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This article from Mother Earth News provides a guide on how to grow mushrooms from start to finish. It explains the process of making plug spawn and growing mushrooms on logs, which can be used to establish a permaculture forest. The article emphasizes the importance of using hardwood logs and researching the specific mushrooms and wood types that are compatible. It also provides instructions on making mushroom spawn plugs using a pressure cooker or stovetop method, as well as drilling holes in logs, inserting the plugs, and sealing them with wax. The article concludes with tips on caring for the logs and harvesting the mushrooms. [Extracted from the article]

Lights glow at twilight in Hamnøy, a smallfishing village in the Lofoten Islands in Norway. Above: A mushroom emerging from a fallen login Szolnok, Hungary. Right: A male wood duckresting in front of cypress tree roots at SwanLake Iris Gardens in Sumter, South Carolina. [Extracted from the article]

The article outlines the benefits and drawbacks of using various types of fire-starting equipment and materials. Several igniters or tools that provide the initial flame or heat include wood-friction fire, flint and steel, fire piston, matches, battery and steel wool, and magnifying glass. Accelerants or materias that facilitate a small flame grow into a bigger blaze include petroleum jelly and cotton balls, wax and fibers, gauze and hand sanitizer, and pitch and fatwood.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of harvesting his own wood by using a 1953 8N tractor from Ford Motor Company, SkidMate log-skidding arches from Norwood, and a chainsaw winch form Lewis.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to the articles in the previous issues including "Guide to Greener Heating", "Teflon Dangers: Deadly to Chickens -- And Us" and "Raising Pigs for Pork, Plowing and More," in December 2012/January 2013 issue.

The article offers suggestions on how to choose the woodstove. It suggests that firewood is cheap and plentiful in North America, so buying wood could potentially save money. It also suggests that take advice from the people who burn wood regularly. Further it discusses the feature of woodstove that includes heating capacity, log length, and combustion system.

The article focuses on selecting the correct wood screws. It highlights the importance of metal wood screws which are better than nails due to its threads that hold the wood more sturdily and how it can create a durable wood joint when mixed with glue. Suggestions are provided on where to find the best screws such as the Lee Valley Tools and other specialty stores. Other applicable details are also stated such as the use of cup washers for improving bare screw heads and how to hide screw heads.

The article discusses how to construct a less than 1,000 dollar do-it-yourself (DIY) hot tub. He cites the use of a Japanese-made wood-fired spa stove manufactured by the firm Chofu, and imported by Island Hot Tub Co. He also explains how to heat and maintain the temperature of the water in the tub. He also presents the two heaters offered by Chofu, which are the gas- and wood-fired heaters.

The article discusses the use of pellet stoves. Pellet stoves burn pellets made of compressed wood byproducts and other biomass. Pellet appliances have heat output controlled directly by the homeowner using a dial or buttons. Pellet heating is said to be about the same cost as natural gas and roughly half the cost of oil. Some heating pellets are made from the byproducts of lumber mills and planing plants. INSET: Non-wood Pellets.

The author discusses the buildings cited in his book "Builders of the Pacific Coast." He states that the common theme of the buildings is that they use wood and that in their coastal marine environment, trees and driftwood are abundant. He adds that many of the buildings can be reached only by water. He stresses that most of the structures are green buildings, those that use natural and sustainable materials.

The article presents questions and answers related to country living including whether it is advisable to feed birds year-round, best options for reliable wood heat, and finding local wine and beer.

The article offers tips on wood heating. Considering the amount of work involved in full-time wood heating, it just makes sense to burn efficient fires. The secret to high efficiency wood heating is to pay attention to the smoke. When starting a wood fire, the wood must be dry. Factors considered when checking whether a wood is dry are outlined. Two parallel logs is a popular method because the fire cannot collapse and smother itself. The strategies used to keep it burning as efficiently as possible are also mentioned.

This article focuses on the use of paving bricks to create outdoor spaces. As compared to wood, paving bricks last longer without the need for chemical preservation. Brick paths and patios also have no impact on forest resources. Three elements go into an attractive, durable paver installation. One of which was the need for a solid, mechanically compacted foundation.

This article provides information on innovative insulated panels. These incredible building panels are energy efficient and easy to use. Among the many breakthroughs in building materials and home construction, structural insulated panels (SIP) are one of the best. SIP are rigid foam sandwiched between factory-bonded oriented strand board or wood paneling. INSET: Tools of the Trade.

Provides information on wood-fired central heating systems in the U.S. Advantages and disadvantages of several wood-fired heating systems, including hydronic systems; Advice on installing the systems in homes; Features of a combination central-heating unit. INSET: Price Range.

Presents an article on renovating a cabin at the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee. Description of the area; Sources of food, water and other necessities; Types of wood used in woodcarving.

Provides instructions on designing saw bucks, saw horses and shaving horses using wood. Pointers to consider when designing a buck; Reason a 22-inch height saw pony is handy for hand sawing a board; Uses of a shaving horse.

Discusses wood-fired central heating systems. Background on forced-hot-air systems; Information on combination central heating units; Advantages offered by a hydronic, wood-fired central heating system. INSETS: Wood Furnaces and Boilers;Price Range.

Wood burning can be safe, efficient, and clean. Softwoods, although they burn more quickly than hardwoods and require ample air supply for clean burning, can heat your house as well as hardwoods. Here is advice on how to get the most out of heating with wood.

The article presents questions and answers related to gardening including what are day-neutral strawberries, when to use wood ash in the garden, and how to get chickens to roost in the evening. INSET: How to Get Chickens to Roost in the Evening.

The article focuses on building a rabbit hutch and the equipment involved. It notes the environmental considerations in deciding between an indoor or outdoor rabbitry and weighs the pros and cons of a wooden and a wire cage option. It also notes the environmental factors conducive to the rabbit's health and basic considerations in building a hutch, like accessibility and adaptability to external conditions. Buying prefabricated wire hutches is presented as a cheaper option for first-timers.

The article offers tips on building a picket fence using natural wood and hemp rope. Location is the primary consideration in a fence project. There is a need to measure the perimeter of a fence outline in order to determine the number of fence posts that will be needed. Two fence rails are needed for every fence post. Fence rails should be installed after completing all the posts. A diagonal lashing can be used to attach the pickets individually to the rails.

The article discusses the author's experience of leading a country lifestyle in the Sierra-Nevada foothills of California. While on her way to town one rainy day she noticed a sleeping cat in the center of the road. Her cabin has little insulation in the walls and none under the floors. She made an effort to learn which woods burn cool and which woods burn hot. A variety of trees such as madrones, oaks, pine and cedars surrounds her home.

The article provides an answer to a question of how to make charcoal from wood. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Discusses the market for environmentally certified wood. Rate of forest destruction worldwide; Marketing of wood that's labeled with a green certification mark; How to be certified to market the wood; Increase in the sale of environmentally certified wood; Affordability of eco-certified wood.

The article provides an answer to the question of how to locate sustainable wood for contructing homes.

The article highlights the essential homestead tools of "Countryside" magazine readers. One reader named his 112 year old Superior 227 wood burning stove as their most essential homestead tool as well as their buzz saw as it is an integral part to keep a sufficient supply of wood for the winter. Another reader cited shovels, rakes and saws as his most important homestead tool but he turns to the wheelbarrow the most when picking up bags of feed or hen house cleanings to the garden.

An excerpt from the article "Tall Wood," by Sarah DeWeerdt in the Summer 2012 issue of "Conservation" is presented.

The article discusses the steps taken by the author when he modified the parts of his Brinly aerator seeder for small plantings. One of the modifications that he made was the attachment of wood scraps to funnel seed instead of metal because these are more cost-efficient. He bolted cultivator points on each of the seven wood scraps to make these more useful when tilling seedbeds.

The article presents several pointers to consider before investing in wood heat. In calculating the savings provided by wood heat, the author suggests that one should take into account all the tasks involved when using wood heat. He provides several wood-heat systems to choose from such as a woodstove located in the main living area of the house, a wood boiler or central furnace and a pellet stove, furnace or boiler for those living in the city or suburbs. He mentions the benefits of wood heat in providing years of comfort, pleasure and savings.

A letter to the editor about sources of wood for heat is presented.

Discusses the application of best practices in cordwood construction. Use of softwoods in house construction; Solution to the infiltration problem in cordwood construction; Things which cordwood builders need to know about cordwood.

Describes a cabin made of wood pallets in Wareplace, South Carolina. Materials used in constructing the cabin; Total spending for building the house; Description of the cabin's loft sleeping area.

Features Gary's Creations, a display of unusual, handmade, primitive wood designs situated along Highway 49, between the historic towns of Bridgeton and Salem, New Jersey.

The article offers information on a wood hauler built by Kevin Bledsoe, citizen of Adrian, Michigan, by unbolting the blower and auger from a walk-behind snow blower and mentions that the blower and auger were replaced with a wagon box.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of fulfilling his dream of heating his home with wood.

The author discusses the time of the year when people get stressed while preparing for the holiday season and the value of slowing down to appreciate moments like her walks through the woods with her toddler son Julian. Topics covered include the signals of the brain for the body to slow down, influence of the cool weather and benefits of being mindful. Also mentioned is the observation of nature through the eyes of a child.

Tells how to increase efficiency in woodcutting through the construction of a rack which holds logs in a vertical pile.

The article presents information on the creation of bookshelves from wooden ladder and reclaimed barn wood. The ladder was used as a support for the bookshelves. Making the shelves did not any amount of money. The author is planning to make rustic benches and tables out of the remaining barn wood.

Provides tips for cutting wood safely. Skills needed by chain saw users for cutting trees safely; Use of ropes in pulling the tree.

Provides information on building a temporary storage frame for firewood. Measurements of the framework; Reason for buying wood by the cord and not by the rick; Factors to consider in buying items needed for the storage.