Topics: woodworking, saving energy, saving money, DIY projects, sustainable seafood, ocean conservation, Thanksgiving, vegetarianism and homemade paper.

Guests:

Spike Carlsen , author of A Splintered History of Wood

Carlsen is an editor, author, carpenter and woodworker, who has been immersed in the world of wood and woodworking for more than 30 years. He is former Executive Editor of Family Handyman magazine where he wrote hundreds of articles on home improvement and oversaw the creation of dozens of books including the revised Readers Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual. He has written articles for Old House Journal, Fine Homebuilding, Workbench, The Minneapolis Star Tribune and other publications. Carlsen discusses saving energy to save money with easy DIY projects.

Alison Barratt , Communications Associate Manager, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Barratt discusses how the aquarium is celebrating 25 years of ocean conservation, as well as the impacts of plastics on Laysan albatross and the Monterey Bay Aquarium's program to alert visitors to this issue. She also about a fun seafood-full, turkey-free Thanksgiving!

Anna Thomas , author of a new cookbook, Love Soup 

Thomas is one of the founders of the vegetarian and fresh foods movements and the author of the new cookbook Love Soup: 160 All-New Vegetarian Recipes. She discusses minimal meat Thanksgiving meals.

Cheryl Long , editor in chief, MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Long shares the Project of the Week: Ultimate Paper Recycling. Learn how to heavy-duty notepaper. It's fun and easy to do — a great project for these cool fall evenings at home with the family. After the paper has dried, you can use some autumn-themed rubber stamps to jazz up your new homemade cardstock.

Listen Now!  

Fine Woodworking Editor Asa Christiana says that the irony of making a workbench is that you need one just to build one — usually.  

Fortunately, for those of you who are still without a workbench, Christiana has come up with an easy-to-build design that includes free PDF plans and an instructional video in which he and woodworking associate, Matt Berger, take you through the process of building the workbench’s base.

This project will not only provide a safer work environment and the potential for better woodworking results, it uses supplies found in your local lumberyard and requires only basic tools you probably already have on hand.

Check out the video and free PDF plans for this easy-to-build workbench.

Whether you’d like to help a youngster get started with woodworking or learn the basics yourself, Kid Crafts: Woodworking, by John Kelsey, is a good investment. The book is divided into four chapters: “All About Wood,” “Woodworking Supplies,” “Tools” and “Projects.” Clear plans, numerous photos and step-by-step instructions make the book easy to understand. The projects can be built with simple hand tools and range from fun (toys and a birdhouse) to practical (a toolbox, bookshelf and picture frame). This is a great introduction to woodworking, even for adults.