Innholdsfortegnelse for October/November 2024 i MOTHER EARTH NEWS

For decades, MOTHER EARTH NEWS editors have aimed to bring readers articles on what many call “traditional living” — caring for our families, animals, and land in sustainable, economical ways. But “traditional” is far from synonymous with “stale” or “outdated.” We, and the gardeners, makers, and thinkers we feature, are often in conversation with the modern world, applying innovative techniques to tried-and-true customs. For starters, humans have grown and eaten grain for thousands of years. But in today’s world, many consumers don’t know who grows the grains they eat or where those grains were grown. Stepping in to connect the dots is the Common Grain Alliance, featured by Kurt Jacobson in Green Gazette (Page 8). This trailblazing cooperative supports farmers, millers, and bakers by connecting them to one another and…

Many times, I’ve wanted to enjoy a rhubarb-flavored dessert, but Minnesota winters aren’t conducive to picking rhubarb. Yes, many folks pick rhubarb all summer and freeze it for later use. The downside to that method is that when you thaw it, you drain away a lot of liquid—and flavor. In an effort to retain all the good stuff, I’ve taken to dehydrating my rhubarb. Pick and Preserve Picking rhubarb is easy: Grab a single stalk and pull. Try to get the entire stalk, which should break free from the base of the plant. Cut off the leaves and the lower inch or so of the stem. Wash the stalk and chop into half-inch pieces. Place them on a dehydrator tray or on a perforated cookie sheet in the oven at…

If you’d like to complete a project made out of just bricks, pretty much all you’ll need is a level foundation on which to begin. It’s neat to be able to build brick projects, such as a welcoming sidewalk to your front door with pavers and dirt or your favorite gravel. These projects don’t require much finesse, just an idea of what you want them to look like. Some projects, such as building a raised brick planter, require using actual mortar. Permanent structures will not only add a little flavor to your yard or garden, but also increase the property value. To build this simple raised garden bed, make sure you’re square with other structures or anything else around so it doesn’t seem out of place. You can do this…

Can you suggest some natural remedies for upset stomachs? Your cupboard is likely stocked with stomachache remedies that don’t involve an over-the-counter purchase at the pharmacy. Common kitchen herbs—from cumin seeds to peppermint leaves, and even orange peels—can help us resolve digestive discomfort while nourishing the body with vitamins and minerals. The ingredients in each of the following teas will foster digestion in the moment, and used over time, they’ll continue to strengthen and tone the digestive system. Just as importantly, they taste so good you’ll look forward to drinking them after a meal! Cumin, Coriander, and Fennel Belly Well Tea Cumin, coriander, and fennel are all “carminative” herbs that aid digestion and soothe the gut. While they help with the physical act of digestion, bringing increased blood flow and…

MOTHER EARTH NEWS FIRST EDITION T-SHIRT Welcome the nostalgia with the MOTHER EARTH NEWS First Edition t-shirt. The art on this shirt is the magazine cover of the first ever MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine edition from 1970. This unisex fit shirt is 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, with side seams, shoulder taping, and a tear-away label. JOHN DERIAN THREE CARROTS PUZZLE Based on a chromolithographic print from a nineteenth-century botanical guide, Three Carrots features a trio of plump French carrots. The puzzle contains 1,000 interlocking pieces and a mini-poster for reference or framing. Completed size is 18 7/8" x 26 3/8". #10888 $19.95 Member: $13.95 JOHN DERIAN GARDEN ROSE PUZZLE Adapted from a nineteenth-century chromolithograph from the collection of John Derian, Garden Rose challenges the puzzle doer with its…

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

“I appreciate your articles on weed control with cardboard and other natural materials.” EDITORS’ PICK Trash Can Trials Really enjoyed the article “Two Years with a Tiny Trash Can” in the August/September 2024 issue. We went from three large trash cans to just one. It takes some effort, but it can be done. We bought a small composter for the kitchen scraps, and with us adding the compost to the beds, our plants have never been bigger. We’ve given up on bottled shampoo, conditioner, and bath soap. The alternatives are expensive, but we’re finding they last longer, as there’s no water added to the product. Same for laundry and dishwasher soap. We went from liquid to pods, only to find the pods weren’t completely dissolving and were clogging the pipes.…

Lineage means everything to Don Guerra. Ask him what he’s excited to bake at Barrio Bread, his Tucson bakery, and his answer will transport you to the winding streets of Paris, the mountain hollows of New York, and a broad swath of the U.S. desert Southwest. His story will include an artist grandfather, more than a few famous chefs, and a Chinese American family with deep roots growing wheat in Arizona. You’ll quickly see that at Barrio Bread—and its companion company, Barrio Grain—a decade-long mission to preserve heritage grain varieties rolls history right into the dough. “Our style is artisan,” Guerra explains, leaning into the comparison people make of his bread as works of art. “People think that means ‘crusty bread.’ No! It means it’s crafted by a person, in…

Welcome to our series answering reader questions and concerns about how to cut the utility company cord. Hoss Boyd is founder, president, and CEO of TeraVolt Energy and a recognized solar and energy-storage expert. Learn more about TeraVolt Energy at http://TVNRG.com. I currently use wood to heat my off-grid home but would like to figure out my options for using solar power (with batteries) for home heating. I assume the first step would be to determine solar’s cost-effectiveness for heating, but the process feels overwhelming. Can you suggest a few initial steps to get me started? Lori Johnson I’ll assume your intent is to heat your home with an off-grid system, since you mentioned using batteries. If you’re thinking about converting your heat source from wood to batterybanked electricity, you’ll…

Per its mission statement, the Common Grain Alliance (CGA) was formed in the Chesapeake Bay region to bridge that gap between consumption and understanding by connecting and supporting “farmers, millers, grain artisans, and bakers to build a vibrant, integrated, equitable, and regenerative grain economy.” By supporting local producers who grow, mill, bake, and brew beloved foods and drinks, CGA supports consumers in benefiting their local economies while experiencing the full flavors of freshly ground grains. CGA started in 2018 with a few artisans, but it’s grown to 128 members in the region. At the Mid-Atlantic Grain Stand at the FRESHFARM Dupont Circle farmers market in Washington, D.C., consumers get to meet CGA members and taste their products. The Grain Stand features whole grains, flour, beans, popcorn, and rice grown or…

My pantry contains an abundance of last year’s dried herbs hanging in bundles and shedding little herb flakes all over the floor. My dried-herb bundles supply me with an endless amount of seasonings and tea; plus, they make me feel witchy and resourceful. However, by late winter, I’ll be ready to use them up, vacuum the floor of my pantry, and clear space for a new year’s worth of herbal harvests. Kami McBride’s book The Herbal Kitchen (www.MotherEarthNews.com/HerbalKitchen) is absolutely brimming with smart and inexpensive ways to use and preserve extra herbs. I’m particularly smitten with her ideas for making herb-infused vinegars, which can be used as a base in everything from salad dressings to homemade cleaning products. You can use any kind of vinegar. I prefer to use inexpensive,…