Dear Mother: April/May 2007

(Page 8 of 9)

April/May 2007, Issue 221
Letters from our readers 
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DOLLIE B. WHITE
King, North Carolina

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A Welcome Discovery

I know a fellow who lives off the land. One day he threw me a 1986 issue of Mother Earth News and asked if I had ever read the magazine. I had never seen it, but I found myself glued to it. Since then I’ve read the most interesting, innovative how-to articles. I’m a mechanical and architectural drafting instructor, studying solar energy for class projects and for the construction of my new home. Mother has the latest and greatest, and I am so glad I found it.

KELLY SABIN
Farmington, Maine

Don’t Bother Me, I’m Reading My Mother

I have been an avid reader of your magazine for more than 15 years and love it. Some day soon I hope that you will have 12 issues per year rather than six, as each new issue is read over twice in less than three weeks after receiving it. I am left with too much time looking forward to the next issue. Anyway, I just wanted to send you a picture of my 2½-year-old daughter, who also loves your magazine. Although not quite yet reading, she loves the pictures and must have your magazine at this particular time.

JEFF HARTWIG
Lee Center, New York

Jeff, if you use the Web, subscribe to our free twice-weekly online newsletter at Mother Earth Living. It’s filled with tips on do-it-yourself projects, alternative energy, organic gardening and more, to keep you busy between issues.—Mother

MORE WAYS TO CLEAN YOUR CLOTHES

Literally Self-service Laundry

The ratings in the December/January 2007 issue (“Look into Energy-efficient Washers and Dryers”) neglected to mention the Staber washer, a top-loading horizontal axis model made by Staber Industries in Columbus, Ohio.

These extremely efficient (low water, low detergent) machines are made to be serviced by the consumer, with excellent tech support provided by the company. We have owned a Staber for five years. A problem caused by an electrical power surge was easy to troubleshoot with their knowledgeable staff, and parts arrived promptly. Prices are competitive with front-loading horizontal axis machines.

PEGGY FITZ GIBBON
Westfield, New York

Get a Load of This

For a washer that really saves money and reduces environmental damage, I suggest an even greener choice, the hand-powered James Hand Washer (with attached wringer), made by S&H Metal Products in Topeka, Ind. Like the Energy Star machines, this washer is more expensive to purchase, but since you do the work it excels in energy efficiency: zero operating cost. If you use rainwater, that’s free too. The tub is rounded on the bottom and the agitator moves along under the water and clothes as you move the lever back and forth. About six minutes will do it. Rinse in a couple of wash tubs. It works about as well as a front-loading machine — easy on your clothes and gets them clean. You can do two or more loads in the same water. The James Washer provides excellent exercise for upper body strength. After about eight years, ours needed a new end plate. S&H Metal was helpful and pleasant to deal with, and we did the repair ourselves, inexpensively.

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