Letters to Home Power compiled by Glenda Hargrove Dear Home Power folks: I somehow just received the second issue of your fine little magazine and I guess if anyone in the world can appreciate such a Brave Beginning, it's me (being the father of Mother, which started a lot of people in the same direction over 18 years ago). Conversely, you folks (being about the best I've seen currently carrying Mother's banner onward) may well appreciate the enclosed small gift. It's a copy of the original print run of the very first Mother. There have been hundreds of thousands of that issue reprinted since we first went on press for distribution January 1, 1970... but this is a genuine, guaranteed fugitive from the very first press run of 10,000 (it can be identified by the cosmetic ad-- for which we never got paid--on the inside back cover. Please note, too, the poster that went out with every issue. It promised-- among other coming articles-- pieces on wind, water, solar, and methane power. And that was back when the rest of the world was telling us that "all the streams have already been harnessed, solar energy was tried in the 30's and didn't work, wind power is just too much trouble, and... what the hell is methane anyway?" Yeah, I'm kinda the guy who kicked off the whole "modern" alternative energy awareness... but only because I grew up on a little family farm in Indiana where we just naturally had to make do and where the only electricity I had until I was seven years old (and moved to a different farm) was from a windplant (Marcellus Jacobs has since told me that he invented the electricity producing wind powered generator and he therefore has the right to name it and , by gadfries, it's not a windmill... windmills pump water). But I digress. I started to say that our windplant was homebuilt and my dad even carved out simitar blades for the unit. Them were the days (I was born in 1937 and liked the depression. While city folks were walking the streets looking for work, we had an attic hung heavy with home-cured hams, a root cellar full of fruit and vegetables, rows of home-canned meats and vegetables in the pantry, crocks of pickles curing away, and all the fresh milk, butter, cream, eggs, etc. we could eat. Likewise later when the city folks had work during WWII and plenty of money... but no ration stamps. Self-sufficiency makes sense to me because I started right off living it). Anyhow I'm always happy to see a new crew carry on the work. As you may or may not know, we started with $1,500, a donated typewriter, and a third or fourth hand kitchen table (which we ate off of too). We were, at the time, up against directly competitive new magazines with as much as $6,000,000 in backing. Plus the "other guys" had guaranteed advertising contracts, guaranteed distributions contracts, "name" editors and writers, and many other resources that we didn't have. The only thing we had going for us was we-- as you are doing now-- tried to speak truth and be genuinely helpful.. while our so-called competition tried to be "hip" and "with it" and "slick". Ten years later they were gone and we were doing a $20,000,000-a-year business. That's the success part. The other side of the coin is the minimum 18- hour a day I worked, seven days a week for that solid ten years. And I was doing it for virtually nothing... plowing everything back into the business all the time. BOTTOM LINE: If I hadn't finally just got up and walked out one day, I'd have been dead within another six months. So the best piece of advice I can give you is that they call them deadlines for a reason. If you take it too serious, they'll kill you. And for what? I look back now and, except for a very few bright spots such as the work you folks are doing, the world is in worse shape now that than it was when I started: More pollution, more wars, more waste, more species gone, more people, more disease, more of all the things that rape the planet faster and faster. And I still haven't regained my health form all that overwork. And MOTHER? Well, I haven't really has anything to do with the magazine for about eight years now (the hotshots I "gave" it to didn't seem interested in anything I had to say) and it's been resold and it's pretty dopey these days. If I were still around, The Mother Earth News would be running a lot of the stuff that you guys are printing. So more power to you! (Solar, wind, water,etc. power of course.) But I ramble. Perhaps you'll find Mother No.1 worth keeping in your office as a symbol that the torch has been passed. Maybe you'll even swap me a copy of your first issue in exchange. And please do keep me on your mailing list and let me know if I can be of any help to you. I sure don't know it all but I have been down the same path you're now traveling and I did learn a little. Right now I'm living above the 8,000 ft. level overlooking the lights of Denver at night and my wife and I have been looking for "just the right spot" somewhere in the Pacific to set up a food-and-energy self- sufficient homestead. We've been to Fiji, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Hawaii. Hawaii (except for the Big Island) is going fast and even the Big Island is increasingly raped these days. French Polynesia is absolutely beautiful but France is drenching it with fallout from nuclear tests. New Zealand is wonderful and will grow anything... but there seems to be a lot of cancer there from all the pesticides the use (many of which have been banned here). Tasmania and other parts of Australia are also being "developed" at an increasing rate and Fiji-- which is still largely organized on a village-by-village self-sufficient basis is going through some dangerous political troubles. There just ain't no place to hide these days. And Big Brother always wants more than his cut. Self-sufficiency is still the best way of life... if you can find a little corner of the world out of the mainstream. Best, John Shuttleworth Founder of the Mother Earth News 5307 South Bear Mountain Drive Evergreen, CO 80439 Hello John: Everyone here at Home Power cut their teeth on Mother. When we began writing about home energy, we submitted articles (notably the battery article in HP#1 and the 12VDC generator article in HP#2) to Mother and had them rejected-- too general, too detailed, too long and too technical they said. Well, we knew folks were interested so we started Home Power and published the info ourselves. The synchronicity of the Universe amazes us. We are starting out with just what you had, we even eat on the same (and only) table that we layout Home Power on. The only difference is that our donated typewriter is a computer. Time marches on. We appreciate your support and the flowers in your letter. Mother No.1 is enshrined in our office. When we get tired and down, we look at it and smile. We hear you about overwork. We've been wondering when someone would reinvent sleep. Right now we are so enthused by the responses from everyone that we can't even think of anything else we'd rather be doing. There's a copy of HP#1 in the mail for you. Thank you for passing the torch. We only hope that we can carry it as high and brightly as you did. The Whole Home Power Crew Great! Been reading #1 & 2 the last two evenings. Been waiting a long time for this. Keep up the good work. I agree soldering is the way to go. However, solder itself isn't such a good conductor. Stress the need to make a good mechanical connection BEFORE soldering. I.E., Perez, HP#1, pg. #24-- copper tube connectors. Shove the wires in the tube (maybe flux them first) flatten the tube in a vise or whatever, THEN solder and drill your hole. Same item, different comment. Copper is not so hot, or maybe too hot, around sulfuric acid. Coating all the exposed copper with solder helps. All old battery cables used lead, either made the connector out of it, or coated the connector with it. Some still do. I agree with all your comments stressing the need for care in making connections in low voltage, high current systems. All the problems are of course magnified in a salt water marine environment. Which is where most of the wiring I do lives. There are times and places where soldering is either not practical, or desirable for some reason. Like temporary connections, or things you know you'll have to unhook for servicing sometime. This product recommendation is based on ten years of use, at first hesitant, and now whole hearted. KOPR-SHIELD is a conductive, anticorrosion surface compound and antiseize, made by The Thomas and Betts Co., Box 1960, Sparks, NV 89431. I use this stuff on all mechanically made electrical connections. Bolted ring connectors, split bolts,etc. Even wire nuts (Great AE God forbid!) have given good service when installed on wires liberally coated with Kopr-Shield. Like on a bilge pump down in a salty bilge, where its gotta work, and if it doesn't you gotta rip it out and stuff in another one in a panic, hopefully without too much damage to the wiring harness. Anyway, I've had wire nuts (Kopr-Shielded, of course) working perfectly, down in bilges, for years. Kopr-Shield is great stuff. Fred Richardson, Richardson Marine Electric, Waldron, WA I like this Home Power issue and look forward to more. I have a comment about Solar Power that has nothing to do with the efforts of this magazine. I am converting to solar power when I already have commercial AC power. Because I don't believe in fossil fuel pollution or nuclear waste. It bothers me that most people involved in selling solar power insist on making a high wage, which helps to keep solar power very expensive. Therefore, the average homeowner sees no logical reason to convert from AC commercial to clean solar power. Larry & Nancy Tibbetts, Taos, NM Good job! I especially liked the articles on batteries. That information is hard to come by. I had never heard of "equalizing charges". Would like to see an article on PV powered water pumps for wells. Your classifieds might become important. Tell your advertisers that we actually READ their ads! Emmett Eiland Oakland, CA I enjoyed reading your magazine. The articles were informative without being so technical that the average person gets confused. The advertising is as important to me as the articles because when you make your own power, you have to keep current on where to get parts and supplies, etc. I'll be looking forward to future issues. James V. Larson, Gheen, MN Your magazine is most informative and is sorely needed. No one is really publishing regularly on alternative energy and the detail in your articles is wonderful. My current interest is in windpower since I've restored a windcharger from the 30's, however, future interest is in photovoltaics as well. Keep up the good work! Kenneth Moist, Dayton, OH Many people in our area who use or plan to use alternative energy DO NOT have alot of money. I would like you to stress the economics of alternative energy and make recommendations on how we can pursue alternative energy within reasonable cost. Great publication. Please give us the opportunity to evaluate future editions plus make more suggestions. Gary Warner, Fort Jones, CA Thank you for this free magazine. I hope it makes a go of it. I think that articles about people's experience with home generated electricity and their success or failure in selling to the grid would be appreciated Also ways to lobby for solar and wind power, and to organize and to regain government support for R & D and initiatives for installations. David Johnson, Flagstaff, AZ Your magazine is excellent for me. I am a foreign student from Zaire, Africa. I am going to live in a remote area back home and work for my church, this will be very important for me. My church back home will be able to buy some equipment from your advertisers. I am going to keep all the magazines I will get from you for future reference for addresses where we can buy this equipment. I am a solar engineering technology student. This is excellent. Don't give up. Mambo D. Assama, Colorado Springs, CO I don't know where you found me, but I sure am glad you did. Free, you say? Hell, bill me, this is a bargain at several prices...... Keep these coming, and I don't even mind going on a few mailing lists. Many Thanks. Lee W. Harwell, Rochester, NY I would like to know all the photovoltaic items that are available. I would like to know the names of people who are using it IN THIS AREA. I would like to know of classes, training sessions, seminars, workshops, shows, etc. about PV IN THIS AREA. Donna L. Schrock, Meyersdale, PA Excellent magazine! It would be good to hear about alternate energy uses where commercial power is available. Backwoods folks and "hippies" are not the only market. Electric carts and cars ....what is the truth on what they really do? An extensive article on moving water with solar. I farm for a living....solar livestock watering, irrigation, greenhouse pumps, etc. R. Roberts, Adairsville, GA Perhaps you could put together a network of technicians across the country that could assist people like me. I'm sure it's not easy. Harold Paschack, Michigan City, IN I've just experienced a 49 hour power outage due to a rather typical ice storm. Perhaps with your help, this won't happen to this home again! Believe me, I had visions of wind mills; send more issues of Home Power. Louise Hansen, Marshfield, MO I am a woman who is reasonably intelligent, has some mechanical aptitude, and enjoys designing and installing my own systems. However, my area of expertise is NOT electricity or hydraulics! Therefore, I really appreciate information for the lay person that helps me do things efficiently, simply, elegantly! Thanks. Shelley Hughes Santa Barbara, CA