Innholdsfortegnelse for June - July 2014 i MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Stretching the shelf life of food can be as low-tech and hands-off (set trays in the sun to dry) or as elaborate and large-scale (a day devoted to pressure-canning summer’s bounty) as you’d like. No matter where you fall on that spectrum or whether you have surplus fruit from an ample orchard or a profusion of basil from a petite, potted herb garden, the information you need to safely and deliciously put by fresh food awaits in our online Home Food Preservation Headquarters. This hub stocks more than 40 years of reliable, comprehensive know-how on pressure canning, water bath canning, drying, fermenting, freezing, pickling, root cellaring and more. We boil down the details on required equipment and which preservation method best suits which crops, plus furnish a packed-pantry’s worth of…

A 2012 study by researchers at University of California, Davis and UCLA found that, based solely on what kids participating in the study ate, cancer benchmark levels “were exceeded by all children (100 percent) for arsenic, dieldrin, DDE and dioxins.” The team’s strongest advice for avoiding cancer, based on this finding? Children should eat primarily organic dairy products, fruits and vegetables to reduce pesticide intake. Mainstream health professionals have been slow to advocate organic food consumption, but many have voiced concerns about the cumulative effect pesticides have on young brains and bodies. Many chemicals consumed daily by kids who eat conventional and processed foods are endocrine disruptors, which means the chemicals are capable of interfering with development. And though children and pesticides don’t mix, kids are still exposed in many…

A good hoe and a good rake top the list of the most essential tools for many gardeners. While “combination” tools usually don’t perform quite as well as single-function options, we think you’ll find that the new “garden hoe/rake” from Rogue Hoe stands out as an exception. This U.S.-made tool features a sharp, 6.5-inch-wide V-shaped blade for slicing weeds and creating planting furrows. Or, turn it over to use the flip side to rake or cultivate your garden beds. Being able to tackle all of those tasks with a single tool is super-handy! Made from recycled agricultural disc blades, the tool head’s highquality steel yields sharp edges. Find Rogue’s garden hoe/rake ($39.95) and the company’s extensive selection of other gardening tools at www.RogueHoe.com. — Cheryl Long, Editor-in-Chief…

Crooknecks, zukes and trombones! Discover squash’s uses in the kitchen. Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) is the first fruiting vegetable to appear in the summer garden, long before the first tomato is ripe. Maybe by August the squash will seem ordinary, but now — with squash blossoms sounding their golden trumpets — the season has officially begun. The flowers held aloft on a slender stem are male. The female ones look similar, but at their base there is a small bump that will, in a few days, become a delicious little squash — ready to pick. Summer squash takes varied forms, from the standard green zucchini to the bright yellow squash (crookneck or straight); from round ones, such as ‘Ronde de Nice,’ to flat, scalloped pattypan. Most grow on large, bushy…

Any summer squash can act as the base for a fine puréed soup, but I like the way the colors and textures of the ingredients stand out in this chunky zucchini soup recipe. Squash blossom ribbons add bright golden color. Serve this soup as a light meal with salad, or as a first course before dinner. Yield: 4 servings. 2 tbsp olive oil 1 medium-large onion, coarsely chopped (about 1½ cups) Three 6-to 7-inch-long zucchini, cut into small chunks (about 3 cups) Dash of salt 2 cups chicken broth 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg 3/4 cup whipping cream 1 tbsp whole, fresh tarragon leaves Freshly ground pepper 4 squash blossoms In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat until fragrant, then add the onions and reduce heat to…

For decades, urgent international debate about whether sustainable agriculture can feed the world has foundered on a false assumption. We’ve been sucked into a game rigged by the constrained doctrine of the Green Revolution, the 20thcentury shift to high-yielding rice, wheat and corn varieties that are dependent on irrigation and heavy fertilization. We’ve made the mistake of focusing on crop yield — on mere quantity — but there is so much more to this equation. Rural India is as good a place as any to begin digging to the roots of the problems with industrial agriculture. Poor farmers there have long been offered the Green Revolution’s so-called miracle crops, and many have said, “No, thanks.” Stories such as this are legion within the vast network of breeders and agronomists charged…

A different kind of horse power trotted into a Vermont town when a local baker built his own delivery wagon. I believe living horse power can be an effective way to transport local food to market, and that more people should adopt this sustainable form of transportation. To bring working animals back to the city streets, I decided to build a commercial horse-drawn wagon in 2010. My project would allow me to sell bread and produce directly from my wagon parked on the City Green of Vergennes, Vt., the town nearest my home. Building the delivery wagon was fun, and it combined my love of woodworking with my interest in working with animals. The project took many hours and cost about $2,000 in materials. If I were to build a…

Pull the plug on grid-dependent food preservation with this super-efficient unit. For nearly 20 years, I’ve led research teams as founder and coordinator of the Appropriate Technology Program at Appalachian State University. We’ve conducted many original experiments to produce a design for the best food dehydrator you’re likely to find anywhere. Yes, this dryer is supersized — about 6 feet tall and 7 feet long — but it’s on wheels and thus moves easily. It can dry large amounts of food quickly and is a must-have for off-grid living. If you have a big garden or buy bulk produce, this solar dehydrator will help you keep up with food preservation all summer and into fall. If you live in a cloudy or humid region, you can add heat from light…

Learn the pros and cons of the implements you need to successfully — and affordably — manage a large-scale food garden. I magine you finally have some land and you’re going to start gardening in earnest. I’m talking serious food production here: growing a significant portion of your own food, and possibly even selling surplus produce at the local farmers market. After your garden grows to a certain size, however, your generic hardware-store tools will become woefully inadequate. These tools will wear out too quickly and they’re poorly designed, so they’ll wear you out quickly, too. For big gardens, you need serious tools! Mechanized Equipment While smaller gardens — 5,000 square feet or less — can be managed by hand tools alone, larger gardens usually require some level of mechanical…

In this issue, we take a close look at the shortcomings of industrial food production. Noted environmental journalist Richard Manning outlines on Page 34 how agriculture’s so-called Green Revolution of the mid-20th century is delivering a high-carb but nutrient-poor diet, which causes chronic health issues for humans and livestock. Contrary to what Big Ag likes to claim, industrial agriculture is not feeding the world, nor is it “sustainable,” given its heavy dependence on fossil fuels. We interviewed food and farming activist Vandana Shiva to expand upon these points and to highlight community responses to the advances of corporate agriculture (Page 40). Following on Page 42, food writer Kim O’Donnel illuminates many of the negative consequences related to the production of meat in huge confinement facilities. O’Donnel discusses why many people…

According to a 2014 report by leading climate scientists, convened by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the U.K.’s Royal Society, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 40 percent since pre-industrial times. More than half of this increase has occurred since 1970, and of all greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide plays the most significant role in warming the Earth. To curb the climate crisis, some policymakers and concerned citizens have recommended solutions such as renewable energy development, greater resource efficiency and cleaner cars. Land management deserves a spot on that list. How homesteaders and ranchers manage livestock, and how they manage the pastures those livestock graze on, plays a significant role in atmospheric carbon pollution. Mainstream pasture-management practices seriously degrade pastureland worldwide. Among the…

U.S. Latinos overwhelmingly support strong conservation initiatives, environmental protection and energetic government action on climate change, according to several recent demographic polls. However, not many organizations previously existed to rally the community around environmental issues. The newly formed Hispanic Access Foundation is out to alter that situation by working with its network of Catholic and evangelical partners as well as 17,000 community-based service organizations throughout the country. As one recent initiative, the foundation created an alliance of Latino religious leaders engaged in efforts to protect natural resources. This alliance also aims to motivate other Latinos to take an active role in protecting public lands. Another project gathered young people to testify before a state senate committee to protect New Mexico’s Gila River. For more information, go to www.HispanicAccess.org. — K.C.…

This dish offers a good way to use summer squash that has passed the petite stage. The squash absorbs surprisingly little oil when sliced and sautéed in a pan. I like to combine yellow and green summer squash for color contrast. A scattering of fried sage leaves on top gives flavor and crunch. Yield: 4 to 6 servings. 1/2 cup olive oil 15 to 20 medium to large sage leaves Two 9-to 10-inch-long summer squash, sliced diagonally into 1/2-inch ovals Salt and pepper To fry the sage leaves, heat the oil in a small skillet for about 3 minutes, or until the oil is fragrant and the surface ripples. Drop in a sage leaf to test the heat; it should sizzle. Drop in the rest and cook for up to…

Many of us hope to someday own a home that’s perfectly suited to our penchants, but are wary of falling into debt for decades. The reports that follow illustrate the crafty and creative ways that Mother Earth News readers have acquired or built their own homes while avoiding a mortgage. (Go to www.MotherEarthNews.com/Debt-Free-Homes to read all of the reports we received.) These debt-free homes are diverse — from a geodesic kit home in California to a spacious log cabin in South Africa — but their owners’ counsel is consistent: With innovation, patience and a willingness to learn, you can do it, too. Plan Your Plot Do you intend to construct a house by yourself, or hire out some of the labor? Will you build your shelter from scratch, or find…

Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are constantly in the news these days. Scientists debate the safety of engineered foodstuffs, consumer advocates demand GMO labeling, and farmers and gardeners decry the emergence of corporate seed monopolies that limit what we can do in our own dirt. It is with this controversy in mind that we recently spoke with veteran anti-globalization campaigner Vandana Shiva. Vandana Shiva is the founder of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology and the Navdanya organic seed network. She is a pre-eminent advocate for the preservation of food sovereignty, civil liberties and biological diversity. The author of almost 30 books, she also initiated the global Seed Freedom movement to organize events and celebrate seed defenders (learn more at www.SeedFreedom.in). Shiva began her journey by defending oak…

Downsize your dependence on fossil fuels with these innovative toolDownsize your dependence on fossil fuels with these innovative tools. Running a small farm or homestead takes a lot of effort, but a world of labor-saving devices can make life simpler without using fossil fuels. Solar, wind, microhydro, biofuels and even human power offer clean, renewable sources of energy to complete your tasks efficiently and without sacrificing convenience. You don’t have to be an off-gridder to share in the good fortune, either — most everything compiled here can be used without a commitment to off-grid living. You may be surprised by how many tools and implements exist as alternatives to the mainstream, fossil fuel-powered choices we’re all so accustomed to. Visit the expanded, online version of this article at www.MotherEarthNews.com/Renewable-Homestead for…

Take a cue from a 7-year-old: Sometimes simple actions are all it takes to make a difference. Do you ever feel like the whole world is crazy and wonder what you and your lone voice can do to create real, positive change? We’re all sometimes tempted to go into a corner and have a pity party because the insanity seems overwhelming and no one else seems to notice. Before you give up hope, though, let me tell you about Jack, an Australian buddy of mine. Jack knows how to change the world. He’s 7 years old and lives in the province of Queensland. His parents own a small permaculture farmstead. They make their living by organizing and hosting educational seminars to acquaint farmers and ranchers in Australia with the best…

Rammed Earth Garden Beds Rammed earth garden beds are made by compressing a damp mixture of approximately 70 percent sand, 30 percent clay, and a small amount of cement into an externally supported form or mold, creating a solid, earthen wall after the frames are removed. One of the benefits of rammed earth is that its high thermal mass absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night. My technique for building rammed earth garden beds makes use of local raw materials, is resistant to temperature changes and is remarkably cost-effective. Construct rammed earth garden beds by using two frames–a box inside of a box with a 31.2-inch gap between the walls. Pack this gap with the earth mixture, then remove the frames, leaving earthen walls that are ready…

DIY Wheat Thresher We’ve been growing ‘White Sonora’ wheat on our small homestead for three years. As your article “From Field to Flour: How to Grow Wheat” (April/May 2014) indicated, threshing wheat can be a challenge, and we definitely struggled to find the best way to do it. We tried a couple of hand-threshing methods at first: beating the heads against the inside of a bucket or smashing the heads with a rubber mallet. Both processes were quite tedious. We looked into machines, but even the cheapest models were still too pricey. That’s when we came up with an easy, quick device of our own: a thresher made from a bucket, drill and chain. You can see a video of our bucket thresher in action and get instructions for making…

The first large, nationwide comparison of organic and conventional milk composition, conducted by Washington State University (WSU), found that organic milk has a healthier ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. Many researchers think a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids (found in meats and dairy products from grass-fed animals, flaxseed, seafood, walnuts and some leafy greens) reduces the risk of heart disease and, potentially, cancer by offsetting the too-high intake of omega-6 fatty acids in the contemporary U.S. diet. The typical U.S. diet contains a ratio of 10:1 omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (the imbalance coming from consuming too much processed and fried food, grain oil, seed oil, and meat and dairy from grain-fed animals), while the ratio should be closer to 4:1 or even 2:1. The 18-month study…

Farmer-philosopher Gene Logsdon returns with his newest book, Gene Everlasting: A Contrary Farmer’s Thoughts on Living Forever, and we are the richer for it. You may know his work by one of his more than two dozen books, which range from practical (Small-Scale Grain Raising) to deeply thoughtful (Living at Nature’s Pace). From his farm near Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Logsdon has honed his keen observations of the natural world. In Gene Everlasting, he wrestles with mortality — and the dubious ambition of trying to live forever. Here, he muses about how parents could discuss death with their children: “What if we, as loving parents and conscientious teachers, told children that, yes, someday, the people you love are going to die but they will always live in your memory safe from…

Summer squash is fun to use as canapés. Thinly cut rounds may substitute for a cracker, for instance, with goat cheese on top. But cooking intensifies the vegetable’s mild flavor. Here, they’re sliced thickly, baked, and hollowed out to make savory edible cups. Any soft-textured herbs you like can be substituted for the ones suggested below. Note that the flower heads of lavender are composed of numerous tiny florets, easy to pluck out and set in place with tweezers to lend an assertive flavor and vivid color. (Try sprinkling lavender flowers over the top of a tossed salad.) A chive floret, Johnny-jump-up blossom or even a calendula petal would also do, if lavender isn’t part of your garden. Yield: About 20 appetizer cups. 2 ounces plain, creamy goat cheese 2…

If we’ve learned anything as food growers in recent decades, it’s that climate change has placed not just one but many kinds of stress on our gardens and farms. “Global warming” does not adequately describe the “new normal,” given that many food sheds and farms have suffered from a variety of catastrophic floods, freezes, droughts, wildfires, heat waves, grasshopper infestations and crop diseases over the past few years. The big, paradoxical question confronting many farmers and gardeners is: How do we adapt to and plan for uncertainty? While such a question may initially seem unanswerable, farmers from all parts of the world have responded over many centuries through better crop selection and strategies to mitigate the worst effects of sun and wind. To best adapt, we need thousands of different…

Ten years ago in America, you could eat meat — all 203.2 pounds of it per capita per year — without drawing much attention from your fellow diners. After all, eating meat defined who we were as Americans. As historian Roger Horowitz writes in Putting Meat on the American Table, “Eating meat has been an integral part of the American diet since settlement,” and our daily habit of 6 to 8 ounces of animal protein “has been a defining feature of our society.” Just a decade ago, vegetarians were outliers and vegans a rare curiosity. The notion of choosing plants over flesh was often the signature of coastal health nuts and the spiritually inclined — not Middle America. From 2004 to 2007, per capita meat consumption (beef, lamb, pork and…

Keep bad bugs at bay by using protective covers, handpicking, attracting beneficial insects, and applying short-lived organic insecticides only if necessary. An abundance of buzzing, hopping, fluttering and crawling insects is a trademark of any healthy organic garden. This diversity means insects that might feed on your crops are likely to be kept in check by their enemies. In small numbers, pests simply provide food for birds and beneficial insects, and if your soil and crops are healthy, plants fend off the pressure easily. Only when pest populations become excessive do gardeners need to step in to restore balance to keep their gardens thriving. Keep this simple mantra in mind during your pest control efforts: Look closely. Examine your plants regularly, noting what kinds of insects you see. Observe whether…

Choose the Best Chicken Feed What kind of feed should I give to my chickens? The feed that’s right for your chickens depends on the age of your birds, whether you’re raising meat chickens or layers, and whether the birds are fast-growing hybrids or slower-growing heritage breeds. Most chicken feeds are available as “mash” — a fully ground and mixed ration that looks like coarse flour — though you can also find granulated or pelletized feed. You’ll choose from these main types: Chick starter. Just as human babies don’t begin life on an adult diet, chicks also need their own special food just after they emerge from the egg. Chick starter is like infant formula for poultry — higher in protein than feed for mature birds. You should feed your…