Mother Earth News_December_2016_2017

2 Mother earth News XXXX/XXXX XXXX

3 News from Mother

Just choose hope.

5 Dear Mother

Reader letters about water heated

by natural gas, a leaky pond, and a

recipe for pork belly rub.

6 Green Gazette

Updates on GMO labeling, solar

tax credits, and safe drinking water.

10 The Gardener’s Table:

Sweet Potatoes and Shallots

Easy to grow and store, these roots

pair well in decadent dishes.

16 Firsthand Reports: Slow

Flowers and a Solar Home

This couple built a business and a

mortgage-free abode.

24 Farming the Neighborhood

Converting lawns to gardens brings

“plenty” of food and community.

30 Daily Breads: Potato,

Oatmeal, White, and Rye

Bake flavorful sandwich breads

from quality ingredients.

40 Make Soap the

Old-Fashioned Way

Make your own lye from ashes,

and use it to cook up a mild soap.

43 5 Expert-Recommended

Tools for No-Till Plots

With these implements, raise crops

organically while preserving the

health of your soil.

46 Grow a Community

Giving Garden

This small town produces healthy

food for neighbors in need.

50 Cordage: How to

Make Natural Thread

Extract fibers from plants to make

your own sustainable string.

55 Dirt, Cheap: A Composting

Business for the Community

A Phoenix company recycles

food waste to benefit consumers,

businesses, and the land.

66 Homestead Hacks

Readers share clever DIY projects:

a rabbit tractor and a “dragon”

rocket boiler.

72 The Pitchfork Pulpit:

Small-Scale Mob Grazing

Got a modest homestead? You can

still practice rotational grazing —

just keep those animals moving.

77 Ask Our Experts

Trusted advice on fueling a forge,

using solar panels in snow, and

preventing bird flu.

83 Country Lore

Reader tips on a DIY cat toy, a

rabbit-proof planter, a lavender salt

scrub, and a paw salve for dogs.

112 Photos from the Field

Reader-submitted images.

18 24 55

from left: Alex Wilson; Plenty Heirloom

fA

rms; sl

Aven gujic;

to

P: Willi

Am

rubel;

cover:

fotoli

A/mA

ximus

18 Build a More

Resilient Homestead

A longtime builder and

resilience expert offers advice

on how to make your home

and land more disaster-

resistant.

61 Battery Power Basics

Choose the best battery

for powering your off-grid

homestead.

Disaster PrePareDness

36 Back-to-Basics French Bread

Whether you enjoy it as sippets, bread pudding, or toast with butter

and jam, try this historic bread recipe based on classic cookbooks.

Table of Contents December 2016/January 2017

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