A Blast From My Past - (promise not to laugh!)

By

Mark Ranum

Way back in the 70's, I published a "back to the land" periodical called "Hearthstone Magazine". The girls still muse over a picture of myself adorned in full beard and standing beside what we called the "Hearthstone Moonshine Bug". It was a 1956 Volkswagen Beetle that was converted to run on 100% ethanol alcohol, a feat perhaps a bit ahead of its time. Hearthstone Magazine focused on alternative energy, crafts, and a host of other homestead type ventures including gardening.

A classic? . . . I present this photo reluctantly for you amusement! Wish I had that old car back though!

The problem with publishing a magazine is that most often, you write about things you don't have time to do. It's kind of a cruel irony. And trust me, publishing does not fit in well with "the simple life". Well, I consider this my time to do the stuff I've previously only written about. If the Lord wills and grants me a few more years, I plan to explore some of present twists on green energy and perhaps at least in part get "off the grid."

While I think the focus of that now antique publication was on target, much has changed. For one thing, the publisher is a bit older and hopefully a little wiser. There have been advances with large-scale wind generation that at the time seemed only a dream. We can see evidence of this with the huge wind turbines at Monfort visible from miles around. Other advances in technology have brought the pieces and tools for the modern day alternatives much more readily available. One thing has not changed though. There is still a lot more talk than action and unfortunately most folks, especially in rural areas, are still at the mercy of the energy moguls. It leads me to think that our challenge regarding energy is much less about technology than it is about politics. It is also about personal choices. Doing something different almost always means taking us out of our comfort zones.

One of the changes since the days of Hearthstone Magazine is in the publisher. My focus during that period was driven by the 60's and 70's "back to the land" movement that encompassed its own set of values. Much of the philosophies of that movement focused on what I would call the worship of the creation. I now acknowledge the Creator and admire His creation. That is why you will occasionally hear me use forgotten terms such as "stewardship of the land." I promise to not clobber everyone over the head with my beliefs, but it will help you to know where I'm coming from. I do believe that a return to the disciplines learned in Sunday School would be an absolute blessing to all of us as individuals, as families, and as a nation.

As to our quest for the alternatives, we already live a "different" life here on this little farm. As with some folks around us, we heat entirely with wood. Tons of the stuff have gone through our furnace. It has been a lifesaver for us financially. It isn't however the best option in my opinion. Solar is doable and can be inexpensive with a little ingenuity. Wind power doesn't necessarily have to be expensive to install. Sitting up on top of this hill we constantly "enjoy" what seem to be endless winds awaiting their harvest. I'm anxious to do some hands on experimenting!

In closing, the small family farm and the rural lifestyle have been under constant siege for decades. The way we live has been directed largely by the way we work and how we spend our money. Dependence on work off the farm has dramatically increased along with the costs associated with getting to work. Health care availability is increasingly prompting us to seek off farm jobs. In short, it's not the same "rural" that our folks grew up in. Some of us feel that the small farm is worth the doing though as we strive to keep out of the meat grinders of the "seven day week" work schedules that do nothing good for family. Through our life and ventures on this little farm, we hope to both explore and promote some different paths and ways to approach "rural."

Well, enough about me. Do you have something interesting along these lines that your are doing? Give me a shout. I'd love to hear about it. E-mail me at mranum@1887brand.com or write to:

Mark Ranum

13040 Fort Defiance Road

Darlington, WI 53530