BOOTSTRAP BUSINESSES

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If you now operate-or have ever operated-a successful home business that was inspired by an article you read in MOTHER, tell us (in 500 words or less) when and where-and with how much "seed money"you started your venture. Because if your story can be fitted into an upcoming installment of BOOTSTRAP BUSINESSES, you'll receive [1] the warm satisfaction of knowing that you helped someone else find the happiness you enjoy and [2] a free two-year new or renewal subscription to THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS®.

Like most MOTHER-types, I've always had a strong desire to be independent and self-sufficient ... and I'd been working toward that goal by saving up to buy a piece of homestead land. After looking over some of the Good Earth's price tags, however, I came to the conclusion that my current carpenter's wages wouldn't bring In enough cash to realize my dreams ... so I began to look for just the right part-time job.

My search ended when I came upon an article In MOTHER NO. 54 (page 86) entitled "Homestead Furniture: A 'Natural' Moneymaker". After reading that piece, I took a swift inventory of my garage store room: There I found a dozen or so eight-toot pieces of rough cedar 2 X 4's ... some large scraps of half-inch plywood ... a bit of ceramic floor tile (left over from a remodeling job I'd done the summer before) ... and a decent supply of glue, nails, and grout. With these materials-plus some lag screws and flat washers I bought for a grand investment of $3.56—I'd soon put together an 18' X 2' X 4' rough cedar table, with a ceramic tile top, in a total of four short hours! The ceramic covering was a big bonus, I thought, since It provided an inexpensive, scratch—and water-resistant surface ... and—at the same time-eliminated the time consuming"finishing" process normally required in furniture making.

No sooner had I completed my masterpiece than a friend stopped by, admired my work, and offered me a deal: $25 in clash plus No bucket seats to replace the dilapidated bench I'd been suffering upon in my van. I promptly invested in a now supply of ceramic tile ... and went to work-once again-on my table making. Before I'd finished my second attempt at the art, I'd presold three more tables ... for a total of $135. That worked out to a $75 profit for approximately 12 hours of enjoyable work ... or $6.25 per hour! My home business has been going "great guns" ever since ... and needless to say, I am one thankful MOTHER reader!

Joseph R. Hunka
Houston, Tex.

I'd been searching for a long time for that one bootstrap business that would fit my lifestyle. I wanted to work what I call "hobby hours"approximately half of a regular workday—and after researching MOTHER's many back issues, I found just what I'd been seeking. MOTHER NO. 50 featured an article (on page 118) entitled "How to Earn $500 a Month Recycling Metals". A few short days after I'd read that piece, I found myself In business ... with a total initial Investment of one tankful of gas!

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