From dls4@acpub.duke.edu Wed Oct 15 00:19:12 1997 Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 15:51:49 -0400 (EDT) From: Daniel Lee Settles Reply-To: homestead@listserv.oit.unc.edu To: homestead@listserv.oit.unc.edu Subject: Re: Magazines On Tue, 14 Oct 1997, Jeff Owens wrote: > Anyway, I just got the latest Small Farmers Journal and reading it > made me want to share it with everyone. But, not everyone > can relate to horse farmers, so I decided to evaluate magazines > instead. It will be a biased evaluation of course . > > Country Journal - This national magazine occasionally has interesting > articles. Many of the articles are targeted for people with moderate > income and urban ties. > > Countryside - This was my favorite homesteader magazine once, but > it is sometimes difficult to sort through all the articles for > useful information. Many articles are written by novice homesteaders > with the first blush of optimism. Also, JB's definition of a > homesteader covers just about everyone. > This is a great magazine for homesteading beginners and wantabes. Lots of inspiring stories to help you get motivated, but not always accurate information. However, after reading it for a couple of years, I was tired of hearing about other's adventures and wanted to get on with my own. > Mother Earth News - Started out with a cause, but in the last few > years has been erratic. I stopped subscribing about 8 years ago. > I think I'll also stop subscribing next time renewal comes around. Try to find old issues from 10 years ago. These are much more interesting. > Small Farmers Journal - This is a real treasure. Even thought it talks > about horse farming which few people are suited for, the homesteader > attitudes show through in the articles. The editor (L.R. Miller) is > a good writer and believes horse farming can be profitable. > I love this one. They always have lots of old pictures and information about animal powered equipment. I'm very interested in this but it's probably not for everyone. I agree that L.R.Miller tells some good stories and I like his commentaries. > Backwoods Home - Erratic, and political. Some people like it. > > Back Home - Similar to the original Mother Earth News. > > Permaculture Mags - My favorite is the British magazine > because it matches our local climate. There is > a NorthWest magazine starting up and one published in the > South. The material could be called homesteading using nature > as a model. That is an over simplification but close. > > Small Acreage Farming - Not applicable for most homesteaders. > > Home Power - Not really a homestead magazine, but has a very > similar philosophy. It does talk about powering homesteads. > > Did I miss any good ones? I also get Organic Gardening, and Rural Heritage. I've been getting Organic Gardening for quite a while now, so I may not renew it next time. It seems like they are just recycling the same material now. Every year it's "Grow the best tasting tomatoes", "start a compost pile" and "how to attract beneficial insects" and it never ends. It's great information if you haven't heard it before, but kind of boring after many years repetition. I just started getting Rural Heritage this year and I have really enjoyed it. It's focus is similar to the Small Farmers Journal, with much of the information related to the use of draft animals on the farm. They have more information on oxen, which is why I get it. Dan Settles Oxford, NC > > ---------- > Jeff Owens (kowens@teleport.com) Zone 6-7 Permaculture > Underground house, solar energy, reduced consumption, no TV > >