MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine is the Original Guide to Living Wisely. Launched in 1970, each bimonthly issue features practical and money-saving information on cutting energy costs; using renewable energy; organic gardening; green home building and remodeling; fun do-it-yourself projects; and conscientious, self-sufficient lifestyles
Defending Diversity
MOTHER EARTH NEWS
Dear MOTHER
Nebraska Solar Farm, 1 Year Later • In June 2022, the city of Norfolk, Nebraska, completed the state’s largest solar farm in partnership with solar developer Sol Systems.
Surviving an Ice Storm • A New England family shares lessons learned after being caught unprepared in fierce weather.
Old-Fashioned Cold Remedies That Work • Turn to the herbal wisdom of your great-great-grandparents when fighting that pesky cold.
Extend Fall Feed and Forage • Bale grazing, stockpiling, and interseeding can improve resources for feeding livestock.
Make Your Own Herbal Finishing Salts • Coarse and versatile, herb-infused salts add a flavorful accent to many dishes.
DIY Knitted Shopping Bag • Knit 2, purl 2, and then shop for years with this sturdy over-the-shoulder pouch.
Outrunning a Bug Apocalypse • Many scientists call it the “sixth extinction.” Can technology provide a way out?
Profiting from Persephone • Learn how to harvest food from your garden in winter by timing your plantings before the Greek goddess of spring goes underground.
Overwintering Hens Inside a Greenhouse • Keep your hens happy and healthy no matter the season, while also boosting your garden’s productivity.
Rodenticide Toxicity in Pets • Avoid potential pet poisoning by knowing what’s in your pest control.
Thieves, Apples, and Fire: The Surprising History of Medicinal Vinegars • The beloved herbal tradition of fire cider has deep roots.
Plant the Seeds of Friendship
How Complicated Is Off-Grid, Really?
MOTHER EARTH NEWS
What Causes Different Egg Colors? • I’m not sure how to choose between brown and white eggs. Is one more nutritious than the other? What determines egg color?
Where Did My Earthworms Go? • I’m no longer able to find an earthworm in my garden, whereas before, they were innumerable. I use no-till methods, compost, and cover crops, but my worms still went missing. What happened to them?
West Bend, Wisconsin
Photos from the Field