Re: Ain't MY Mother Earth News ??

Try Backwoods Home.  http://www.backwoodshome.com and a print version, too,
of course.  They kind of DIY MEN once had (also libertarian politics, so,
if that's not your thing, be forewarned!)

Steve wrote:

> I really disappointed in the way Mother Earth News has gone..
> 
> I first subscribed to Mother Earth News back in the '60 when I built my
> first house in an area that was darn near "off the grid" (very unreliable
> power), shallow well, designed own septic system, etc. Then it was loaded
> with ideas and advertisers that applied to my rural life style.
> 
> They even had a paper back book with plans, designs and calculations on
> building your own wind or water generators, capturing and storing solar
> heat, etc.
> 
> For some reason I became content with a more urban life in the '70s to
> '80s and dropped my subscription..
> 
> I returned to a life in the woods in '96, still on the grid but looking
> for methods to reduce my dependency..
> 
> I renewed my subscription but after a couple issues I realized this "Ain't
> MY Mother Earth News". Just a look at the glossy face and the ads
> convinced
> me of that.  If I remember correctly there was an ad on the back of a
> 'Gentleman Farmer' hauling a couple arm loads of firewood around in a two
> wheel cart behind a shiny new ($10,000) John Deere garden tractor.. There
> were ads for hot tubs and other things products that don't lend themselves
> to frugal living. Just an effort get me spend my very limited pension.
> 
> The content was equally disappointing.. Not really helpful in attaining
> self-sufficiency and a frugal life style.
> 
> I cancelled my subscription before the forth issue arrived.
> 
> A couple weeks ago I wanted information on Pellet Stoves and did a search
> on the Mother Earth News site..
> http://www.motherearthnews.com/index_js.html I did find a very good
> informative article. However towards the end of this article there was a
> 'side bar' disclamer from Mother with the following statement..
> 
> ".... If you follow MOTHER'S advice, and have your pellet-burner installed
> by an experienced, licensed pro, you should have no venting problems......
> "
> 
> Now THAT's NOT MY Mother.. My Mother is PRO DIY and save your money,
> little or now dependence on others.
> 
> Then I look at the Home Page on Mother's web site and I get an annoying
> popup ad. Another ad for a 12grand Kubota (import) tracter. A article on
> Snow Blowers, Safer De-Icing CHEMICALS, to name a few.
> 
> Sure there are some good articles but there are also some who are trying
> to drag the Urban Life Style into the woods.
> 
>