground pressure-treated lumber has been soaked in arsenic. And now new evidence shows that arsenic is an extremely potent ca

Stopping Sprawl December/January 2001 Legal Watch: A recent grassroots effort in Virginia will keep one rural county grassy. Last summer Loudoun County, Virginia, a suburban/rural area south of Washington, D.C., passed a plan aimed at keeping the area from being overdeveloped. The county's board of supervi

Buy Your Grandmama A Llama? December/January 2001 Flock of chicks: $20. Llama: $150. Helping end hunger while avoiding buying Grandma yet another set of coasters: priceless. Of course, Grandma doesn't need a llama, but plenty of poor Bolivian families do. Enter Heifer Project International. For more than

MOTHER's Stocking Stuffers December/January 2001 It's the season for giving, and even if you don't personally subscribe to a religion that celebrates a winter gift-fest, chances are you know someone who does. Here are two MOTHER EARTH ish (and economical) gift ideas from small companies that might not have huge

Giving Students Better Food for Thought December/January 2001 Public school cafeterias have been the butt of jokes for decades, but there is absolutely nothing funny about what the nation's children eat every day. There's simply not enough food for thought, said Janet Brown of the Center for Ecoliteracy. Iron

Polluting By the Numbers December/January 2001 At the beginning of the farm crisis in the late 1970s, suffering rural communities welcomed factory-style feedlots, hoping to prop up sagging economies. It was only after these feedlots moved in that neighbors started to notice the real price of the operations to ai

Winter's WONDROUS Waterland December/January 2001 By Terry Krautwurst Photography by David Cavagnaro Once or twice each winter, a miracle happened on the sloping, snow-covered wheat fields of my grandfather's western-New York farm. A rare warm day would send meltwater spilling into a wide, bowl-shaped swal

Lose your LAWN December/January 2001By Stephen MorrisPresident, Chelsea Green Publishing CompanyHow did we become a nation of manicured, toxic lawns? How did a lowly perennial that imitates a carpet become our dominant ground cover? My personal theory (I make it personal to avoid the rigors of research

Pound for pound, no bovine can match the diversity of Dexter cattle, one of the smallest cattle breeds. Standing just 36 to 44 inches at the shoulder, Dexters are the perfect old-fashioned, family cow. Gentle, versatile and economical, Dexters efficiently turn pasture into rich milk and lean meat, if you're so inclined. In recent years, interest in Dexter cattle has surged worldwide.

How to pick the right stove and enjoy the many benefits of our heritage heat source.

Beginning the reign of REINDEER? December/January 2001By Sarah Beth CavanahPhotography by Diane KulpinskiYou know Dasher and Dancer, but did you also know that reindeer are poised to be a hot item in small-scale agriculture? Their cuteness factor is undeniable, plus they're friendly and can be lucrative

Love, & a good head of LETTUCE December/January 2001 Issue # 189 - December/January 2002 By Lindsay Webb Garden seed catalogs aren't just an order sheet, they're a connection to fond memories of` gardens before. The Wyoming wind has been scouring us for three days. The temperature is dropping and enor

It’s a bookcase, seed-starting plant grow light shelf and houseplant display case, all in one attractive, easy-to-build piece of furniture. Anyone can build this ultra-easy project for starting seeds indoors with plant grow lights. Includes illustrations, a lumber list calculator and detailed instructions. This article was originally published as Multipurpose Grow Light Bookcase.

ARTICHOKES for every climate December/January 2001 by Doreen G. Howard Artichokes are an adventure for the palate, eyes and soul. Exotic additions to flower borders and vegetable gardens, their sheer size demands attention. The prettiest of pollinators flock to them. And steamed artichoke buds create conviv

More than one way to skin an artichoke December/January 2001By KC. ComptonNow that you're well on your way to growing your own artichokes, you may find yourself suffering, as do so many, from artichoke anxiety. Have no fear. Artichokes really aren't that difficult. As with so much of life, different approache

Finding truly GOOD FOOD December/January 2001From organic to authenticBy Cheryl LongAs America's interest in natural and organic foods grows, the food industry's hype seems to expand proportionally. Consumers are finally realizing whole foods are more nutritious than highly processed products and se

Beyond Organic December/January 2001 by Eliot Coleman New ideas, especially those that directly challenge an established orthodoxy, follow a familiar path. First, the orthodoxy says the new idea is rubbish. Then the orthodoxy attempts to minimize the new idea's increasing appeal. Finally, when the new idea prov

Cholesterol is known to be a major contributor to heart disease. However, eating the right diet — including whole grains and other plant fibers — can lower your cholesterol and your risk for heart disease. Find out more about the foods and herbs that can help bring your cholesterol levels down naturally.

Another Cholesterol? December/January 2001By Sarah Beth CavanahHomocysteine, an amino acid present in everyone's body, has been coming under increased scrutiny over the last two decades for its possible role in coronary heart disease. Although not as well known as cholesterol, homocysteine has been found in s

Do-It- YULEself GIFTS December/January 2001by Anne VassalYou can make these quick, inexpensive gifts even if you are craft-challenged and ridiculously busy.When the holidays roll around, it's easy for me to rebel against the credit card companies and department stores pressuring us to shop 'til we drop. Wai

Retiring PIONEERS December/January 2001By Duane MarkGolden Valley, ArizonaMy wife Dee and I realized a few years ago that if we wanted to live the way we were accustomed after we retired, we'd need a lot more money or a lot fewer living expenses.We have both been self-employed most of our lives and, c

Timely Gardening Tips for where you live December/January 2001 New England & Maritime Canada Snow is flying and gardening chores are reduced to watering the window pots of parsley, sage and Thai hot peppers brought in from the garden. It's time to enjoy last season's harvest and start planning for th

Wood-Heat Breakthroughs December/January 2001 FEDERAL EMISSION REGULATIONS During the 1980s, smoky, old woodstoves were blamed for ruining the air quality in a number of valley towns in the Northwest. In response, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) forced all new woodstoves to meet smoke emission li

Start Your Own SEEDS December/January 2001 by Jill Jesiolowski Cebenko Starting seeds indoors provides multiple benefits: You'll get earlier harvests of crops, such as tomatoes and peppers, and earlier blooms for many flowers. • You can choose from hundreds of interesting varieties available through seed catal

A 3-year-old lily with 68 buds and blossom, on it!

Bubble wrap as a sturdy seat cushion.

The durable foam material in mouse pads make them a great free source for making your own boot insoles.

Most people find putting eye drops in to be a real challenge. You won't blink or waste a drop by following this method.

Cranberries, Round III February/March 2002 by SAM THAYER The July and November 2001 issues carried conflicting reader reports about highbush cranberries (Cranberry Catharsis and Learning to Love Highbush Cranberries). Such misunderstanding occurs because the

Here's an effective tip for controlling flies: chickens.

Here is a tip for applying insect repellent, or any other liquid solution, to an animal's skin or fur.

An award winner taking canning to a new level of experimentation.

THINK GLOBALLY EAT LOCALLY February/March 2002 By Joan Gussow, Ph.D. Photos by Mick Hales A young neighbor who watered and harvested my garden for a few days last summer left a message on my answering machine while I was away. She had re

Virtually any recipe for stuffed peppers also works well with stuffing tomatoes. Plus any of your favorite cold salads - from tuna to three-bean - can be used to fill these edible bowls.

Dr. Duke talks about herbal remedies for rheumatoid and osteoarthritis and shares recipes such as arthritis soup and broth.

Home (Kit) on the Range February/March 2002 by Paul Steffy Story and photos by Paul Steffy · Eureka, Montana Our initial plan was for me to retire at 55. We'd buy a large pickup truck and a fifth-wheel trailer and would travel the United S

Protect Your Trees When you build February/March 2002 Here are pointers from Dennis Brown, consulting arborist with Urban Forestry Resources in Austin, Texas, on how to protect trees during the upcoming construction season: • Make a plan to minimiz

The Next Green Revolution February/March 2002 By John E. Ikerd, Ph..D. What kind of agriculture do we need, and how can farmers provide it?These are the two questions addressed in The Next Green Revolution by James E Horne and Mauna McDermott. The book begins w

Where Now Brown Cow? February/March 2002 Nothing says country quite like that pattern of blotchy black spots on a white background. The familiar pattern of Holstein cows is even used by Gateway Computers' boxes to help emphasize the company's Midwestern roots. But lurkin

Howard talks about the 2002 All-America Selections, ’Diva’ cucumber and ’Cornell’s Bush Delicata’ squash (judged by experts for ease of growing, disease resistance, productivity and flavor), which not only live up to their hype, they deliver productivity and flavor beyond the expectation.

Students Challenge Economic Model February/March 2002 Economics is used as a justification for inequality, for racism, says Fadhel Kaboub, a graduate student at UMKC. Environmentalists, small-scale agriculturalists and alternative energy enthusiasts have been told

In his first two essays, world-renowned expert Lester Brown describes the global challenges we face and tells how we must build a new economy that respects the environment.

Terry Krautwurst talks about anticipating spring, and the wasp in his window.

For the ultimate in financial security and personal freedom, this is the way to go, to build a house, debt-free.

Here's the dirt on RURAL ROADS February/March 2002 By Hollis Walker Most of the time, living on a country road feels like ... well, almost heaven, as John Denver sang. But when your darling dirt lane turns into mud soup after a good rain or your ditches overflow

Walker talks about good road maintenance and getting some help with the most pressing road problems.

From gas to electric, solar to scythe, you'll find what you need to know in MOTHER's buyer's guide to mowers.

The scythe is an efficient and graceful tool for mowing. European and American scythes are differentiated in this article.

Goats and sheep are being rented out as natural, nontoxic alternatives to herbicides and gas-powered mowers.

Eight reasons why you should install your own solar electric roof.

A cornucopia of inspiring examples from a beautiful new book about some of the country's finest cabins.

Build this cultivator to pull behind your ATV or garden tractor, using the tines from a field cultivator.

The pressures of industrial agriculture have pushed java chickens close to extinction, how to save this endangered heritage chicken.

With this method of digging holes in the garden, anyone can do composting and get wonderful benefits for their garden.

Regional and seasonal gardeing tips for where you live.

Stuffing Tomatoes February/March 2002 by Brook Elliott · Photography by David Cavagnaro I hated them. The juice from the tomato and its thin walls would turn everything into a mushy mess. Things would have been different if Mom had known a

Eliminate Your Electric Bill Go solar February/March 2002 Be secure By Terri Suess and Cheryl Long This beautiful family retreat in Laytonville California, includes four kilowatts of thin-film solar panels integrated into the standing seam meta

Ken Bouchard shares an easy lettuce-planting plan; Gary Dethloff modified his dryer vent to be more energy efficient; Paul Neher recycles compact discs to repel birds in his vineyard; Rita Flener shares a mailbox design that's nearly impossible to destroy; Curtis Johnson advises do-it-yourself-ers to ask for a construction manual before buying; Jennifer Hooper mixes vinegar, laundry detergent and sugar to remove stains; George Burnett shares how to repair and maintain paring knives.

Enjoying the first sightings of the new season, including croaking frogs, orchids, woodchucks, groundhogs, grouse, tree sap.

A Simple, Sensible Life April/May 2002 VIEW POINT In his speech to the first Earth Day participant in April 1970, organizer Denis Hayes made it clear the event was a beginning, not a one-hit wonder. If the environment is a fad, it's going to be our last fad,

Homes made from natural, earthen materials are affordable, comfortable, sustainable and enduring, including the pros and cons of adobe, cob, rammed-earth and soil-filled tire techniques.

Excerpt from the book Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth, including environmentally friendly ways of doing business and the end of old business ways.

Raising your own healthy, pastured beef requires a small plot of grass, some fencing and the know-how provided within this article.

Fresh from the garden, broccoli has an unbeatable, sweet and gourmet flavor.

A well-stocked root cellar can help ease the transition from winter to spring and help us be more prepared in post-Sept. 11 America.

Recipes for cream of morel soup, morel mushroom quiche, broccoli with oil and lemon, cream of broccoli soup, ginger-broccoli stir-fry.

Poem about a mouse.

How to pour a smooth surface for floors, a straight path or driveway and foundations, including the composition of concrete, site preparation, building simple forms.

Bootstrap Business: A little surplus space in your barn can give you some extra cash eash month.

Find the perfect small tractor for your needs, including pros and cons of different brands, as well as uses for extended features and attachments.

Antique tractors are inexpensive and reliable and may be the perfect vehicle for your farm or homestead, including locating a reliable tractor, brands and pricing.

Regional and seasonal gardening tips for where you live.

Upstate New York homesteader Grace Brockway finds immeasurable happiness in raising chickens.

The book Family Friendly Farming tells how to keep a family farm intact through several generations; the benefits of clay in the orchard; design software makes passive solar building easier; and PBS' reality show The Frontier House.

Alternative medicine and natural remedies for treating back pain, including red pepper, willow, peppermint, assorted essential oils.

The Air Up There April/May 2002 COUNTRY LORE One issue I have yet to see addressed in an energy conservation article concerns the air supply used for common household clothes dryers. I have reduced our utility bill by constructing a simple duct that runs

Digital Scarecrows April/May 2002 COUNTRY LORE In the late summer, when the grapes are getting about as sweet as they can get, robins, finches, king birds and other fruitlovers become quite attracted to my arbors. I have found recycled compact discs

PVC Power Mailbox April/May 2002 COUNTRY LORE Here is a mailbox design that's almost impossible to destroy. First dig a hole about a foot deep and about a foot across. In the center drive a steel fence post. Leave the top of the post at the height you need the

Metal Building Warning April/May 2002 COUNTRY LORE Please inform your readers who are thinking about buying a do-it-yourself metal building to ask for the construction manual before they buy. Some manufacturers are misleading in their ads. By

Paring Knife Perfection April/May 2002 COUNTRY LORE Hands down, my most commonly used kitchen knife is the 3- to 4-inch blade paring knife. Most kitchens have several, typically in various states of disrepair with water damaged handles and abused blades. One of min

Design Software April/May 2002 Green Gazette During the 1970s energy crisis, many designers and builders plunged into passive solar home construction. Most soon found that passive solar design is simple in concept, but a challenge in reality. Even small errors in

PBS gets real with Frontier House April/May 2002 Green Gazette Survivor. Competing six-person tribes play memory games to gain chocolate from manipulative host-god. Real World: Unemployed 20-somethings with absolutely nothing in common live in multimillion

Grass-fed meat and dairy products have less fat and more vitamin E, beta carotene and cancer-fighting fatty acids than factory-farm products. Learn more about the benefits of grass-fed for better nutrition and a healthier environment.

Mushroom hunting can be a wonderful, healthy outdoor experience to share with family and friends. But the thrill of the hunt is only half the enjoyment.

ELECTRIC TRACTORS April/May 2002 ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT The case for solar-powered. The world is clearly running out of oil and gas, yet most people ignore the coming crisis. Food production and distribution in the industrialized world have become so de

Lorraine Berger shares energy conservation tips; Ethel Stilwell provides a recipe for hand lotion; Richard Hayes advises septic tank owners to drain the tank before trying to free the line; Robert Owens uses a detergent spray to attract bees; Phyllis Adolph shares recipes for homemade firestarters; John Herdon uses a hose to line the top of a wheelbarrow to keep it from scratching and denting surfaces; John Knioca gives several home remedies; Paul Agiopavlites loves the wire-mesh tomato tower in his garden.

A guide to summer insects and arachnids, including dragonflies, spiders, froghoppers, water striders, praying mantises, crane flies.

Highlights from the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture conference.

Dealing the questions of food and environmental security in post-Sept. 11 America.

Whether your property is one acre or several hundred, sloping or flat, crowded with brush orcompletely forested, you can still raise dairy goats for milk. Two goats will produce enough quality fresh milk—with each doe averaging 3 quarts a day for 10 months—to feed your family all year. Add a few more goats and you'll have enough milk for making cheese, yogurt or even ice cream.

How to make cheese, including supplies, utensils, sources for cheesemaking, recipes for French goat cheese, mild cheddar.

How to build this goat-milking stand that makes milking easier for the goat and the milker, including materials, layout, bracing, diagrams, the seat and the feed box.

Communities around the world are practicing grassroots democracy and taking control of their own food sources, as revealed in the book Hope's Edge.

From Suburbia to Superbia June/July 2002 by Dan Chiras The classic American suburb is an assemblage of homes connected by concrete and asphalt highways to offices and malls. This arrangement fosters a dependency on the car and discourages strolling, walking or ming

Not only good to eat, okra is pretty enough to display with flowers in the garden, including how to use dried seed pods in floral arrangements and picking and preparing okra.

Making the most of the growing season's bounty, including recipes for summer solstice Spanish tortilla, finding a home for extra food.

Asians have enjoyed this green soybean for many years, but it is unfamiliar to Western growers. Acquaint yourself with this wholesome, easy-to-grow vegetable now.

Natural remedies, alternative medicine and the green pharmacy approach to stopping smoking, including licorice, red clover, carrot, fava beans, turmeric.

Inexpensive wire mesh can make gardening easier through trellises, tomato cages and miniature greenhouses.

Greener Pastures: Decorah, Iowa June/July 2002Issue # 192 - June/July 2002by Chris BlanchardIn 1999, after 10 years of working on other people's farms, Kim and I had finally scraped enough money together to buy our own place. Having lived for a time on both coasts, we knew we wanted to return to the quiet

Soccer mom finds that a family can go a long way toward self-sufficiency in an urban setting.

Solar cooking is at its peak in the summer; Resurgence magazine promotes the nourishment of the soil, soul and society; agritourism can be a way to find help and profits in the same place; how to survive being struck by lightning; and a Canadian company has developed a new form of ethanol fuel.

Regional and seasonal gardening tips for where you live.

Drainfield Danger June/July 2002 by RICHARD L. HAYES W ell it was finally time. Year after year, when the snow turned to slush and the ground became good and saturated, the plumbing would slow down and then stop. We'd dealt with it before—pumping, plunging,

Great Hand Lotion June/July 2002 by ETHEL STILWELL I've finally found the hand lotion recipe that you published back in the '70s or '80s. This is the greatest hand lotion ever. It will help the worst case of dried or chapped hands in a matter of days!

Detergent Bug Killer June/July 2002 A friend, who is a professional painter, taught me this trick for killing wasps: Spray them on their nest with a solution of a little dish-washing detergent in a cup of water. They drop dead as soon as the detergent solution hits them

Homemade Firestarters June/July 2002 All year long I pick up attractive baskets at garage sales and turn them into interesting and appreciated gifts for birthdays and holidays. One of my favorite ideas is making firestarters. There are two ways to do this.

Wheelbarrow Cushion June/July 2002 We all use wheelbarrows and occasionally need to fit in tight quarters or wheel past delicate objects. Ferrying firewood between the boat and car comes to mind. The rim of a metal wheelbarrow can mark or damage objects. My helpful

Indiana-style Country Lore June/July 2002 Clean your windshield of bugs with a single-edge razor blade; buy them 100 to a box. Got a critter between the walls? Turn on two or three radios, full volume, and go to town for half a day. When you come back, the creature

Best Lil' Greenhouse June/July 2002 I was going back through some of my old issues of MOTHER EARTH NEWS and came across an article about making wire-mesh tomato towers. I remember glossing over the article since I have employed these for the last eight years. I did want

Agritourism June/July 2002 green gazette From Maine to Illinois, buses filled with schoolchildren and conventioneers visit farms to pick a bunch of lavender, go maple sugaring, harvest a personalized pumpkin, pet baby animals or take a picture of grand

How to Survive Lightning June/July 2002 green gazette People hit by lightning suffer both extreme heat and damaging electricity from the bolt. Few survive. Direct hits are not the only danger however. In open terrain, nearby strikes also can electrocute. But i

Fuel from Straw June/July 2002 Ethanol fuel was hailed as the savior of both farm country and the environment—in 1992. Since its introduction, ethanol hasn't exactly stolen the renewable energy spotlight. The problem isn't performance: Ethanol does burn cleaner

We are off the electric grid, making all our electricity from our two wind generators and 12 solar panels. As a backup we use a 12.5 kilowatt diesel generator.

Water-Wise Toilets June/July 2002 energy & environment by Carol Steinfeld and Claire Anderson Composting toilets are a world away from the odoriferous outhouses of yesteryear. And low-flush conventional toilets offer an option for those unprepare

Communities and municipalities are using maps to chart the path toward a greener, more environmentally sustainable future.

David Cavagnaaro shares a way to recycle jars and lids; Joanna Uhler still enjoys strenuous outdoor work at age 69; Maureen Unger does her recycling at a hazardous waste facility; Annell Durham preserves sweet red peppers and fresh basil; Paulette Brunnet removes road tar from her car with a baking soda and water paste and stops mosquito bites from itching by applying Secret deodorant; Gary Voshell believes beagles are the best dog for a homestead; Catherine Dybiec Holm shares several tips from making a country living.

The surprising success of the book Fast Food Nation; Lawrence, Kan. couple offer a resource publication, Growing For Market; making sense of land trusts, covenants, and easements.

Fruit enthusiasts share their favorite fruits and growing tips, including antique and ultramodern varieties, plus how to find the most flavorful apples, pears, peaches and plums.

NAFEX, a non-profit group of fruit enthusiasts, is committed to the discovery, cultivation and appreciation of exceptional varieties of fruits and nuts.

Spinach is undergrown in many gardens because gardeners don't take the time to understand the plant, this guide provides that much-needed insight, including your fall target date, seed sources, bountiful fall varieties, overwintering, keep your seeds cool.

How to grow heathy, vibrant radishes that weigh up to 5 pounds, including cool conditions, seed sources, pickled pleasured, a gallery of exotic radishes.

Reflections on the genetic manipulations of life.

Passive solar distillation is an inexpensive, low-tech alternative for pure drinking water without bottles, including types of distillers, cost comparisons, going automatic or electric.

Keep you and your pets happy with the least-toxic control methods, including preventive maintenance, tackling ticks, light traps, how to remove a tick, a fowl approach and a new generation of pesticides.

How to make the most of the hot, but fertile, final months of summer, especially tomatoes, including a recipe for tomato-glut sauce.

GreenerPastures: August/September 2002 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania By Robert Kobet I am a younser, a colloquial tag for a Pittsburgh native. My family's three generations have witnessed three different Plitsburghs: Its meteoric rise as an Industrial st

Author/homesteader moved back to the land not only to experience nature intimately, but to make a commitment to conserve, nourish and heal the land.

Tom and Jill Vorbeck offer samples of their conventionally grown apple varieties from their Chapin, Ill., orchards.

For the best-tasting pears and easiest to grow, choose 'Magness', 'Kieffe'r, 'Pineapple', 'Bierschmitt', 'Comice', 'seckel', 'Warren', 'Maxine' and 'Honeysweet.'

For the best-tasting peaches and those easiest to grow choose 'Reliance', 'saturn', 'Redhaven', 'Tropic Snow' and 'May Pride.'

Find the best-tasting plums, including those easiest to grow: 'Purple Heart,' 'Au Rosa,' 'shiro,' 'Toka,' 'Methley' and 'Waneta.'

A guide to organic growing and shopping, including labeling choices, how to get certified, allowed and prohibited practices.

Natural remedies for sunburns, including a green pharmacy, tea, aloe, cucumber, calendula, eggplant, plantain and witch hazel.

Regional and seasonal gardening tips for where you live.

Still Splitting Wood at 69 August/September 2002 CountryLore I have enjoyed MOTHER EARTH NEWS for years and years. At age 69 I do not get into very large projects anymore, but I still split my own firewood. I bought the mechanical wood splitter advertised in your m

Recycling Rejects August/September 2002 CountryLore My recycling tip is to check out your local hazardous waste facility. Sounds awful, doesn't it? But our facility, actually located in the next county, has an exchange room that everyone is welcome

Sweet Red Winter Peppers August/September 2002 CountryLore We always have an abundance of just slightly blemished sweet red peppers, one of our family's favorite vegetables to cook with, winter or summer. We core and chop the peppers, spread the pieces in a single

Tackling Car Tar and Mosquito Bites August/September 2002 CountryLore What do you do when you drive over a newly paved road and get that black goo on your car? Make a paste of baking soda and water, rub it on the spot and it will remove the tar. This mixture also r

The Homestead Hound August/September 2002 CountryLore In my opinion, you can't beat the beagle as a top choice for your homestead. Beagles will guard your yard and garden from those shrubeating, lettuce-mooching, wascally wabbits and other critters. They hav

Make a Country Living August/September 2002 CountryLore Being self-employed in the country can make a lot of sense, since traditional jobs may be few and far between. If you are suited for this particular way of working, the joy of being able to craft your own plac

Land Trusts August/September 2002 Green Gazette In our age of urban, suburban and even rural sprawl, no land is sacred. But there are steps you can take to improve the odds your beloved property won't someday be leveled for yet another condominium development or am

Sneeze-Free Trees August/September 2002 Green Gazette Many commonly planted landscape trees are male trees that produce large amounts of pollen, but no fruit or seeds. While these litterfree male trees seemed more desirable than female trees, Thomas Ogr

Fast Food Fine Read August/September 2002 Green Gazette Just prior to the initial release of Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the AllAmerican Meal, a representative of the book's publisher, Houghton Mifflin, told Publisher's Weekly the company had ordered a large

You can build a natural pool in your own backyard. Take a dip and enjoy the clean, chemical-free water in your eco-friendly, in-ground pool.

Build a Solar Home and Let the Sunshine In August/September 2002 Energy & Environment By Dan Chiras If you're planning to build your dream home someday, this article could save you thousands of dollars. Including simple, passive-solar features in

When rain is scarce, a low-cost drip irrigation system will save time and use about half as much water as conventional sprinkler irrigation.

Mother's hardly working naturalist August/September 2002 Muir, Bartram, Burroughs, Thoreau, Audubon—they were all good naturalists, true, and you have to admire their industry. On hot summer days, though, I prefer not to follow in their trailtrudging footsteps. instead I choose the more supine observational m

Introduce yourself to tree-free paper and take advantage of its benefits - environmental and otherwise; Web site offers resource to teach children about energy consumption; saving building costs with reclaimed materials.

Understanding the biology behind the majesty of the fall leaves that we all enjoy, including the green machine, chlorophyl, photosynthesis.

Benton County, Oregon October/November 2002 Greener Pastures: Corvallis Oregon Where sustainable ways are gaining ground. by Justin Soares If you want to escape sagebrush subdivisions, coastal condomania and the ravenous rampages of suburbia, as for

Facing up to the realities of global warming and recipes for curried sweet potato latkes.

Growing, picking, preparation and cooking advice for these tasty berries, and recipes for raspberry-surplus salsa.

Bake crusty breads, tasty pizzas and roasted meats in this easy-to-make oven. Includes diagrams, the floor, mixing mud, getting the most out of your oven.

Advocates of genetically engineered food claim this revolutionary new technol ogy is merely a more precise way to improve crops—something humans have been doing for the last 12,000 years. They don't usually acknowledge that genetic engineering gives humankind an unprecedented ability to create new life-forms by taking genes from one species and inserting them into another—something longtime biotech critic Jeremy Rifkin characterizes as a laboratory-conceived second Genesis. This is a powerful new technology and before we accept it, we must understand both its proponents' claims and the risks it poses.

Natural remedies, alternative medicine, for indigestion, including chamomile, peppermint, ginger, angelic, marjoram, coriander, papaya, pineapple, red pepper.

By keeping soil covered with crops over the winter, you can provide richer soil for your garden, prevent weeds and help crops flourish.

How to safely sharpen a chain saw and keep it operational, including the tools of the trade, a filing guide, sharpen your skills first, extending bar and chain life, buying the right saw.

A guide to constructing said table, log-splitting table plans, materials list, diagram.

How a Colorado couple gained energy independence with a lot of gumption and a little elbow grease.

Charles Long shares how to cultivate wild sunflower sprouts; Vincent Hinck cleans his glass woodstove door with vinegar; Michelle Freshour rubs soap on a lightbulb's threads so it doesn't break upon removal; Amber Greysay uses liquid fabric softener to reduce static electricity; Marcella White applies baby oil to his horses' knees daily to prevent bots; Dennis Divine uses a rubber gasket to seal plastic gas cans; David Griffin shares a couple methods to remove shrubs.

Regional and seasonal gardening tips for where you live.

Alice Dobbs and David Schafer chose to move onto David's grandparents farm in Missouri to begin their transition towards sustainable living.

Garden & Yard October/November 2002Lentils, chickpeas, fava beans and soup peas are perfect crops for home gardeners who want pure food and self-reliance. Virtually fat-free, these crops are rich in protein, fiber and minerals. All four crops are easy to store (no canning, freezing or drying required!) and

Energy & Environment October/November 2002 For cruising or commuting, an electric car or bike is the most energy-efficient, economical, reliable and fun transportation option. Electric vehicles (EVs) also are the cleanest vehicles on the road today: No smog-produc

Septic System Basic October/November 2002 David Hayward came home one summer day to find brown, swampy puddles in his front yard. As he puzzled over the brown ooze, his neighbor strolled over and identified the problem: Looks like your septic system went. Until that

Breads Alive October/November 2002 by Lynn Keiley Until the Industrial Revolution, nearly all breads were made from sourdough cultures fermented by air- borne bacteria and yeast, which create most these breads' flavor. Bake bread in this ancient tradition

The Truth About Mistletoe December/January 2002 by Terry Krautwurst. Ivy, holly, and mistletoe Make a good Christmas Wherever they go. — Old English saying The only good mistletoe is no *&@#! mistletoe at all. — Georgia pecan farmer My baptism beneath the mistletoe came when I was painfully 13. I w

Dreaming of a new home or barn you can't quite afford? If you cut your own lumber using a portable sawmill, you could save enough to bring the project within reach. And you can use the mill to develop a business custom-cutting lumber

Mark and Ray salvage logs for lumber from storm damaged trees.

Portable sawmills fall into three general categories: chainsaw mills, circular sawmills and band sawmills. Here are the pros and cons of each type of mill.

Cheers for the long-ears December/January 2002Issue # 195 - December/January 2003HomesteadingCheers for the long-earsFor homestead hardwork and comfortable companionship, their owners will tell you mules rule and donkeys are a dream. Talk to almost anyone who has one and they'll give you a lengthl

Living Free December/January 2002Homesteadingby Dan PriceI once lived in a log cabin with a window that framed the ski runs above Sun Valley, Idaho. Off from work one day, some friends and I explored a remote canyon road in an old Chevy. After bouncing along for an hour we came to a dead end. There, sit

Tipis and Yurts December/January 2002by Heidi HuntNomadic people have used portable tipis and yurts for thousands of years. These simple, circular structures provide snug, low-cost shelter. If you're looking for a spacious tent for family camping trips, temporary housing for weekend breaks from the rat race

Considering all they have to offer, it's hard to imagine how peanuts became associated with smallness, as in peanut-brain or buying something for peanuts. Nutritionally speaking, peanuts are packed with protein, fiber and vitamin E, plus the kind of fat that lowers cholesterol rather than raising it. In the garden, peanuts are solar-powered wonders that fix their own nitrogen, and you can feed the plant tops to animals or use them as mulch, after you harvest the nuts. Peanuts themselves can show up in any course on the table, from salad to dessert. No wonder we eat so many of them. The average American consumes six pounds of peanut products per year, but I think I eat three or four times that much. I really like peanuts!

A Time for Treats December/January 2002by Joan GussowIllustration by Brian OrrIt was a winter morning in suburban New York, and I was sharing with my young sons a favorite breakfast treat, homemade corn muffins. My sons' devouring eagerness had already told me that the muffins were delicious—and I agreed,

Kiwis & Gooseberries December/January 2002 Issue # 195 - December/January 2003 Home Food by Kris Wetherbee Kiwifruit (Actinidia species), also known as Chinese gooseberry, can be grown just about any where in North America. The growing range for the familiar fuzzy brown fruit (hardy to zero degrees, U

Weed Control Strategies December/January 2002 In this special edition, meet the cast of expert gardeners who contribute to each issue's Almanac, and discover their by Carol Mack New England & Maritime Canada ROBERTA BAILEY, WATERVILLE, MAINE An organic gardener for 25 years, Roberta's current pas

Using Herbal Remedies December/January 2002Herbs can be safer and less expensive than conventional drugs.by James A. Duke,Ph.D.Many Americans believe we have the world's best health-care system—that's certainly what medical doctors and government health experts keep telling us. But did you know that a r

Our Little Blue Home December/January 2002 Firsthand: Reports from the Field Story and Photos by Dan Bennett I've always loved the San Luis Valley in Colorado, and when I happened upon an ad in the Denver paper about acreage for sale on La Jara Creek, about 15 miles southwest of La Jara, Colorado, my wife

Country Lore December/January 2002 Readers' tips to live by Simple Privy Vent Several years ago, as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay, I experimented with VIPs, Ventilation-Improved Privies. The house we rented in a small village came with an odoriferous, flyinfested outhouse, as did all the houses in th

Green Gazette December/January 2002 by Cody Robertson Seeking a Simpler Season If, at the holidays, you find yourself hatching an escape plan to avoid a season of stress—and gift-giving gone gonzo—you're not alone. According to a national survey, two-thirds of Americans would welcome less emphasis on shopp

Cream of the Crops December/January 2002 Garden & Yard by Brook Elliot Fabulous flavor is one of the best reasons to grow your own food, yet many of the best varieties are becoming hard to find. Our modern food system often values shelf life, shipping qualities, yield and uniformity more than taste and

Grow Flowers For Cash December/January 2002by Lynn ByczynskiI get up at down and drink a cup of coffee on the porch as the red sun inches over the hillside. Then I head down to the field, just a stone's throw from the house, and wade into the neat rows of zinnias, sunflowers, salvia and celosia. As I focus on

Cut Flowers December/January 2002 Top Annuals for by DAVID CAVAGNARO The flower varieties listed below can be planted this spring for summer harvest. All are annuals with tall stems and long vase life. Back to » Grow Flowers for Cash • Ageratum 'Tall Blaze Horizon' — Like the fuzzy bedding plant, onl

Make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient with today's insulation options.

Appreciating the role bees play in plant sustenance; volunteers on organic farms; powerful pruning shears; spring cleaning the green way.

How to garden year-round with a greenhouse, including glazing, polyethylene films, acrylic, fiberglass, glass, polycarbonate, laying a solid foundation.

How to extend your growing season and earn up to $25,000 an acre. Includes building a hoophouse, row covers and a Hooping It Up sidebar by Kent Fellenbaum.

Guide to raising chickens, including recommend reading and how to give mini-coop birds a dusting area.

The best chicken varieties for MOTHER's Mini-Coop, including buttercups, brown leghorns, hamburgs and anconas.

How to construct this small home for chickens, including framing, installing the wall-sheathing, bringing the trusses together and diagrams.

Readers weigh in on the best benefits of chickens defending the homestead from grasshoppers, scorpions, termites, rats and mice, flies and pillbugs.

The history and benefits of this remarkable little bird, including insulation, bitty brain, massive memory.

Author has difficulty finding something to praise in February, and settles on winter-grown carrots and parsnips.

Parsnips Back on the plate February/March 2003by Kris WetherbeeNow is the time to experience parsnips, the ivory jewel of root vegetables.Ginger-Glazed Parsnips1 tablespoon butter or margarine 1/2 tablespoon honey 1 pound parsnips (about 3 to 4), peeled and thinly sliced 1/4 to 1/3, cup chicken brot

How to plant, develop, harvest, preserve and prepare red peppers.

Mother readers write on their favorite garden varieties, including ‘Juane Flamme’ orange tomato, ‘Tobacco Worm’ snap beans, ‘Laxton Progress No. 9’ garden pea and ‘Lutz Greenleaf’ Beet.

A homeowners guide to plastering, including a plaster prime, earthen plasters, moisture management, lime plaster, cement stucco.

Serve your community, meet your neighbors and find adventure along the way. Join your local fire department!

Guide to pruning procedures made easy, including removing a large branch, pruning fruit plants, deciduous bushes, hedges and trees.

How to find the right tiller for the job, including tiller types and brands for 10 true tillers and 10 tiny tillers.

Gathering beneficial bugs to protect your garden, including trapping soldier bugs, trap timing, storing and using soldier bugs.

The benefits of selecting a wood-burning furnace or boiler to heat a home over a woodstove, including forced-hot-air systems, hyrdonic systems, combination systems, dual units and installation.

Greener Pastures: Chicago, Illinois February/March 2003 by John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist With one of the most progressive renewable energy rebate programs in the country, Chicago is becoming a city of solar panels and skyscrapers. Scarred brownfields and littered lots are undergoing verdant transformations, pro

Margie Buchwalter provides a recipe for a homemade honey substitute; John Raabe recommends perspective solar builders download his sunkit on-line; Lisa Prong offers suggestions for building a natural swimming pool; Russ and Sharon Silljer give recipes for homemade fast food; Judy Depal uses vinegar to kill weeds; Mrs. Quintin Hadley tells how to catch fruit flies; Arthur Lee uses a drinking cup and telescoping pole to pick hard-to-reach peaches.

Whether it's an acreage hidden in the hills or a townhouse in the middle of a bustling city center, most of us are searching for a special place we can call home. How to seek out and purchase your perfect plot of land, including real estate terms, nine steps to success, selling your home, buying in the country.

Regional and seasonal gardening tips for where you live.

Down to Earth Homes Earth-sheltered homes cut heating and cooling bills, create weather- and noise-proof shelter and blend in with the landscaping, including comparing options, designing with dirt. February/March 2003 By Dan Chiras Earth-sheltered homes fit a wide range of climates and a variety of

Alternative medicine and natural remedies for fighting carpal tunnel syndrome, including what causes it, green pharmacy solutions, willow, chamomile, pineapple, red pepper, turmeric, comfrey, cumin.

Woman recalls experience of meeting her mate in the classified section of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

This four-part special section tells you how to raise backyard chickens, build a portable mini-coop, and enjoy delicious eggs and exceptional pest control from rare, beautiful heritage breeds.

Choosing Safe Lumber February/March 2003 By Lynn Keiley For years, the wood industry told us that wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) was perfectly safe, even as studies indicated that treated timbers expose us to arsenic, a known carcinogen linked to sk

If you have a lot of pruning to do this spring, and especially if you have arthritis in your hands, you may want to consider using a pruner with extra power. We tested the Fiskars PowerGear pruner and the Florian Ratchet-Cut pruner against a conventional pruner and found huge differences in the cutting power of the three tools.

Those begging for new adventures and eager to get their paws in the soil this spring will want to say WWOOF! — Willing Workers on Organic Farms, that is. From Central American fincas to old English homesteads, WWOOF aims to give volunteers firsthand experience in ecologically sound growing techniques, while exposing them to country life, either in the United States or overseas.

The EPA reports that an average household contains anywhere from three to 25 gallons of toxic materials, most of which are cleaners. A 15-year study conducted in Oregon found a correlation between chronic exposure to cleaning products and an increased cancer rate in women who worked at home. Clearly, it's sanitary insanity to clean with products that pollute our homes, our bodies and our planet, but what's a neat freak to do?

Floral greenhouses are increasingly relying on pesticides; Fat Tire beer is committed to environmental friendliness and efficiency; recycled tire rubber can leak zinc into the soil and hamper plant growth in gardens; converting energy despite instant on appliances (by Claire Anderson).

With a few grapevines, some patience and a little know-how, you can make fabulous organic wines at home, including selecting varieties, planting and tending vines, wine making supplies and buying organic.

Making Music April/May 2003 By K.C. Compton Call it a jam, sing-around, song swap or hoot—or just a hunch of friends noodling in the kitchen—home made music offers an unparalleled oppor tunity to get to know people, expand your musical horizons and have a great time without spending one thin dime. Over time, a

A guide to growing and discovering the most delectable watermelons and cantaloupes, including short-season traits, picking a vine-ripe melon, direct seeding versus transplants.

The monstrous acts of the Al Qaeda terrorists have caused thoughtful people to take another look at our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Many are shocked to discover that, 28 years after the first Arab oil embargo, the United States still has not done an

The new Habitat for Humanity Green Team program allows volunteers to build energy-efficient, low-cost green homes.

Permanent beds make gardening easier and soil healthier. Includes annually adding compost, building new beds and soil testing.

Multipurpose four-wheelers can take you and your tools where your pickup can't, including labor savings and specialty ATV attachments and accessories.

HERBS OR DRUGS? April/May 2003 Consider your Choices By K.C. Compton Illustration by Brian Orr and Karen Rooman Is your hair thinning in all the wrong places? Take Viri-Locks twice a day and say goodbye forever to male pattern bal

Mother tests several compost tumblers and shares results, including tumbler styles, feature pros and cons, operating factors, test results.

Seventeen-year-old author doesn't live with much technology and relishes her life and its freedoms.

Jude Rubin shares three ways to cut down on commercialism during the winter holiday season; Sarah Brown tells of the family co-op she started with her husband; David Cawthon converted an old bicycle into a push plow; Steve Day stores the tiny tubes that come with lubricants inside an empty ink pen; Claude Reeson shares nursery advice; Elane Morley converted a wicker playbox into a sturdy wood basket; Paul Doerr shares advice on how to grow grains successfully; Dennis Divine gives advice on how to hatch ducklings; Robert McCauley shares a recipe for sugar maple tea; Jeff Ryan uses his propane burner for canning.

Camouflaged insects and the tricks nature gives the bugs to survive, including mimicry, colorings, warning signs.

How to build a seaworthy coracle - a large, basket-like, woven boat, including how to build and lash a coracle, layout, weaving, bending the ribs, waterproofing recipe.

Regional and seasonal gardeneing tips for where you live.

Mother readers weigh in on their favorite crop varieties, including white meated watermelon, California White garlic, large lima beans, recipe for stuffed Kailaan leaves.

A House of Straw April/May 2003 A single mom and her teenage sons build an energy-efficient home for about $50 a square foot. So what's stopping you? By Carolyn Roberts I've always enjoyed making things more than buying them. I sewed many of my

Greener Ways to the Great Beyond April/May 2003 Here's how to ensure your final resting place is earth friendly and priced right. By Nancy Smith A typical, no-frills funeral and burial in the United States costs from $6,000 to $10,000, uses fo

You can build simple, beautiful and inexpensive wooden coffins.

Superb Soybeans April/May 2003 Packed with protein fiber, vitamins and minerals, soybeans are easy to grow and taste terrific By Dan Jason Photos by David Cavagnaro My discovery of soybeans led to the creation of my seed company, Salt Spring Seeds, i

Herbal Remedies You Can Trust April/May 2003I agree in spirit with the age-old adage, but in truth it takes more than an apple a day to keep the doctor away. Throw in some regular exercise, about nine more servings of fruits and vegetables, and some basic herbs or herbal supplements, and now you have a recipe f

Judy August builds Mother's portable chicken coop; Elizabeth Hardesty uses borax to repel fleas; peppermint repels mice according to Susan Womersley; Roy Shepard tells how to plant morel mushrooms; poultry pest patrol tips from Andy Tomsevics, Kathleen Callahan-Jordan, Kenny Liles, Robin Bucking and Susan Jarrett; buying chicks from Allen Thompson and the joys of Barred Rock chickens by Joyce Lawrence.

Field Guide Fever June/July 2003 by Terry Krautwurst More than books, they're windows on a wider world.   My life of addiction began a long time ago. It was a perfect 10th birthday party: the weather was sunny and warm, all

All of the great things you can put on a hot dog bun and leave the hot dog off.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to picking the best food dehydrator for you. Learn the pros and cons of four leading food dehydrators designed for drying fruits and vegetables.

Friend or Foe June/July 2003 By John Stuart In my early years working for a volunteer fire department, the mission could not have been more clear: Control the chaos, save the house, put the fire out! During the same years, I worked on controlled burns on

Read all about better living through community cooperation and greener homes in intentional communities.

Basil 'Passport to Paradise' June/July 2003 by Barbara Pleasant Fresh basil may well be the signature herb of summer, perfuming our gardens and flavoring our foods with its delightful clovelike essence. Historically, basil has been associated with em

An easy-to-read chart tells you which kind of glues to use for which situation.

How the author and her husband found their dream home along a back road in pastoral Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Party for the Planet, a list of renewable energy, sustainability, organic food and eco-spirituality workshops and festivals.

Use these low-till, low-work methods to enhance the soil in your garden. Includes information on mycorrhizal fungi.

How to choose and care for these beautiful, furry creatures.

Four simple weed control tips and the two best weeding hoes.

Learn how to make your yard a haven for all kinds of critters.

How to test your drinking water, and if it's polluted, why water filters are a better option than bottled water.

Regional and seasonal gardening tips for where you live.

Naughty, Nice or Neutral Naughty, nice or neutral?The asparagus beetle, Crioceris asparagi, is the most likely to eat the plant part of asparagus that the human gardener also relishes. June/July 2003 By the MOTHER EARTH NEWS editors Asparagus Beetles These two closely related beetles are similar

Readers nominate their favorite vegetables: Amish Paste' tomato, Trail of Tears' pole beans, Packman' broccoli and Clemson Spineless' okra.

Fire: Friend or Foe? June/July 2003 Firesafe Your House First, create a defensible space to make sure that an approaching fire, burning through the crowns of trees, will be knocked down to a ground fire close to your buildings. • On level or sli

Choose Your Glue June/July 2003Issue #198 — June/July 2003by Joe Hurst-WajszczukIs your kitchen counter curling up at the edges? Are you ever going to fix that broken handle on your favorite coffee cup? Are your most comfortable running shoes falling apart? Here's how to pick the right glue for every repair

A star chart of the summer constellations.

Build a house or other building using chunks of firewood and masonry to construct the walls.

Steve Anderson builds a copper waterer for a bird bath; Erika Jensen uses her salad spinner for more than lettuce; Grace Brockway freezes soup stock in flat discs; build a cardboard-box oven like Marla McPherson; Rhonda Featheringill's milk, egg white and honey facial; Nathaniel Nelson builds a wood and PVC firewood rack; Richard Gambier uses thinned saplings for a privacy screen; credit cards make great pan scrapers according to Charles Swisher; Anna Victoria Reich's ironing board potting bench; Jeanette Hanberry makes liquid soap; hot water is a great dirt remover according to Heidi Douglass; Marcella White makes quilting patterns from the side of plastic milk cartons.

It is an odd sight, this shuffling, waddling creature with the faintly foul odor, a thin trickle of drool at one corner of its mouth, its hair sticking out every which way, its eyes blinking, its tail comically naked.

Protect yourself from those pesky little bloodsuckers with these safe methods; plus an herbal insect repellent, and what you need to know about West Nile virus.

Plant this cold-hardy, super-nutritious crop in the fall for sweet soups and salads in the winter, with a recipe for black kale salad.

Elation is what you feel when you first discover a good tool, and table saws certainly are good tools. They allow you to cut all kinds of lumber and plywood with great accuracy, safety and ease. How to evaluate the options when you're shopping for one these indispensable power tools.

Cilantro, or Chinese parsley, adds flavor to Mexican, Chinese and Thai cooking. Learn how to grow and cook with it, plus a recipe for black-eyed pea salsa.

Plant these interesting, easy-care perennial onions and shallots in the fall to ensure a bountiful supply for years to come. Recipes for chicken Chinese,' mussels with garlic and shallots, baked garlic and onion pie.

Find out Mother's top picks among a selection of popular skillet brands.

Naughty, nice or neutral? Borer eggs are laid on shaded parts of the squash stems and leaves. Larvae hatch in about a week and immediately begin boring into runner stems

Readers nominate the following varieties as their favorites: Charentais cantaloupes, bottle onions, Boothby's Blonde' cucumber and Noir de Crimee' tomato; plus a recipe for cucumber salad with paprika dressing.

It's raining I'm storing August/September 2003 How a master plumber harvests rain for his drinking water. By Robert Foley My subdivision's water originates from a typical Texas well, and it is hard with a capital H It also is expensive, and so he

Snippets of information on GM salmon, organic coffee, GM crops threatening organic crops; genetic drift from plant pollen; mad cow; farming windmills; most vegetables travel 2,000 miles from farm to market; Certified Humane Raised and Handled is a new meat designation; humans may have up to 97 industrial compounds in their bodies.

Regional and seasonal gardening tips for where you live.

Electric Fencing August/September 2003 The easy way to keep your livestock in and predators out. By George DeVault Japhy, a pup from the city, didn't know what a chicken was when he first moved to the farm, but he thought our Silver Laced Wyandottes looked in

You can build your own home from a kit! If you've always wanted to build a house, but aren't ready to start completely from scratch, you can buy a home package. This article explains all the options for kit homes.

Wrangle water from the sky for watering, washing and even drinking, no matter where you live.

When Alden Hathaway told his wife, Carol, that he wanted to build a totally self-sufficient, solar-powered home for their family of five, she feared that it was the end of life as she

Chris Banks and Paula Minucci were faced with a decision. Just bringing electric service to their beautiful mesa homesite near Carbondale, Colorado, was going to cost thousands even though the site was less than a mile from the nearest utility line. They wanted to have all the modern-day comforts, but couldn't convince themselves that forking over $8,000 to connect to the utility — and then to be burdened with a lifetime of electric bills — was a wise investment. Instead, they decided to put their money where they could reap a return: in a photovoltaic (PV) system.

Conventional electric power sources, such as coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy, currently receive 10 times more government subsidies than renewable energy (power from the sun, wind and water) receives.

Install a solar electric system and cash in on the savings.

Before you invest in a solar electric system, put some energy into choosing a skilled solar installer. If you can't find an installer listed in your hometown Yellow Pages, let your fingers do the walking on the Web.

Summer Stars August/September 2003by Alan M. MacRobert The brilliant white star Vega shines high overhead late these warm nights. Golden yellow Arcturus blazes in the western sky. And if you live under deep darkness, you can see vast star clouds of the Milky Way silently boiling up in the south.You can le

Plug into solar! Here's our roundup of online courses; hands-on workshops; college degree programs; educational materials for elementary and secondary students; and career opportunities and certifications.

Commentary on the early issues of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

Doyle's memories of the original staff of The MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine.

A reflection on the simple-living lessons offered by legendary homesteaders Helen and Scott Nearing, authors of Living the Good Life.

Computer technology is advancing so fast that old hardware quickly becomes completely obsolete

Oaks, Acorns and You October/November 2003Issue # 200— October/November 2003 MOTHER's NatureJerry KrautwurstMagnificent oak trees and their acorns sustain countless wild creatures.BLAM! BONK-BLAM! BLAM! For days on end at our house, this is early autumn's tune—a slow, staccato solo for pickuptruck p

How to save seeds from you garden to experience the ultimate in self reliance and select the best vegetable varieties for your local conditions.

Tips reprinted from the first 10 years, 1970-1980.

The author recounts her years of living as a self-described wilderness mother in British Columbia.

Before you buy a new car or truck, even perhaps a hybrid car, learn which ones are best for the environment and have the highest gas mileage.

Garden & Yard October/November 2003 By Nancy Smith Any bird with a call like Buckwheat! and a head like a helmet needs some redeeming quality. In the case of the guinea fowl, which have both the call (in this case, the hens say Buckwheat!) and t

Use the sun to slash your water heating costs. Includes sources for solar domestic hot water systems.

Before you pick up that brush, investigate the benefits of less toxic, low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints: lower health risks and less air pollution.

Learn why EPA-certified, high-efficiency fireplaces burn more efficiently with less air pollution than conventional masonry fireplaces, steel heat forms, radiant fireplaces or zero-clearance factory-built fireplaces.

How to grow, harvest and cook with this fiery root. Includes recipes for spunky apple-carrot salad, creamed horseradish, horseradish butter, cocktail sauce and horseradish curls.

Regional and seasonal gardening tips for where you live.

Naughty, neutral or nice? These tinly wasps are parasitic on some caterpillars, boreres, weevils and beetes, making them a beneficial garden visitor.

Some of Mother's reader's favorite crops: Orangegold' watermelon, Romano' pole snap beans, Titan' tomatoes and yellow crookneck squash. Plus a recipe for savory crookneck squash pudding.

Scott Nearing

Greener Cars and Trucks October/November 2003 America and the SUV U.S. automobiles release more carbon dioxide than the nationwide energy-related emissions of all but four other countries in the world and the immense popularity of fuel-inefficient SUVs has dragged

Great Green Vehicles of 2003 October/November 2003October/November 2003

Greener Cars and Trucks October/November 2003 Dirty Diesels? Diesels generally don't make the green grade, says the ACEEE. That's because, even though they consume less fuel than their gasoline counterparts and therefore release fewer greenhouse gas emiss

Better Than Speed October/November 2003 Poet gains an Insight in his quest for a greener car By Will Nixon At 210,000 miles, my beloved Nissan Sentra was given a death sentence by a mechanic who found the underbody too rusted to pass the next vehicle inspectio

Real Food October/November 2003 From Farms to Five-Stars By Doreen G. Howard Market growers and chefs are teaming up to serve fresh, local fare in restaurants across the country. Fresh ingredients constitute the hallmark of great cuisine,

Resolve on a Greener 2004! December/January 2003 Volunteers help plant a tree along the Los Angeles River during a community tree-planting and clean-up effort in the Glassell Park area of Los Angeles. Go ahead and put saving the planet on your list of New Year's resolutions. Sound tough? Then consider this

Beautiful and mysterious, barn owls also are prolific predators of rodents.

My Rocky Mountain Winter Garden December/January 2003by Clara ColemanIn the following story, Clara Coleman reports on her first experience using a low-tech method developed by her father, Eliot Coleman, for growing salad greens in wintertime. In a companion piece beginning on Page 26, Eliot outlines the evo

Heat Your Home with BiodieselDecember/January 2003by Greg PahlAlthough it has been promoted mostly as a fuel for diesel-powered vehicles, biodiesel is perfectly suited as an additive or replacement fuel in a standard oil-fired furnace or boiler.When used as a heating fuel, biodiesel is sometimes referred

Sowing Spuds December/January 2003by Brook ElliottTap on a freshly dug potato and it feels crisp, like an apple right off the tree. Cook that spud up immediately and savor a subtle nuttiness in its tender flesh - almond-like in some varieties, walnutty in others, tantalizing flavors that are quick to fade.

Great Green Appliances December/January 2003 by Greg Pahl Plug into today's energy-efficient appliances and enjoy long-term savings. Are your home appliances green? No, not that nauseating avocado tint that was popular back in the 1970s. The question is, are your appliances easy on the environment? All the

Sensational Seedless Grapes December/January 2003by Kris WetherbeeGrow seedless grapes and fill your pantry with luscious jams, jellies, juices, raisins, wines and vinegars.Imagine harvesting shimmering clusters of golden, honey-sweet 'Himrod' grapes; rosy-pink 'Reliance' (shown left); midnight-blue 'Gl

Great Gift Ideas December/January 2003Recommended by MotherWe examine lots of new and not-so-new stuff here at our editorial offices. Some of it is truly nifty and useful. Here are our top picks to help you make green choices for this year's holiday gift-giving. — MOTHERWOLF-Garten snap-on, multih

Our Solar SunHawk December/January 2003by John Schaeffer When my wife, Nancy, and I started planning our dream homestead in 1998, our first thought was that our house needed to be far more than a shelter. We wanted our home to express our values and reflect everything we had learned from our 35 years of ren

Sage December/January 2003by Barbara PleasantSausage just wouldn't be sausage without sage. Bean soup, sage cheese and Thanksgivings stuffing would suffer incalculably, too. A couple of plants in your- kitchen garden, though, will save you from ever having to do without the comforting, complex, astringent t

Robber Flies December/January 2003 by Tom Quirk Few insects will mess with a nest of hornets. That is, few except the notorious robber — aka assassin — fly. Although only 1-inch long, these aggressive insects will take on prey as large or larger than themselves — from grasshoppers to butterflies. Robber flies c

Winter Sky December/January 2003 by Alan M. MacRobert Late: November: 9 p.m. Early December: 8 p.m. Late: December: 7 p.m. Early January: Dusk The bright constellation Orion is rising up in the east these cold, dark evenings. Off to its left shines yellow Saturn. Orange Mars glows higher in the southwes

Country Lore December/January 2003 Durable Dish My wife and I decided we had the perfect place for a gazebo, but a problem we faced was an intense dislike for the style of most commercial gazebos. When a neighbor asked for help in removing an old satellite dish, a light bulb came on! We knew we had our roof a

Timely Gardening Tips for where you live December/January 2003 by Carol Mack New England/Canada Maritimes All is quiet in the garden. The garlic sleeps under its thick blanket of mulch and the compost pile has cooled. Unless you have a cold frame within a greenhouse where greens still can be picked, not

Cream of the Crops December/January 2003by Brook ElliotGreat taste is one of the biggest reasons to grow your own garden, yet many of the best-tasting varieties are becoming hard to find. M OTHER's Cream of the Crops series presents outstanding varieties recommended by our readers.Left: 'Buttercup' squa

Earth Words December/January 2003Spare! nor heed the common tattle,Learn the truth and strive to knowThose who give this night-bird battleKill a friend and call him foeCame-preserver, farmer, allMight him Benefactor call.In the ivied ruin hoary,Hollow trunk, or steeple grey,There h

Evolution of a Winter Harvest December/January 2003by Eliot ColemanGrow your own gorgeous greens even in the coldest winter with these techniques.It's enjoyable and instructive to review the progress of an idea you have developed over the years, trying to remember the hallmarks of different stages and t

Snowy Solutions December/January 2003 Up to your ears in fluff? Dig your way out with these handy tools. By Lindsey Hodel Illustrations by Brian Orr For many of us, the season for snow shoveling has arrived. Although shoveling the white stuff by hand is always the greener choice, it may not be practical

ICE DAMMING December/January 2003 Find and fix this costly energy thief. By Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk Icicles hanging along the eaves of a roof may be prettier than store-bought twinkle lights, but these sparkling natural beauties are a symptom of a major home ailment. Icicles form when snow accumulates on the r

Safer De-icing CHEMICALS December/January 2003by Lindsey HodelHomeowners and street crews use salt and sand on icy sidewalks and roads to make them safer to navigate, mostly because salt and sand are cheap and abundant. But they aren't good for the environment or for buildings, roads and cars.Even when used

Growing ... Growing ... Gone December/January 2003by Lester R. BrownWe risk a global crisis if we continue to define economic growth as progress,' without regard for environmental realities.Lester R. Brown has helped pioneer the idea of building of an environmentally sustainable economy. In 1974, he f

Snippets on the Climate Stewardship Act; Northeast states cut carbon emissions; purchasing green power certificates to offset the cost of fossil fuel energy; farm schools; PLU/price look-up codes for country of origin and organic products; Yosemite goes for biodiesel; University of Wales teaches environmental forensics; test your water at home. (environment, food, renewable energy

Bringin' in the Birds February/March 2004 Mother's Nature by Terry Krautwurst Whoever came up with the expression eats like a bird to describe someone with an eensy appetite never watched wild birds in winter. Although feathers do a fine job of

How to use mulch to cut down on weeding and heavy labor in your garden. A reprint from Ruth Stout's book, Gardening Without Work, published by Lyons Press.

Heating, Cooking & Lighting February/March 2004 Emergency Essentials: Preparing for Power Blackouts Heating lf you live where winters are cold, having some kind of backup heating option is probably the single most important item in your emergency kit. If you lose electric power during a blizzard or i

Backup generators can help you to survive power outages in relative comfort.

Mother interviews Michael Phillips, author of The Apple Grower, who answers common questions about backyard apple growing. Michael tends his Lost Nation Orchard in New Hampshire.

Architect David Sellers designed a house inspired by nature and built in Vermont from local trees and stone.

Learn how to grow and cook with crosnes, a tiny, twisted tuber also known as Chinese artichokes or chorogi. Plus a recipe for crosnes, pear and hazelnut salad.

Enjoy rare chile peppers and exotic flavors with or without the heat: habaneros, 'Tabasco' peppers, baccatums and roccotos.

A viewpoint: In his follow up to a previous article, Going Growing Gone, Brown outlines his Plan B, a radical approach to creating an environmentally sustainable eco-economy.

Use sun tubes to bring natural sunlight into your home.

An excerpt from Bromfield's book, Return to Pleasant Valley, on the importance of rural life and sustainable agriculture to our collective future.

Including tips on behavior when encountering a bear and bear-proof trash containers.

Naughty, neutral or nice? These ground beetles feed on gardn pests, even climbing trees to get to tent caterpillars.

A photo of an Ancient White Park cow.

Clara Coleman on greenhouses; Marcella White uses vegetable shortening to remove glue; Carol Ahrens recycles paper for garden mulch; Kathleen Lupole uses wood shavings for kitty-litter; Stephen Derynck builds a rainwater cistern; G. Bruce McSpadden pulls heavy objects with a toboggan; Lois Kerr's family makes cider; the Richard Douglas family cuts ice for refrigeration.

Nick Botner, an Oregon orchardist, grows 3,000 varieties of apples on grafted trees.

Triple the length of your growing season with this simple, energy-efficient greenhouse design.