The magazine also features historic and scientific "debunking" articles by long-time senior editor, John Silveira.

Dave Duffy, then a technical writer and former journalist, and his seven-year-old daughter Annie started the magazine with no money other than an occasional freelance paycheck in 1989.

The book was to be based on his experience constructing an off-grid home in the Siskiyou mountains of Oregon, to which he was commuting every few months.

A few months later, the publication was picked up by a national distributor, American Distribution Services of Northbrook, Illinois (now defunct).

However, Duffy says he had never heard of Mother Earth News at that time, and that among his chief inspirations were scientific publications from the Middle Ages.

Duffy has said, "Although the emphasis has always been on self-reliance, I rode the environmental wagon a bit back then to try and attract subscribers, but quickly gave it up and followed my Libertarian leanings.

John Silveira, my friend since age 20, was an important element of this mix, as he had the intellect and research ability to write the critical freedom articles.