For decades, Mother Earth News editors have aimed to bring readers articles on what many call “traditional living” – caring for our families, animals, and land in sustainable, economical ways. But “traditional” is far from synonymous with “stale” or “outdated.” We, and the gardeners, makers, and thinkers we feature, are often in conversation with the modern world, applying innovative techniques to tried-and-true customs.
For starters, humans have grown and eaten grain for thousands of years. But in today’s world, many consumers don’t know who grows the grains they eat or where those grains were grown. Stepping in to connect the dots is the Common Grain Alliance, featured by Kurt Jacobson in Green Gazette. This trailblazing cooperative supports farmers, millers, and bakers by connecting them to one another and thereby boosting the local food economy, a model that paves new possibilities for people hoping to strengthen their own local food networks. You can meet “village baker” Don Guerra, an advocate of using heritage grains to bake artisan breads with distinctive designs. Guerra brings both a rich lineage and a fresh perspective to the art of baking bread; his product lines and online video courses mix the traditional with the modern. And, naturopath Amy Neuzil explains the latest science behind different kinds of flours so you can choose the best one for your family, encouraging both exploration and the preservation of heirloom grains.
Food preservation is another place where we can experiment. Ted McDaniel shares his innovative methods for preserving rhubarb and potatoes so he can have them on hand all year long to throw into his favorite recipes.
Finally, solar power is a newer technology that can bring power to our modern-day homes, and two authors in this issue explore the ins and outs of applying this energy tech. Hoss Boyd examines whether solar is suitable for heating an off-grid homestead – and why, for off-grid situations, sometimes older heating methods just make the most sense. But for grid-tied houses, Robert Turner writes about how solar power’s falling costs combined with the availability of government rebates can either make or break the advantages of home solar power.
For homesteaders and DIY types, baking bread, putting up food, and using off-grid methods to heat our homes is nothing new. But with a little bit of curiosity and creativity, we can always find new ways to connect with the customs of our predecessors, combining the best of the past with ideas from the present to boost our ability to care for our farms and our families.
We want to hear what new things you’ve tried, or how you’ve applied a fresh perspective to an established practice; email us at Letters@MotherEarthNews.com to share, and we just might feature your traditional yet innovative ideas in an upcoming issue.