Innholdsfortegnelse for August - September 2019 i MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Last year around this time, I wrote about trapping feral bee swarms in 5-frame mini-hives that I hung in trees. We received many letters asking for more information and updates on that project — in a nutshell, it worked really well for us. This approach to expanding or replenishing your bee stock will work fine with whichever beehive design you prefer (I prefer Layens and my wife prefers Langstroth), so long as you build the mini-hives to accommodate the frames that fit your hive body type. So, we set our seven traps up in sentinel trees, and all but one became occupied by bees. We had some problems with squirrels, or possibly packrats, gnawing into a couple of the traps, which caused the bees to move on. And as so…

Miso is more than just soup stock. It’s an umami-rich, salty, fermented paste that’s traditionally made with soybeans and a grain koji — generally rice koji or barley koji (with the exception of an all-soybean miso). It’s a quintessential Japanese seasoning that’s also a nutritional powerhouse. It plays a vital role in the kitchen and in the health of the people who use it, and is both very simple and very complex. If you’re new to miso or have only experienced it as a broth served alongside sushi, we encourage you to find some high-quality unpasteurized miso and start familiarizing yourself with its many flavors and nuances. That will give you something to enjoy while you wait for your own batches to ferment. And don’t let the time or the…

Long-term studies of the persistence of plastics in the environment have made it very clear that we must either recycle or avoid as much plastic use as we can, and in many ways, the switch is easy. In the kitchen, glass and ceramic containers not only reduce plastic usage, but also minimize exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates — and they’re less easily stained by foods, particularly the curries I love to cook. Metal and wooden utensils last longer than plastic ones. Plastic wrap, unfortunately, is hard to replace. Few materials are as lightweight and flexible, let alone impermeable enough to protect foods from drying out in a fridge or on the counter. To solve this problem, many people have turned to fabric wraps soaked in beeswax mixtures, which…

Materials & Tools • Food-grade 55-gallon barrels (2); 1 whole, 1 with at least 12 inches of the bottom intact• Drill with 3⁄8-inch bit• Jigsaw• Plexiglass• Permanent marker• Tape measure• Box of 1⁄4-by-1⁄2-inch stainless steel carriage bolts• Box of stainless steel washers• Box of 1⁄4-inch stainless steel nuts• Aquarium-safe silicone• Wrench• ¾-inch hole saw• ¾-inch tap• ½-inch PVC male adapters (2)• ½-inch PVC female adapters (2)• 1 foot of 4-inch PVC pipe for media guard• Bell siphon and 1⁄2-inch ball valve• 10 feet of ½-inch PVC pipe, or scraps and fittings, for inlet pipe• Submersible aquarium or pond pump, 400 gallons per hour (gph)• Gravel or expanded clay As homesteaders, we're always experimenting with new functions for old or unused things. This is especially true of rain barrels, which we…

Don’t wait until you see a bug or mouse in the house; prevent unwanted pests before they move in! Pest-proof your home in three steps: 1 Clean up. Get rid of clutter that rodents and insects may hide behind or under, such as stacks of papers and boxes. 2 Seal up. Seal entry points, such as gaps around door and window frames. Check dryer vents, electric panels, and the building’s foundation for cracks or openings. 3 Deter. Place plant-based pest repellent in pest-prone areas to drive them back outside and keep them out. Use it in kitchens, pantries, closets, attics, basements, garages, and more. Natural pest repellent may complement your home design. Find ideas and inspiration at www.EarthKind.com.…

I enjoy canning fruits and vegetables because I love knowing what I’m eating. I also love the bursting flavors, the amazing color on my shelves, and having an abundance of summer to enjoy through winter. But I don’t love stuck jar rings. I’ve tried a variety of techniques over the years to remedy the problem, but this is my all-time favorite: Heat a dish of water in the microwave for one minute. Invert the jar into the hot water for about one minute. Remove the jar from the water, and unscrew the jar ring. In most cases, it’ll come off easily. Rexburg, Idaho…

“If more people share what works for them in their areas, we’ll all be successful growers!” Cultivating Crops in Colorado I read Editorial Director Hank Will’s “Obvious Solutions” (August/September 2018), and I want to share some solutions I’ve discovered. I live in Black Forest, Colorado, up on the Palmer Divide in the forest. The soil here is sandy loam with pockets of clay and rock. Most people here have raised beds. I have them too because of the soil, and also because of my bad knees. But I’ve learned a lot in the years I’ve lived here. We’re in Zone 4, so our growing season isn’t long. We can’t put anything in the dirt until the last chance of frost has passed (generally the last week of May or first…

From growers to grocers, companies to consumers, food waste is an issue that plagues the entire supply chain. Up to 40 percent of the U.S. food supply finds its way to landfills — at great financial and environmental cost — while simultaneously, 40 million Americans are food-insecure. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we need multifaceted solutions to connect and correct those issues, with policymakers, businesses, and consumers all working to stem the flow of food waste from every angle. Some groups are addressing the root of the issue by minimizing surplus, and others are coming up with ways to make use of the waste. By establishing various programs, policies, and processes, the following organizations are all approaching the problem of wasted food. A Comprehensive Roadmap ReFED believes that…

When we gave our 4-wheel drive K9 an ergonomic design capable of carving through the most rugged terrain without your body taking a beating, and then gave it an all-metal hydraulic dump bed* so big that you can take a nap in it and an adjustable suspension with a cool foot of ground-clearance, we didn’t expect you to stick it in a corner to preserve its prettiness. We did it so you could wake up, have some co? ee, and make putting it through hell feel like heaven. Every. Single. Day. Circle #16; see card pg 81 *Hydraulic dump bed is an optional feature. See dealer for details. © 2019 KIOTI Tractor a Division of Daedong-USA, Inc.…

What happens when you infuse everyday life with the special vitality of fermented food and drink? Find out in the pages of our new sister magazine, Fermentation. You’ll discover how easy and accessible crafting your own money-saving fermented masterpieces can be. From kombucha to kimchi, ketchup to Camembert, salami to sourdough, and so much more, amateurs and seasoned foodies alike can take their skill sets to the next level! Plus, learn about the history and science that have fostered unique ferments through the ages — and follow experts in the field as they chart new territory. Embrace the power of fermentation, and learn how to safely and radically transform mealtimes. To learn more, see Page 33 or visit www.MyFermentation.com.…

Air conditioning, cold pools, and automatic ice makers help make hot, humid weather more bearable, but the calendar still says summer, and the foods we crave — air conditioning or no air conditioning — are cool, full-flavored, and refreshing. Taste buds tend to dull in summer; the proverbial dog days are no time for subtle flavors or dishes with rich ingredients, such as butter and heavy cream. More satisfying are foods with the bright notes of tart-sweet lemonade or spicy salsa, the rousing textures of crunchy coleslaw or cucumber salad, and the moisture of a juicy tomato or a wedge of slurpy watermelon. And what would summer be without frozen desserts: ice creams, sherbets, sorbets, and all their cousins? Among the most heat-quenching of these are granitas — intensely flavored,…

A common question I hear from aspiring farmers and homesteaders is, “Where do I go to learn this stuff?” A quick and easy answer: “Attend a Mother Earth News Fair.” I wish it were really that simple. To drill down on the question, I’ll tell my own training story. Each person’s story is different, but threads of commonality exist. Those threads are what we want to tease out. First of all, I started my training early; I grew up on the farm we operate today. To be sure, my mom and dad’s off-farm jobs (school teacher and accountant, respectively) paid for the land, but the farm didn’t become what we’d call a “going concern” until my wife Teresa and I married and returned. The first two threads are to start…

I’ve been farming my whole life. When I met my friend Richard about four years ago, we discovered that we’d both spent our entire lives on the same path to self-sufficiency, thanks to Mother earth News. Together, we designed this roll-top solution for our cold frames. As a frost buffer for the plants inside, we built a wooden framework on top of the cold frame and then covered it with sheet plastic. The framework’s front is 12 inches tall, angling up to 18 inches tall in the back. The cover of the framework is simply a piece of greenhouse plastic tacked down along the framework’s back side. The front edge of the plastic is sandwiched between two 1x2s. These 1x2s extend the length of the cold frame to keep the…

This essential companion for putting your food dehydrator to work features instructions and techniques for drying all the most popular fruits and vegetables, along with meat and herbs. You’ll learn to dry these fruits and vegetables at their peak for year-round enjoyment, plus guidelines for specialty items like meat jerky and fruit leather are also included. Item #9382 | $24.95 MOTHER EARTH NEWS Order by calling 800-234-3368 or visiting www.MotherEarthNews.com/Store Promo Code MMEPAJZ3 Price does not include shipping and handling.…

Hone practical skill sets from the pros! Discover new sustainable and money-saving hacks! Meet your favorite authors and entrepreneurs! Roll up your sleeves for hands-on learning! And collaborate with a highly motivated community eager to share and exchange innovative ideas! What will you discover at the FAIR this year? 100+ PRESENTATIONS Learn directly from the foremost authorities in the fields of sustainable living, natural health, homesteading and small-farm management, cooking with real food, and more! VENDORS AND DEMOS Check out the latest products to assist you in achieving a more natural and sustainable lifestyle, along with fiber crafts, tools, natural oils, and food trucks! KIDS GET IN FREE There’s plenty to see and do that involves the whole family – you’ll find animals, interactive programming for children, kidfriendly demos, and…

We began our journey with MOTHER EARTH NEWS in the mid-1970s. MOTHER’s most significant impact came when we built our house in 1979. Through the magazine, we learned of the potential for energy savings and alternative energy generation systems before many options were commercially available. Accordingly, we built our home in a sunny location with roof pitches, directional orientation, and an architectural design suited to adapting to various technologies that weren’t yet affordable. Over the years, we’ve easily converted to passive solar heating, solar hot water, and electrical generation through solar panels, as those technologies became viable. In addition to these alterations, we’ve also tried to improve our home’s efficiency by upgrading our windows and insulation, as well as installing a geothermal heating and cooling system. Because of these changes,…

microbes+time=food & drink HOT OFF THE PRESS One year of Fermentation magazine – four premium issues worthy of your co_ ee table and vital to your kitchen countertop as you explore fun new ferments STAY IN THE KNOW _ e latest news and essential info for cottage industry professionals, home brewers, and curious entrepreneurs, including FDA guidelines SAVE ON GADGETS GALORE Membership privileges to the online Fermentation Store with discounts up to 60% – plus, authoritative product reviews so you can keep your fermentation arsenal stocked with only the best tools, technology, and resources ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES Early access to discounted hands-on training workshops at national events geared toward bolstering your fermentation and DIY skill sets (space is limited!) FOOD ART 101 Fermentation’s exclusive Editorial Board: experts and industry…

Look for the ninth installment in our year-long homestead skill series — “How to Milk a Goat” — in a September edition of our Simple Living & Country Skills newsletter. This skill includes directions on how author Kimberlee Bastien learned the best way to simultaneously handle a doe and a milking bucket! Subscribe to the newsletter at www.MotherEarthNews.com/Newsletter. You can also take part in our series by visiting www.MotherEarthNews.com/52-Homestead-Skills, where we’ll release new excerpts from Kimberlee Bastien’s book every month during 2019. Can’t wait that long for great content? Buy Kimberlee’s book at www.MotherEarthNews.com/Store or by calling 800-234-3368. Mention promo code MMEPAJZD. Item #9058.…

In Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies, author Maria Noël Groves provides 23 specifically tailored garden plans for addressing some of the most common health needs, along with simple recipes for using each group of herbs. Whether the need is for headache relief, immune support, stress relief, or a daily tonic, readers will also learn about the six most effective herbs and how to plant, harvest, and care for each one. This title is available at www.MotherEarthNews.com/Store or by calling 800-234-3368. Mention promo code MMEPAJZD. Item #9449.…

PURE SKIN CARE In Pure Skin Care, best-selling author Stephanie L. Tourles shares her 78 all-time favorite recipes for facial cleansers and scrubs, masks, moisturizers, and steams, along with creams, balms, and exfoliants for the entire body, all formulated to meet the most up-to-date green beauty standards. #9121 $19.95 $17.95 TURMERIC SEAWEED FACIAL MASK Take time to relax and rejuvenate with the Turmeric Facial Mask. The combined ingredients of turmeric powder, kaolin clay, and seaweed powder help with detoxing, cleansing, and soothing the skin. Designed to use daily or weekly for skin conditions or monthly for antiaging, this is the go-to mask for all your facial skin care needs. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure,…

How can I rid my home of rodents without using chemicals? Prevention is the most effective way to control a rodent population in your home. Here are 10 suggestions on how to keep mice, rats, and other rodents out of your house. Block all entry points. Inspect the foundation and walls of your house. Mice can enter through the smallest gaps, so block foundation cracks with a masonry repair material, and check joints around windows and doors for cracks that might allow rodents to enter. Make sure weather seals along the bottom edges of garage doors are in good shape. Don’t feed the birds. The seeds and ground grains that go into most bird-food mixtures are a delightful treat for rodents. If you do feed birds, keep your feeders as…

Eating on the Run will equip you with a working knowledge of dozens of readily harvested plants, grasses, nuts, and berries that require the least, if any, preparation. You will learn how to distinguish safe plants from toxic varieties, which parts of the plants are edible and when, and where abundant supplies are likely to be in each season. Plus, the author shares delicious ways to enjoy the plants when on the move. Item #9367 $17.99 Order by calling 800-234-3368 or visiting www.MotherEarthNews.com/Store Promo code: MMEPAJZ3. Price does not include shipping and handling. MOTHER EARTH NEWS…

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! EARTH NEWS Photo Group on Flickr (www.Flickr.com/Groups/MotherEarthNewsPhotos/Pool). We’ll feature our favorites here and online!…