Microcosm is a small publisher based in Portland, where zines are du jour and their belief is as refreshing as publishers go. They specialize in DIY (Do-It-Yourself) goods that teach self-empowerment and their website offers up a slice of what they do – from giving out transparent and accessible financial records (their minimum wage is USD$9, capped at $13) and a sliding-scale pricing for all their wares (yes, it’s true!). I’ve requested a couple of books for review, and for those who are very much into DIY (and not just crafts, mind you), I think you might just feel as though you’ve hit gold.
[quote] You determine what you can afford to pay for the items that we publish ~ Microcosm [/quote]
Homesweet Homegrown: How to Grow, Make, And Store Food, No Matter Where You Live by Robyn Jasco shows you how easy it is to sustain yourself with a garden. And if you don’t have one, create one instead with the space you have. The topics run from the basics: how to cultivate your seeds, irrigating your garden with an old hose, recipes for those delicious freshly picked greens and even the topic of fermentation; with lots of information in between that’s neatly organized between chapters.
DIY Screenprinting Handbook by John Isaacson is an instructional book on screenprinting in a quirky comic book format. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the concept – between these pages (and the strips) there are lots of information that’s delivered with a wittiness that makes it all that much easier to digest. There’s also interviews with other screenprinting artists in between that offers a break in the comic book sequence. The dissemination of textbook information into a storyline – with Isaacson playing the lead role – makes for a lively read out of mere instructions.
See more books over at Microcosm Publishing!
Have a lovely weekend folks!
