Innholdsfortegnelse for February-March 2013 i MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Grow for All Seasons Planning what you’ll plant this spring? If you’re seeking true self-sufficiency, growing crops that are productive, nutrient-dense and easy to store or preserve will bring you a big step closer to reaching your goal — and will ensure lots of fabulous eating! Sound appealing? Take a gander at our Guide to Top Crops for Food Self-Sufficiency at www.MotherEarthNews.com/Food-Self-Sufficiency, which features our best articles on growing and stowing potatoes, carrots, beets, apples, onions, garlic, winter squash and many other superstar storage crops. While we all love eating fresh spring salads and straight-off-the-vine tomatoes, with a little planning, you can turn your garden into a year-round source of food, decreasing your dependence on the grocery store — even in winter. You’ll also learn how to grow beyond fruits…

Broody Hen Booster Thank you for the great article on broody hens (“Raise Your Best Flock Using Broody Hens,” December 2012/January 2013). We started with a pair of Mottled Cochin Bantams, which promptly gave us two daughters, which in turn gave us granddaughters — all in just over a year. The hens consistently nest in a corner of the coop, which I can fence off with an old wire refrigerator shelf. That way, the hen can see what’s going on, and we can watch the chicks when they hatch. They hatch chicks year-round and keep them under wing for months. The hens are excellent mothers, and our rooster is a proud daddy. We often see him with the chicks sitting on top of him. Within a week, new chicks are…

A potential option for those looking to buy farmland is to locate unused and unkempt acreage. In the eastern part of the United States, I see many, many plots of land that have not been farmed in several years. A reason for this may be that the owners are aged farmers who do not have the energy or finances to continue to care for their property — but they don’t want to leave their house and the land they have lived on for many years, and the property may have been in their family for decades. I think many landowners would allow an energetic younger person to recondition these unused acreages for a minimal monthly fee (plus a reasonable deposit). These properties could support gardens, pasture, poultry and other animals.…

California voters had an opportunity in the November election to push back against Big Ag and stand up for our right to know what we’re eating. Proposition 37, which would’ve required labeling on all products that contain genetically modified (GM) ingredients, had a substantial lead in the polls in the weeks leading up to the election. That’s when huge corporations such as Monsanto amped up spending to defeat it. Monsanto spent more than $8 million (and chemical giant DuPont spent $5.4 million) to stop the law. Other contributors to the No on Prop 37 campaign were Pepsi, Bayer, Dow, Syngenta, Nestle, Kraft, Coca-Cola, General Mills, ConAgra, Kellogg’s and Campbell’s Soup. The money these companies spent helped create misleading ads claiming that labeling GM foods would add hundreds of dollars a…

For super-smooth sorbet, churn this recipe in an ice cream maker. For a treat just as refreshing but studded with icy crystals, simply stick the mixture in your freezer. Freeze this sorbet in icepop forms instead for children. Makes 1 quart. 1 quart fresh (or frozen) strawberries, hulled 2/3 cup raw sugar 1/4 cup finely chopped sorrel In a mixing bowl, stir together the strawberries and sugar. Cover and set aside for an hour. Purée strawberries with their juices and the sorrel in a blender, then press the mixture through a sieve to remove seeds and large pieces of sorrel. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for an hour. Freeze according to your ice cream maker’s instructions. Or pop the mixture into a shallow, freezer-safe pan and freeze it. Scrape…

Imagine a more satisfying way to live, with time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. A quiet evening walk in the woods. Relaxed family meals of flavorful, homegrown food and with conversation, no TV in sight. Curling up with a good book in front of a crackling fire after a day of hard work in your garden ... You can enjoy these rewards of simple living — the key is to recognize the full value of becoming a skilled, productive homemaker/homesteader. In today’s world, most of us pay other people to provide the things we need, which means we need a job or two outside of the home to bring in cash. But if you learn how to be more self-sufficient, you’ll also learn how to save money, live on less…

I grew up helping my family make sweet sorghum syrup. I remember the sorghum canes growing in our garden, and the late summer day we harvested our crop. I loved the long day with family and friends, Dad readying the equipment, and Mom making sure everyone was fed. After Dad passed away, I became determined that my children would continue to play a part in producing this delicious, homegrown, natural sweetener. Sorghum-making is a way to increase your food self-sufficiency, but more than that, it’s a meaningful tradition you can add to your homestead. A past call-out in Mother Earth News for sorghum-making stories led to a flow of memories, photos and recipes centered on sweet sorghum syrup. (I’ve shared many of these stories in my blog at www.MotherEarthNews.com/Missouri-Homesteader.) I’ve…

Interested in trying your hand at this ancient art? Learn more about home distilling with these resources. ONLINE FORUMS The Home Distiller Forums: www.HomeDistiller.org/forum; A lively electronic forum with a good mix of beginner’s information and advanced knowledge. Artisan Distiller: www.Artisan-Distiller.net/phpBB3/index.php; With some areas for beginners, this board also attracts more experienced and skilled home distillers. BOOKS The Home Distiller’s Workbook: Your Guide to Making Moonshine, Whisky, Vodka, Rum and So Much More! by Jeff King Traditional Distillation Art & Passion by Hubert Germain-Robin Distilling Fruit Brandy by Josef Pischl (See Page 80 to order) COPPER ALEMBIC STILLS Destilarias Eau-de-Vie: www.Copper-Alembic.com/shop/ REFLUX STILLS Mile Hi Stills: www.MileHiDistilling.com…

There have been many collectors of rare native corns through the years, such as Carl Barnes, a Cherokee farmer from Turpin, Okla. Many of the Cherokee corns in circulation, including ‘Cherokee’ popcorn, trace to Carl Barnes. He developed a stunning new variety called ‘Carl’s Glass Gems’ (see photo, Page 48), which will be available through Native Seeds/SEARCH. You can learn more about Barnes’ life online at http://goo.gl/kAdRb. The highest kudos for collecting, however, go to George F. Will, anthropologist son of Oscar Will, the Bismarck, N.D., seedsman who promoted Native American varieties in his catalogs. George F. Will co-authored Corn Among the Indians of the Upper Missouri in 1917, and this book remains one of the best sources on traditional Great Plains corn. Will collected and grew more than 100…

Standard construction-grade lumber — of the kind used to build houses — measures 11.2 inches thick, and is an excellent material for a workbench top. But if you live where small sawmills are in operation, you can use rough-cut lumber to make a terrific workbench. It’s typically thicker than construction-grade lumber milled for the homebuilding industry (13.4 inches to 2 inches instead of 11.2 inches) and, depending on the tree species, this extra thickness probably won’t cost you any more. The only issue to keep an eye on is thickness. Depending on the kind of mill used to saw the wood, rough lumber’s thickness can be quite consistent, or it can vary as much as a quarter-inch from board to board. Planing one side and one face of rough boards…

• Good air circulation is essential for growing stevia in warm, humid climates. Use raised beds if growing this natural sweetener in climates where fungal leaf spot diseases are common. Ensure good drainage in containers by using a light-textured potting mix and containers with large drainage holes. • When first starting to use stevia as a healthy sugar substitute, start with a little and increase the amount gradually and only in small increments. • Take care not to overheat stevia teas or extracts. Such batches may be bitter. • Store stevia tincture in a medicine bottle with a dropper to add it to drinks or prepared dishes by the drop.…

Hybrid Seeds vs. GMOs What’s the difference between hybrids and genetically modified (GM) vegetable varieties? The term “hybrid,” which you’ll often see in seed catalogs, refers to a plant variety developed through a specific, controlled cross of two parent plants. Usually, the parents are naturally compatible varieties within the same species. This hybridization, or the crossing of compatible varieties, happens naturally in the wild; plant breeders basically just steer the process to control the outcome. In contrast, GM varieties (sometimes called “genetically modified organisms,” or “GMOs”) are a whole different animal, as we’ll explain in a bit. First, some background on plant hybridization. Humans have been cultivating new plant varieties since the beginning of agricultural development, but until fairly recently, the process required patience. Developing a nonhybrid, open-pollinated (OP) variety…

Homesteader of the Year Nominations. Know someone who should be a Homesteader of the Year? Submit a short essay and photos to Letters@MotherEarthNews.com with the subject line “Homesteader of the Year.” Your candidate’s profile could appear online or even in the magazine, plus Homesteaders of the Year win tickets to one of our MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIRS! Illegal Gardening Reports. Some U.S. cities are trying to prohibit residents from growing food gardens in their front yards. Post reports on this topic to our collection at www.MotherEarthNews.com/Illegal-Gardening.…

Happy new year, everyone! We’ve received some great news to help us ring in the 43rd year of MOTHER EARTH NEWS: Our audience has recently grown 26 percent and is now estimated at about 2.6 million readers. To put that number into perspective, it means one out of every 11 adults in the United States shares your interest in the values represented by Mother Earth News. Feels good to know there are so many of us, doesn’t it? The traffic to our website also grew to more than 2 million visits per month in 2012. The advisory groups many of you participate in have made a major contribution to this growth. We send surveys via email if you have signed up, allowing you to tell us exactly what you most…

‘I Feel Completely Violated’ In fall 2011, I picked up a double load of composted cow manure from a local farmer. I diligently spread it into my new garden beds and around my young fruit trees and blackberries. After doing so, I noticed the leaves on my blackberries started to curl a bit, but I wasn’t too worried at that point. Come spring, however, almost everything I had planted in my garden beds exhibited bizarre growth — if it grew at all. I was completely perplexed until I realized the manure was the only constant between all of the plants that were having issues. I called my friend Jo, who had used some of the same manure, and she, too, had damage to her crops. Googling terms such as “manure,”…

For more than a decade, gardens and farms have been damaged by compost or mulch that was contaminated with persistent herbicides. These potent chemicals are applied to lawns, pastures, hayfields and roadsides, and continue to be highly toxic even after residues on grass or hay have been composted. When livestock graze on treated pasture or hay, these herbicides even remain potent in their composted manure. We’ve termed this recurring problem “killer compost.” (For one reader’s report on this herbicide contamination, see Page 10.) In June 2012, employees at Green Mountain Compost in Williston, Vt., began fielding reports from gardeners about suspected herbicide damage following application of compost purchased at the facility. Initial tests of the compost revealed the presence of two herbicides — picloram and clopyralid — known to be…

Among the diverse list of heritage turkey breeds, you’ll find the charming Midget White turkey. This simple white bird has four characteristics that make it a great homestead choice: a smaller size that’s better for a single family meal, the ability to mate naturally, high production of fertile eggs, and a friendly temperament. This turkey breed was originally created in the late 1960s in response to growing interest in producing a smaller version of commercial turkeys. (For more on the history of the breed, go to http://goo.gl/jmUsd.) These birds mature to 8 to 13 pounds, with a plump breast that is not overly large. (Commercial turkey breeds produced via industrial systems have been bred to have such large breasts that the toms can no longer mate naturally with the hens,…

Your herbs have finished drying when you can crumble them easily, but don’t crumble them all! Whole leaves and seeds retain oils better in storage than crumbled herbs. Still, having some pre-mixed spice blends — such as those for Italian, Mexican or barbecue dishes — can be a big timesaver. Use a mortar and pestle to grind the ingredients. Tea blends are also useful, such as a combination of peppermint and fennel to calm an upset stomach. Store dried herbs in airtight jars out of direct light and away from high heat. Always label jars immediately with the date and contents. If you grew a particular variety, be sure to include its name so you can pinpoint your favorites over time. Check new jars for droplets of moisture or mold.…

The figures presented in this article and the accompanying chart involve much estimation and some complex calculations. Our hope is that these numbers will provide helpful specifics as well as inspiration, but do remember that every family’s situation is different. We’d love to have more examples of how simple living saves money. If you’ve been keeping track of your living expenses and would like to share how much you save by homesteading/homemaking, email us at Letters@MotherEarthNews.com with the subject line “Homestead Savings,” and we’ll post your report online at www.MotherEarthNews.com.…

As sweeteners go, sorghum syrup is a vitamin and mineral powerhouse that makes a splendid natural sugar alternative. Similar to sugar cane molasses in flavor and use, sweet sorghum syrup contains healthy doses of calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron. Drizzle sorghum syrup on warm biscuits or pancakes, add to muffin or gingerbread batters, or follow these recipes, available on www.MotherEarthNews.com: Ooey-Gooey, Rich and Sweet Sorghum Caramels: http://goo.gl/Sh6q6 Oatmeal Bread Made With Sorghum: http://goo.gl/fxrPa Sorghum Gingersnap Cookies: http://goo.gl/P3KcW Sorghum-Nut Bread: http://goo.gl/qVWPt (If you have sorghum recipes to share, send them to Letters@MotherEarthNews.com.) Want to Taste Sorghum Syrup? Country Rock Sorghum: 859-873-8497; send an email to ccfarmdude@aol.com or rabjrock@gmail.com Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill: 931-445-3509; www.MuddyPondSorghum.com…

Considering how corn, beans, squash and other “New World” foods have changed the course of human culture, the time is ripe to take a fresh look at Native American gardening. Here, within easy reach, is one of the greatest horticultural treasures — a system of gardening that is, by definition, an icon of biodiversity. Offering a rich array of unusual tastes and textures, the Native American garden is part and parcel of what I consider the “soul” of American food. And yet the full story is not exactly a happy one. Years ago I had the pleasure of chatting with the late Gladys Tantaquidgeon (1899-2005), a Mohegan anthropologist with whom I discussed some of the pressing issues facing Native American gardening. She expressed frustration about Mohegan garden seeds not being…

Thirty years ago, I built my first serious workbench. After using it nearly every day since, I still call the design a success. And that’s why I’m happy to share the plans with you. A solid, do-it-yourself workbench is an excellent starting point if you’re interested in building self-reliance skills. In fact, a practical work surface is more important than most of the tools you’ll be using, as it makes so many jobs easier. Successfully repairing small machines, assembling projects and building furniture are entirely dependent on having a sturdy work surface at the right height. In the garden, transplanting and re-potting seedlings without straining your back requires a table that’s perfectly sized for you. You can build a bench using rough-cut lumber, as I did, or with standard construction-grade…

The significance of wood heat as an energy resource can be seen during a drive through small towns or down country lanes: The long lines of piled firewood in the yards prove that heating with wood remains a viable option. Every winter, people who choose to heat with wood devote time to cutting up logs, and every spring they split the logs and stack them in rows to dry under the summer sun. In fall they move firewood to the house and stack it again, and in winter they burn it to warm their homes as they begin cutting again for the next year’s supply. Why do so many households in forested areas choose to heat with wood — a bulky, messy and labor-intensive fuel source? Firewood is a homegrown…

During any time of year, a visitor to my Zone 6 garden will find at least a couple of low tunnels at work. Supported by wire hoops or arches made from wire fencing, my garden tunnels are covered with row cover and/or plastic when it’s cold to create mini-greenhouses. During winter, they provide protection from wind, hail, and most critters while speeding soil warm-up for summer crops. In summer, I cover the greenhouse tunnels with lightweight row cover or tulle to exclude insect pests such as flea beetles and squash vine borers, and to provide shade for heat-sensitive crops such as lettuce. The cycle begins again when I plant fall-sown onions, such as ‘Olympic’ and ‘Top Keeper,’ or hardy greens inside my multipurpose, portable mini-greenhouses. Anatomy of a Low Tunnel…

Heated Chicked Waterer We have developed a line of poultry waterers, including this heated one you can make yourself. To construct the heated waterer, start with a 5-gallon bucket waterer with poultry nipples (see www.AvianAquaMiser.com for details). Additional supplies you’ll need include a second bucket, a 3-foot pipe-heating cable (aka heat tape, usually about $25) and duct tape. (Note: This project may not conform to the safety instructions provided by some heat tape manufacturers. — MOTHER) First, cut the bottom off of your extra bucket by starting your hole with the drill, then make your cut with the jigsaw. Remove the handle. Starting from the bottom edge of the bottomless bucket, use a coping saw to make a small slit about 3 inches up the side, then set aside the…

Yearning to Farm Most people in my generation want to be doctors, lawyers, writers or hold desk jobs. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with such career paths, but they’re not for me. I want my cubicle to be measured in acres, not inches. I don’t want to hear a clock ticking all day; I’d rather hear chicks clucking, or maybe the sound of wind through the trees. I’m not taking the traditional route — I want to be a farmer. I know it won’t be easy or the most lucrative path, but it’s how I want to change the world — by getting my hands dirty and producing food. My idea of a good life is one in which I have a deep connection to the Earth and to…

Barbara Pleasant’s article “Best Tips for Starting Seeds Indoors” (December 2012/January 2013) is gold! I’ve been trying for five years, with this past spring and summer being my most successful. (I had about six viable plants out of 20 pots.) By describing her mistakes and breaking down the nature of seedlings and their needs, Barbara has probably saved me from a few more years of trial and error. The illustrations in the story were not only wonderful, but helpful. Thank you so much! Alicia Gouveia via Facebook…

We simply cannot allow chemical giants to continue to peddle such persistent and powerful pesticides. It is well past time for the EPA to fix this problem. The solution is simple — stop allowing companies to profit by selling these plant-killers while hiding behind “do not compost” warnings buried in nine-page labels. Our guess is that while the Composting Council agrees with us, it doesn’t want the public to know about this issue because then we might stop buying its products. Well, as much as it pains us to say it, we believe the time has come for the public to stop buying compost or manure products unless they come from suppliers that are able to afford testing and can screen feedstocks for herbicide residues. A few companies have told…

Many people probably haven’t had the opportunity to try sorrel, a surprisingly spritely, bright green herb. Yet it was not so long ago that this tasty herb was a standard in kitchen gardens. The flavor of the tangy, lemony leaves should earn this easy-to-grow herb a spot in every home garden and kitchen once again. Market gardeners would be wise to persuade local markets to carry sorrel so non-gardeners can taste this under-appreciated herb. Sorrel (Rumex acetosa, R. sanguineus and R. scutatus) — from the Old High German sur, or “sour” — is related to rhubarb and contains the same oxalic acid compounds that give rhubarb its tanginess. It is zesty enough to stand in for lemon in a variety of recipes, as we have done with the tabbouleh recipe…

The following herbs are good candidates for drying. Some herbs, although they can be dried, retain their flavor better if frozen. These include basil, borage, chives, cilantro, lemon grass, mint, parsley. Leaves: bay, celery, chervil, dill, geranium, lemon balm, lemon verbena, lovage, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, summer savory, tarragon, thyme Seeds: anise, caraway, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, mustard Flowers: bee balm, chamomile, chive, dill, geranium, lavender, linden, marigold, nasturtium, rose, thyme, yarrow…

Three modern homesteading families shared with us their average annual expenditures in several areas. The chart below shows how their expenses compare with the average U.S. household expenditures in these same areas. All numbers given are per capita. *Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011 **Number adjusted with data from the Agricultural and Resource Economics program at West Virginia University to reflect cost adjustment for a mostly organic diet…

Well into the 1800s, homes in both Europe and North America had a “still room” where the woman of the house used a pot still to transform herbs and flowers into medicines and perfumes. Farms also had equipment for distilling fermented grain into liquor, or fruit wine into eau de vie. Even today, it is impossible to travel in much of the European countryside without being welcomed with shots of home-distilled spirits, including plum brandy or eau de vie, called slivovitz in Eastern Europe and mirabelle in France. What Is Eau de Vie? “Strictly speaking, any distilled spirit is an eau de vie,” said the late food authority R.W. Apple in The New York Times in 1998. “Cognac is an eau de vie made from [grape] wine; Calvados is an…

Key to Seed Sources 1. Appalachian Heirloom Plant Farm: Winchester, Ohio; www.AppalachianHeirloomPlantFarm.Weebly.com 2. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds: Mansfield, Mo.; www.RareSeeds.com 3. Mill Hollow Farm: To order, send check payable to Mill Hollow Farm; P.O. Box 501, Edgemont, PA 19028; $14 per pack (includes postage) 4. Native Seeds/SEARCH: Tucson, Ariz.; www.NativeSeeds.org 5. Sand Hill Preservation Center: Calamus, Iowa; www.SandHillPreservation.com 6. Southern Exposure Seed Exchange: Mineral, Va.; www.SouthernExposure.com 7. Vermont Bean Seed Company: Randolph, Wis.; www.VermontBean.com…

Insetting a removable potting tub or two into the top of your do-it-yourself workbench is easy and practical. Buy a sturdy plastic tub with a lip, measure the length and width of the body of the tub, and then mark it on the bench top to the right or left of the center legs (somewhere between leg frames). Use 2-by-4s to reinforce the underside of the bench top immediately on each side of the tub’s intended location. Bore 1-inch-diameter holes through the bench top, just inside the lines, one at each corner. Insert a jigsaw’s blade into one of the holes, and cut all four sides of the opening. Drop the tub into position. You’re now ready to store soil or potting materials right at bench level. If you’d like…

If growing your own calorie-free, natural sweetener sounds too good to be true, it’s time to get to know stevia. Native to Paraguay and other tropical areas of the Americas, the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana) produces leaves packed with super-sweet compounds that remain stable even after the leaves have been dried. Stevia leaves have been used to sweeten teas and beverages throughout South America for centuries. More recently, diabetics and dieters alike have turned to stevia to reduce their sugar intake because, unlike honey, maple syrup, agave or molasses, this natural sweetener has zero calories and is not metabolized by the body. Stevia is especially well-suited to sweetening drinks, fruits, salad dressings, yogurt and most creamy desserts. Stevia can substitute for some, but not all, of the sugar used when…

It was a happy accident, really, involving a road trip, a mistaken identity, a negotiation and a bunch of Corsican rams. Five years ago, I decided my sheep flock wasn’t meeting my goals. I had purebred Katahdin sheep, a hair sheep that sheds its coat each spring so you don’t have to shear them. There’s almost no local market for wool where I live, and very few shearers. I can shear one sheep if you give me half a day. The process also may require an emergency blood transfusion for the sheep or me, or both. So hair sheep are right for me. The Katahdins were hardy, docile, successful mothers, great meat producers and formed a good flock. But I wasn’t quite satisfied, and thus my sheep-breeding program began. I…

Following up on our report on poultry killed by Teflon-coated shatterproof light bulbs, we discovered a February 2012 report in the journal Comparative Medicine detailing several more instances in which off-gassing from bulbs coated with Teflon (PTFE) had killed chicks and other birds. One case even involved birds that were killed by coated heat lamps used in outdoor conditions. The authors write that Teflon toxicosis “may begin to increase in frequency, given that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration now requires the use of PTFE-coated heat-lamp bulbs in the food service industry, to prevent shattering. A few companies do still manufacture non-coated bulbs.” So how about it, GE and DuPont? Time to admit to this hazard and get warnings added to these light bulbs’ labels? — MOTHER…