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24 Articles

In August 2023, I stood before an attentive crowd to discuss poultry genetics: egg color, sex-linked traits, and broilers. I referred to the previous speaker, who raised Red Rangers but, after seeing how carcasses dress out the same, switched to Cornish Crosses so he could reap the same returns in less time. Fitted with a microphone and a PowerPoint presentation, I provided a different story: One of my Cornish Cross pullets broke her leg three days before processing weekend because of the strain of rapid growth. But we couldn’t move up the processing date because my husband and I worked several jobs while raising children. So, we kept her comfortable in the house until we could process her. It was the best decision, considering factors we hadn’t anticipated. “But that’s the point,”…

EDITORS’ PICK Work with the Tortoises I was fascinated by “Work with the Birds” in the April/May 2024 News from MOTHER. Several years ago, I replaced my front lawn with a vegetable garden. I’m a committed no-till gardener and love the idea of using chickens in conjunction with growing produce. Unfortunately, as my property is a small village lot, chickens aren’t a possibility. So I work with what I have — Moshe the tortoise. She happily consumes vegetable scraps and edible weeds. In addition, her used bedding makes excellent mulch. When the weather is warm, she can (with close supervision) scratch around in the garden. True, she doesn’t lay eggs, but she’s doing her part for regenerative agriculture. Thank you for a wonderful publication. Every issue is a joy to read. Marie SlatteryHoosick Falls, New…

The Dirty Drawbacks of Clean Energy

According to a December 2022 analysis published in Nature Sustainability, at least 30 “energy transition minerals and metals” (ETMs), such as cobalt, copper, nickel, and lithium, form the foundation of the energy transition, and demand for these ETMs is expected to rise dramatically. The International Energy Agency estimates that lithium, which is used in solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and batteries, will “see the fastest growth, with demand growing by over 40 times” by 2040. The industrial mines built to unearth this single metal require the input of billions of gallons of fresh water and can contaminate air, soil, and water—leaving lasting impacts on the ecosystems and communities nearby. And the Nature Sustainability analysis reports that more than half of the locations where ETMs are extracted are “on or…

The Dirty Drawbacks of Clean Energy

A New Purpose for Yellow Peas

A recent pilot project in New England has demonstrated the potential for creating a more local, sustainable, and health-conscious food system. By taking an underutilized cover crop—yellow peas—and creating a market for it in regional hospitals, the nonprofit Health Care Without Harm has developed a road map “to build a truly values-aligned supply chain that supports people and planet, with enormous potential for scaling and replication,” writes the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) in a new publication, “More Than a Cover Crop.” The project began with Aurora Mills and Farm in Maine, where the yellow pea is grown as an early cover crop. A member of the legume family, yellow pea offers many soil-health benefits, including carbon storage, nitrogen fixing, and disease and pest reduction. After the initial harvest, the…

A New Purpose for Yellow Peas

Improving Mattress Safety Standards

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) announced in February 2024 that it has issued its licensing criteria for verifying safe and healthy mattresses. For companies to be verified, they must meet a range of standards developed by EWG. Mattresses must be free from PFAS (“forever chemicals”), chemical flame retardants, fragrances, known carcinogens, and chemicals classified as posing a cancer risk, as well as comply with the standards of emissions for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that consumers could potentially breathe in. Additionally, mattress product pages must disclose all intentionally added ingredients and materials, and companies are required to have documented quality-control systems in place. In the U.S., mattress manufacturers aren’t required to disclose the materials used in their mattresses, and many mattresses contain chemicals that can pose potential health risks. A few states…

Improving Mattress Safety Standards

Use Cardboard in Your Garden

Usually, you have to choose between fast, cheap, and good; using cardboard in the garden achieves all three. It’s fast, it requires no special tools, and you can obtain everything you need to do it free of charge. It’s a no-till, chemical-free way of taking down overgrowth and planting vegetable, perennial, or pollinator gardens. It controls weeds and retains moisture while building soil fertility. Just lay cardboard right where you want to garden, on top of whatever weeds are already growing there, and cover it with wood chips, straw, or mulch. Coming Around to Cardboard Gardening The best part is that the cardboard stays on the ground to decompose, adding biomass and nutrients to the soil. The cardboard holds up best for one growing season, so it’s a good fit for annual…

Use Cardboard in Your Garden

Avoid ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Your Garden

Over the past decade, cardboard boxes have become a frequent visitor to many households, ultimately ending up in landfills and recycling facilities—but also in garden beds. In 2019, Amazon alone shipped about 2.5 billion packages around the world, and this was before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the company estimates its global shipping increased by at least 30%. Millions of backyard gardeners use cardboard to control weeds, retain moisture, and regulate soil temperature. Some of us till the carbon-rich cardboard into our soil. While mulching with cardboard sustainably gives an old box new life, is it safe? Given the prevalence of PFAS—the class of “forever chemicals” mentioned in the Dear Mother department of the December 2023/January 2024 issue—in packaging, we could introduce scary inputs into our soil (and homegrown food) from a…

Avoid ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Your Garden

Test Your Cardboard

PFAS change surface tension to repel liquids, such as oils, fats, and water. Check for PFAS in cardboard by conducting a simple “bead test” using olive oil. The test relies on the opposing polarity between olive oil and fluorinated molecules, which causes a droplet of oil to form a distinct bead in the presence of PFAS. Beading doesn’t definitively mean PFAS are present, but it is one indicator. Inks or wax coatings can interfere with results. To perform a bead test, simply drop a small amount of olive oil onto cardboard and watch what happens after a minute or so. Does the droplet soak in, spread out, or form a perfect little bead? Try testing both sides of the cardboard. Soaking in likely means no water- or grease-proof barrier is present. Spreading…

Test Your Cardboard

Dragons of the Field

Dragonflies capture our attention and imagination, their gossamer wings rattling and flashing in the sun as they patrol the water’s edge or hover above grassy fields. They’ve been surrounded by myth and superstition for as long as our eyes have followed their flight. But the truth of what they can do is even more amazing than what we can dream up, and once you’ve learned about them, you’ll want them to make your backyard their lair. Fantastical Flyers Much like their mythical namesake, dragonflies inspire equal parts terror and wonder, the terror entirely unjustified — unless you’re a flying insect, of course—and the wonder well-deserved. These creatures have been accused of stinging horses to death and nursing serpents back to life. Naughty children napping outside would fear waking to find their eyes sewn…

Dragons of the Field

Verify the Vegetation

My wife, Elaine, and I are enthusiastic pursuers of wild edibles throughout the year. These natural foods are healthy, tasty, and, well, free. What’s more, gathering nature’s bounty is a way to enjoy the outdoors and reap the benefits of exercise. However, there’s a serious downside of wild foods; some have look-alikes that flaunt a harsh taste or are even poisonous. Spot the differences between these plants and mushrooms to stay safe while foraging. Summer Mushrooms: The Heavenly and the Hellish Summer is prime time to forage for choice edible mushrooms, such as chicken of the woods and smooth chanterelles. Unfortunately, these two delicious mushrooms have a rogue lookalike: the infamous and poisonous jack-o’-lantern mushroom. Let’s take a closer look at these three fungi. Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus species complex) is…

Verify the Vegetation

3 Problematic Fall Fruits

It’s just as important to know how to identify the plants that aren’t edible as well as the ones that are. The horse nettle, pokeweed, and common elderberry are also part of the late-summer and autumn landscape and all produce berries—all of which have issues. Horse nettle (Solanum carolinense) is a member of the nightshade family and develops a yellow fruit that looks like a small tomato, which is poisonous. Indeed, every part of this plant is toxic, and the 4-inchor-so alternate, pinnate leaves even flaunt thorny edges. Pokeweed (Phytolacca decandra) is part of rural folklore, as the young spring shoots were often prepared as poke sallet, a spring tonic. The truth is, however, that every part of this plant is toxic, although creatures from bears to blue jays consume the purple…

3 Problematic Fall Fruits

A Note on Toxicity

Throughout this article, we refer to different plants as “edible” or as “toxic” or “poisonous.” We want to remind readers to always use caution when foraging, but not to fear foraging so much that you don’t give it a try. Many of the plants identified in this article as toxic aren’t necessarily deadly. Likewise, some edible plants mentioned should still be consumed cautiously to start. In short, edibility and toxicity are more like a spectrum when it comes to foraged foods: Some are choice edibles, some are toxic and cause nausea and vomiting, while a smaller collection are truly deadly to humans. Never consume a plant you don’t know, verify what you’ve collected with experts, and consume cautiously to start, even when something is identified as a safe edible. However,…

A Note on Toxicity

Looking for a way to feed your animals quality feed or jump-start a small baling enterprise? If you’ve got 2 to 30 acres of land, investing in small-scale equipment and starting your own hay production is possible! By growing and processing your own hay, you can control the timing, quality, and pricing. Considerations Larry Seymour, a recently retired product specialist at BCS America (www.BCSAmerica.com), recalls getting started with hay production shortly after moving to the country: “We felt, as newcomers, we’d pretty much have to make our own.” Knowing your weather is one of the first steps when considering hay production. “To make good hay, you need a weather forecast with three rain-free days,” Seymour says. You don’t cut hay when it’s wet, and it certainly won’t grow easily in a drought. In…

DIY Enrichment for Dogs and Cats

Have you ever wondered what truly excites your pet? Is it the thrill of a scent, the joy of the chase, or the challenge of solving a puzzle? Our pets need more than just food, water, and shelter to thrive. Enrichment plays a crucial role in enhancing their physical and mental well-being, but you don’t need to splurge on expensive toys. Here are some fantastic ideas for homemade enrichment toys and activities to keep your pets engaged and happy. Promoting Healthy Activity Although our pets are domesticated, they share many behaviors and needs with their wild counterparts. Whether it’s scratching, hunting, foraging, or chewing, your pet needs healthy ways to let their wild side out. Environmental enrichment helps pets express their natural behaviors in a way that fits into your household. By providing…

DIY Enrichment for Dogs and Cats

Does the thought of creating a garden in a dry climate intimidate you? That feeling isn’t surprising in regions where scarce rain and low humidity are the norms, and throwing in sizzling summer temperatures adds yet another element of stress for plants and gardeners. You don’t have to look far for news of changing weather patterns that translate to increasing drought conditions and record-breaking temperatures. Perhaps you’ve even seen the effects of climate change in your garden, with established plants showing new signs of stress. How do you deal with these stresses without settling for a dull garden with few plants? The answer is surprisingly simple: Create resilient gardens that can handle increasing temperatures and drought. We tend to make gardening in extreme climates difficult by repeating common mistakes. These include choosing…

Asian Jumping Worms An Old New Threat

You may have heard of lionfish in the Atlantic Ocean and Burmese pythons in the Everglades, but another invasive species has been under our feet for over a century. Also known as “snake worms” or “crazy worms” because of their thrashing behavior, invasive Asian jumping worms comprise a group of 16 or so species that threaten our farmlands and native forests. Here’s what the experts have to say about these harmful worms. An Emerging Problem “I’ve been studying the group off and on for 30 years,” says Mac A. Callaham. Callaham is a research ecologist and team leader for the U.S. Forest Service at the Southern Research Station in Athens, Georgia. “It’s something that I’ve had a keen interest in for a good long time. The sad fact of this is that…

Asian Jumping Worms An Old New Threat

Keep Your Ducks in a Row

Gardeners have been raising chickens in gardens for centuries — but ducks in gardens? Believe it or not, keeping ducks in a small garden is growing in popularity. With their adorable faces and cheery quacks, ducks work alongside gardeners to help clear the garden of harmful bugs and larvae. Ducks are increasingly being used in UK gardens, where the damp conditions create breeding grounds for destructive snails and slugs. Some countries use ducks to clear out snail infestations, which can cause liver flukes in cattle and sheep. A task force of 24 Indian Runner ducks covering an area of almost 50 acres is hard to beat. Before you purchase some tail-waggling waterfowl, determine whether ducks would complement your garden and how you’d like to put them to work. Are Ducks a Good…

Keep Your Ducks in a Row

How to Grow a Spiral Walking Stick

Because of eight bone-spur operations in my feet, I appreciate a good walking aid. My favorite hiking sticks are the ones where stick growth had been deformed by spiraling vines. However, you have to find them, and Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate. But at the corner of my house, I discovered a swamp maple (also known as “red maple,” “water maple,” or “soft maple”). No matter how many times I cut it down, it only grew back faster. As an experiment, I attempted to make a walking cane by wrapping it with a thick Manila rope. Five years later, I was surprised how well it came out. The twists of the rope became embedded in the wood. My next experiment was to grow a spiral hiking stick. Three years later, it became…

How to Grow a Spiral Walking Stick

How Do I Find Reputable Solar Equipment and Installers?

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 energystorage expert. Learn more about TeraVolt Energy at http://TVNRG.com. Does a list of vetted, experienced off-grid solar engineers exist? And what’s the easiest way to source the equipment I’ll need? Ronal Finding reputable off-grid expertise and equipment is a serious challenge. One of my best customers did what a lot of people do when they decide to buy an off-grid system: He hopped online to look up a local solar-installation company and chose one that appeared to be qualified. But when the company’s rep came out to the property to scope out a solarplus-battery system, he ended up sitting down for more…

How Do I Find Reputable Solar Equipment and Installers?

Build a Cardboard Solar Oven

A solar oven can cook your food and heat your water when the sun is shining while emitting no smoke and making no noise. I made my first solar oven nearly 50 years ago, after reading an article in Mother earth News. Using mostly scrap materials, I’ve built several designs. The design I’ll describe here is of an insulated box. A well-made solar oven pays for itself many times over. Low-cost solar cookers work best when the weather is hot and sunny. We’ve cooked stews, soups, hot sandwiches, potatoes (cut into pieces), and egg dishes—just about everything—in our homemade solar cooker. Remember, you’re capturing the heat of the day in a box. For the best cooking, you’ll want to use smaller food items, and you’ll need to plan ahead. Start planning…

Build a Cardboard Solar Oven

Cute Cuke Angle We made a slanted cucumber trellis on top of a raised garden bed with a couple of fence posts and a short section of wire fence. The fence posts are driven into the ground outside one side of the bed, and the fence is angled up to the top of the posts from the soil on the opposite side. This diagonal trellis gives us extra growing room in the garden, and the cucumber vines growing on it shade the bed below so we can grow heatsensitive plants all summer long. We’ve got a crop of lettuce sprouting in the shade now. Brian DayWinona, Minnesota No-Fuss Trellis Although I had the yard space for a long row-type trellis, building one was beyond my skill. Here’s my quick and practical solution—and it’s so much…

Preserve Garlic with Fermentation

I’m looking for a way to put up garlic without taking up freezer space. Any advice? Fermenting garlic is by far my favorite preservation method to ensure I have high-quality, delicious garlic to enjoy year-round. The fermentation process tames some of the spice and pungency of raw garlic, yielding a rich umami flavor that lends the ferment a note of sweetness. And not only is fermentation a fun way to preserve fresh garlic, but it also increases the bioavailability of certain nutrients and acts as a satisfying source of probiotics. Fermentation is safe and easy if done properly. Follow these rules to ensure a successful ferment: 1 When making brine, measure and use the amount of salt called for in the recipe. 2 Keep the garlic submerged completely in the brine. Fermentation weights are a…

Preserve Garlic with Fermentation

How to Clear Pond Water

My home is serviced with water from a pond. It goes through a few filtration and chemical steps before getting to the faucets. I have a windmill for an aerator. When we get high winds or heavy rain, the water won’t clear for days, even though I backwash the system several times and drain the holding tank. Do you have any suggestions, short of dredging the pond? Your response will depend on whether the matter is silt or clay particles or an algae bloom, as well as on the size and depth of your pond. Heavy rains can wash in clay or silt. Does a stream or ditch feed your pond? If not, is there an area around the pond where rainwater concentrates before running into the pond? If any such areas…

How to Clear Pond Water

Rebuild a Wheelbarrow to Last Decades

I’ve got an old wheelbarrow with weak handles; is it salvageable, or should I wheel it to the dump? Recently, I volunteered to store furniture and goods while my in-laws moved, including a 2-year-old True Temper wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow had been rotting on the ground before I got it, and its handles were weak, its pan puckering at the bolt holes, and its tire was flat. I stored it with my wheelbarrow, also a True Temper bought in 1988—36 years ago. I decided to “trick out” this decrepit new ’barrow to its true potential. My 1988 True Temper has carried several hundred bags of wet concrete as I’ve formed and laid sidewalks and rock walls. I’ve pushed 100 tons of dirt, gravel, sand, and mulch. I’ve moved 50 tons or more of…

Rebuild a Wheelbarrow to Last Decades

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