Mother Earth News Modern Homesteading

Which Is Your Favorite Hatchery And Why?

By Troy Griepentrog — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:45:18 CST

Which is your favorite hatchery and why? If you need help finding a poultry hatchery or baby chicks, we have some resources for you.

Back to the Land During Difficult Times

By Michael Perry — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:19:07 CST

Does "rural" equal "righteous"? Sometimes going back to basics can be triggered by a simple wish to reconnect with the Earth ... and raise some chickens, too. Michael Perry ruminates on his reasons for choosing farm life in this excerpt from "Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs and Parenting," his humorous, heartfelt memoir of a new life in the country.

Barnheart: Yearning to be a Farmer

By�Jenna Woginrich — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:39:35 CST

If you have a constant,�overwhelming�urge of wanting to be outside breathing in the fresh air and�partaking in various farming activities, you may be suffering from barnheart.�

Brooding Baby Chicks in Winter

By�Robert Plamondon — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:07:38 CST

Low temperatures won't prevent you from successfully brooding baby chicks. Following these basic rules, even brooding chicks in negative temperatures is possible.

Off the Grid and Thriving!

By Cam Mather — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:50:58 CST

By using renewable energy - wind and solar - and growing their own food, Cam and Michelle Mather have created a self-reliant homestead. They also use a rainwater collection and solar hot water system, and their horses provide free, effective manure for the garden. Find out how they got started, and how they're successfully living off the grid.

Urban Homesteading - Seed Starting

By Heidi Hunt — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:35:28 CST

You can get more for your gardening money with a group seed starting effort.

Dear MOTHER: February/March 2010

Letters from our readers — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:14:18 CST

Reader letters about colony collapse disorder; growing food gardens; using ducks for natural pest control; used tractors; how MOTHER EARTH NEWS has changed their lives; Yvon Chouinard and Patagonia; MOTHER EARTH NEWS on Facebook; on-demand water heaters; farm shares and classifieds; great places; electric ATVs; rejecting industrial meat; trying and loving�"Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day"; and MOTHER EARTH NEWS online-only content.

Avoid Costly Problems Related to Cold Weather

By�Andrea Ridout — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:34:38 CST

Here's how to avoid a slew of bills related to cold weather.

Coffee Chaff Chicken Coop Litter

By�Lyanda Lynn Haupt — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:54:04 CST

Coffee bean chaff�- the light, airy husks blown off the beans during roasting, can be used as chicken coop litter, mulch and compost. Chaff can usually be found for free at local roasteries.

Intentional Communities - Still a Growing Movement

By Heidi Hunt — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:33:01 CST

The ecovillage/commune�movememt that started in the 1960s is alive and well in 2009.