John Shuttleworth, Co-founder of Mother Earth News, 1937-2009

We bid farewell to the man who started it all.

May 8, 2009
By the MOTHER EARTH NEWS editors 
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John and Jane Shuttleworth, 1975
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John Shuttleworth, who co-founded MOTHER EARTH NEWS with his first wife, Jane, in 1970, died earlier this year at his home in Evergreen, Colo. He was 71. John was preceded in death by his second wife, Wren Davenport Shuttleworth.

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John and Jane Shuttleworth started MOTHER EARTH NEWS in 1970. John had a lifelong interest in the environment and self-reliant living.

“He always wanted people to be able to take care of themselves,” his sister, Linda Weddle of Redkey, Ind., told The Denver Post.

First based in North Madison, Ohio, the Shuttleworths would later move the magazine to Hendersonville, N.C., before selling it in 1979. MOTHER EARTH NEWS would change owners a few more times before its current publisher, Ogden Publications, acquired it in 2001.

"All we had was a dream," Shuttleworth said in an interview with the magazine in 1975. "Within the limits of the painfully short resources we had on hand, we wanted to publish — even if we never got past the first one — a magazine that would interest us. Not advertisers, not distributors, not the “average” reader, not the pseudo-intellectuals. Us. And we wanted a periodical that would [1] help other little people just like us live richer, fuller, freer, more self-directed lives and [2] ease us all into more actively putting the interests of the planet over and above any personal interests."

Years ago, Shuttleworth wrote to us to let us know he was keeping an eye on the magazine. His letter said: “The whole world has changed since I founded and published the magazine. So I thought I’d write and let you know that you’re doin’ just fine … I’d be doin’ a lot of things differently if I were putting the publication together today. But I’m not. It’s nice to see someone else still doing the heavy lifting. Keep on keepin’ on.”

You can read more about John’s passing in Shuttleworth led Mother Earth News from The Denver Post. And learn more about Shuttleworth himself in Part I and Part II of his Plowboy Interview with MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

If you knew Shuttleworth, or were simply inspired by him, you can share your thoughts by posting a comment below. We at MOTHER EARTH NEWS today are grateful for, and inspired by, Shuttleworth’s passion and vision. We look forward to keepin’ on.

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  • Joy Powell 11/2/2009 10:07:21 AM

    Hi Sonia, Kay, Jeff, and the rest of the gang from the good old days at TMEN! (Mine were '76 to'77.) I was moved to hear just today of John's passing and then to see your names and read you comments. Who could not be impacted from knowing John? I remember his passionate and brilliant discourses, his meticulous attention to detail, even his bullheaded meanness...all with fondness now. He introduced me to self-sufficiency, Helen and Scott Nearing, and other profundities. On the other hand, he taught me to pick up paper clips and forever think of him. And I still hope he finds those missing Derek Fell photos somewhere in the great blue yonder.

    Warm best wishes to you all.
    Joy Powell

  • Diane Kaczor 10/27/2009 4:32:24 PM

    Wow...it's amazing to see all the old names from the Mother Earth News of the mid-70's in Hendersonville. I am grateful to John for bringing me to the beautiful mountains of North Carolina and being introduced to the back to the earth movement. He certainly was a pioneer and it was an adventure to be part of the magazine at that time. I remember all of the staff fondly (wonder where Bill McFall is?)

  • Carolyn D. Sizemore 10/4/2009 6:33:44 PM

    Good to see messages from so many old friends at Mother. Many years of hard but rewarding work. I have never been able to duplicate what we had. The friendships and respect for individual talent. John tested us all and I think I, for one, am better for it.

  • Fred Mahaffey 7/14/2009 8:35:14 AM

    I remember working in the correspondence department in the old funeral home in North Madison while my ex-wife, John, labored in Mother's General Store across the road. John and Jane's dream was contagious, and our family packed up and headed south to visions of windmills and methane generators. Even now, here in the farthest cry from Hendersonville, NC, I am puttin' up jams and pickles and chutneys and preserves! Ever grateful to that gruff ole guy, John! Enjoy the rest of the journey!

  • Jeff Parnau 7/2/2009 10:22:35 AM

    Hi Sonia, Kay, Ed, et. al. -- I just heard about this on July 1. Working at TMEN was pretty much like boot camp. It was hard, long, and if you didn't learn fast, you were history. John was much more vulnerable than most people knew. I had a few email exchanges with him a few years ago. He detested the internet at that time, and still used a typewriter and postage stamp. Kay mentioned a reunion. That would be cool.

  • Kay Holmes Stafford 6/6/2009 3:14:44 PM

    Hi Jim Ed... aka Newton! Glad to see your message. Just thinking about MOTHER and John brings back so many memories of working in that old Ruth Originals building and all those long hours. John was definitely ahead of his time for sure... if only the country had persued alcohol fuel burning cars way back then.

    Before this news I was hoping we could have a reunion, now it would be nice to get together and remember John. There are so many stories!

    Five acres and independence... that was his rallying cry. He will be missed.

  • Sonia Nordenson 6/6/2009 12:42:17 PM

    Hey, Jim Ed and all you other former staffers! (My years in Hendersonville were '76 to '78.) Greetings and blessings. Thanks to Kay Holmes Stafford for letting me know about John's passing. My recollections of all of you--and even of irascible, visionary John--are fond. We had some great times among all those grueling weeks! Remember the Florida expedition? Remember Alan Chadwick and Agaja? Ann Wigmore? Helen and Scott Nearing? I hope Jane is happy, wherever she now may be, and that John is now in a parallel universe where they still include "The" in the TMEN title.

    If anyone wants to get in touch, I'm on facebook. (That's how Kay and I refound each other.)

    Much love to all.

  • Jim Ed Morans 5/19/2009 3:44:41 PM

    I was on MOTHER'S editorial staff from '73 - '76 in Hendersonville. I knew John was way ahead of his time . . . and still is. He was rather difficult to work for at times, but we all believed in what we were doing. He was a visionary of major proportions. I still dream about working there . . . and would love to hear from any of you former MOTHER staffers from that era. Rest well, John Shuttleworth.
    You are missed.

  • John M 5/8/2009 11:00:28 PM

    Our heartfelt prayers go out to John’s family and friends.

    For the most part when Mother first caught our eye, in those early days, we have been following and somewhat living a richer life through her teachings.

    May GOD bless you John with a rich harvest! John & Trudy, Huntsville AL.

  • Pat Miketinac 5/8/2009 8:09:23 PM

    So sorry to hear of John's passing. I still have issue #1 which contains some of the most inspirational writings I have ever come across. Long live memories of John and Eco-Village.

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