Profiles

In celebration of little-known Mother-type folks from all over: Dan and Paulette Wohnoutka, health food homesteaders; Jan, Mike and Tom, the waterless plumbers; Dr. Henry Mee, the mushroom man.

November/December 1977
By the Mother Earth News editors 
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In celebration of little-known MOTHER-type folks from all over.

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HEALTH FOOD HOMESTEADERS:
DAN AND PAULETTE WOHNOUTKA

You wouldn't think that a health food store located on a winding dirt road in Ozark farm country could make a go of it. And not thinking that is exactly how Dan and Paulette Wohnoutka have proved that such a venture can suc ceed.

Three years ago, the Wohnoutkas and their three children moved from California to an 80acre Missouri farm ... with no intention whatsoever of starting a business. Dan and Paulette, however, discovered that the nearest store selling organically grown grains and herbs and other health foods (which they were used to eating) was over an hour's drive away.

One day, in the company of a friend, Paulette wished out loud: "Someone should start a health food store around here ... someone who would charge reasonable prices for their products."

"Why don't you?" her friend challenged.

That did it! "That 'someone' is us!" declared the Ozark couple.

The Wohnoutkas slowly managed to raise some money, buy their stock, and convert a guest house a few feet from their home into a wellsupplied health food shop-New Life Natural Foodsthat has all the flavor of an "old-time" general store (from the handmade shelves to the wood-burning stove).

New Life Natural Foods is now over a year old ... and Dan and Paulette have already realized a small profit. But the benefits clearly do not stop there. Having a family-run, homestead-based business allows Paulette and Dan to spend more time with their children, work on their farm, and take odd jobs. Also, without the overhead of a storefront in town, the Wohnoutkas are able to charge those lower prices they had once dreamed about.

Most folks wouldn't think it'd be possible to make a living selling health foods on a rural road in the Ozarks. But clearly, Dan and Paulette Wohnoutka aren't like most folks! — Edna L. Ryneveld.

Three years ago—when the solid waste management problem in Calaveras County, California reached the "saturation point"?the installation of a county sewage system (with all its attendant expenses and environmental problems) seemed inevitable. Local officials-at that time-knew little about composting toilets and were (to put it mildly) skeptical about their use.

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