Innholdsfortegnelse for February - March 2017 i MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Max and Katharine Dubansky, along with their children, Grace, 19; Leon, 17; Iris, 10; and Tessa, 6, live on a 106-acre organic farm located at the foot of Backbone Mountain in Oakland, Maryland. The Dubanskys, one of three families designated as our 2016 Homesteaders of the Year, sell Backbone Food Farm’s products through a community-supported agriculture(CSA) program, as well as to local markets and restaurants. Now in its 17th season, the farm is well-established, and the whole family helps out on the homestead. Max, Katharine, and Grace work seasonally at the nearby cross-country ski center for fun and a little extra money. The Dubanskys grow shiitake mushrooms and various other types, and they raise pastured pigs and beef cattle. Their team of Percheron draft horses provides the farm with true…

Perhaps the greatest disappointment when first exploring my woodlot was the realization that not a single sugar maple tree exists on the entire homestead. While I’m fortunate enough to have a neighbor who allows me to tap his sugar maple trees, I found myself looking for other opportunities to produce more food from the forest. I began to explore birch syrup production, which I first encountered when I lived in Southeast Alaska. After birch syrup, I quickly discovered an entire world of saps and syrups derived from more than 50 tree species around the world. Sweet or Savory? As you explore syrups, you’ll see that they’re subject to just as much enthusiasm as craft beer, with styles varying by region and maker. You’ll also find that while we use the…

How to Cut the Costs of Going Solar I want to install solar panels on my rooftop, but it’s an expensive investment. Is there a way I can save money? Solar equipment used to be so expensive that buying solar panels wasn’t an option for most homeowners, but solar leases made solar more affordable. In a solar lease agreement, the solar company that installs solar panels on a roof maintains ownership, and the homeowners pay a monthly “rent” in exchange for the benefits of clean energy. As equipment and installation costs have fallen in recent years, however, purchasing panels outright has become more feasible for the average homeowner. Even if you don’t have the cash on hand to purchase a solar panel system, you can choose from a growing number…

SHOW US! Share your unique perspective with our community by submitting photos of inviting gardens, nutritious foods, wild animals, and more to the MOTHER SHOW US! Photo Group on Flickr (www.Flickr.com/Groups/MotherEarthNewsPhotos/Pool ). We’ll feature our favorites here and online!…

From stiff joints and mild inflammation to full-blown debilitation, life can take its toll. In my case, I’m reminded every morning as I hobble out of bed of the brake drum that fell on my ankle, while still attached to the vehicle it belonged to, roughly 40 years ago. In my 60 years, I’ve found some smart — and some less-smart — ways to keep on keeping on, but one thing’s for sure: I look for ways to work smarter so I can still do what needs to be done. Several issues ago, we heard from folks looking for tips on how to stay on the homestead, even with a serious hitch in their get-along, and we’ve compiled many of the fantastic tips you all submitted, right here! Hank Will,…

It all begins with broth. If you have broth, you have the foundation of soup. If the broth is homemade, even better. Chicken broth is simple to make, and by chicken broth I mean any broth made from poultry — chicken, duck, goose, or turkey. These broths are the most versatile for soups. To make a poultry broth, first cover cooked bones, raw bones, or raw chicken parts with water. Add an onion (or a leek, or leek greens), garlic, celery, and parsley if you have it, and let these simmer (not boil) for a couple of hours. Then, strain the broth and pressure can it, freeze it, or make soup within the week. The bones you use can be from last night’s roast or the Thanksgiving turkey. If you…

Truck-Frame Chicken Tractor When I had the urge to buy six chickens, I began looking into different coop designs. I also talked to a chicken-owning friend who told me he would make his coop mobile and smaller if he was to start over. Taking those things into consideration, I got to work making my own. 1 For the majority of my project, I was fortunate enough to use reclaimed material. A truck frame had been given to me a few years prior — a trailer with a pickup bed still attached. I began with the bare, stripped-down truck frame, removing the leaf springs and relocating the axle to the center of what would become the coop. 2 After moving the rear wheels, I made a swivel axle for the front.…

The basis of great home-preserved tomato products is, of course, great tomatoes. When preserving ketchup, tomato paste, or other dishes that require an extended amount of reduction, save time by choosing fleshy tomatoes that aren’t too watery or full of seeds. Good picks include paste and plum tomatoes along with heart-shaped and beefsteaktypes. Though shape or size may tell you something about the suitability of a cultivar for preservation, color should never be a factor. Tomatoes can easily be frozen whole in freezer bags with no preparation aside from a rinse to remove any dirt and a quick check to avoid rotting areas. Skinning tomatoes before canning them is a matter of personal preference, but by eliminating this somewhat labor-intensive step, thewhole process should be more accessible to beginners. Decoding…

Feeling sad at times is a natural part of the human condition. I’m sure everyone reading this article has experienced sadness or perhaps even some form of depression. When darker days of winter draw up around us, we may spend more time indoors and isolated, which can lead to darker moods. Not all episodes of sadness and loss of energy can be categorized as depression, though. The difference between “the blues” and depression lies in the duration of the episode, the severity, and the contributing factors. Unlike depression, the blues come and go — but the emphasis is on go. Bad moods can be triggered by fatigue, hunger, dehydration, overwork, poor diet, poor sleep, lack of sunlight, and other physical and emotional stresses, and these moods are generally short-lived,…

Keeping bees requires knowledge, time, and effort. With high-quality resources, you can learn to create a wonderful, productive habitat for bees. Develop knowledge. It’s important to understand how to keep your beehive healthy and thriving. Books and magazines specific to the hobby or profession of beekeeping will provide you with detailed information and resources. Find local mentors. Local beekeeping groups are invaluable resources. Not only can you find local beekeeping enthusiasts who are eager to share their knowledge, but you’ll also have the opportunity to see beekeeping in action. Review local codes. Some communities have ordinances restricting beehives to properties of a certain size, or may not allow beehives at all. There may also be guidelines for the distances between your hive and surrounding homes or property lines. Choose and…