Nourish and Thrive
I’m always amazed by the power of herbal medicine. Comfrey is one of those herbs that truly has healing properties and is excellent when used in a salve. It is a plant that I will always have growing in my medicinal herb garden, even if it does have a tendancy to spread. Besides being medicinal,…
If you’re like many gardeners, you just might have zucchini coming out of your ears during harvest season. I’ve been there before, and I’m all about new ways to preserve zucchini! I especially love it when I can use my dehydrator for preserving because it’s simple to use and a great way to store food….
Sipping a cup of herbal tea is something I like to do throughout the year, but when it’s hot outside I want something cool and refreshing. Of course, I can always make an iced herbal tea like my wildflower infusion or white clover tea, but sometimes a frozen treat is the only thing that sounds…
Elderflower season is an exciting but short lived time. Every year I try to find some way to preserve the elderflower harvest so that I can enjoy them for a longer period of time. Elderflower sparkling mead is one of my favorite things to make, but I’ve been wanting to try making elderflower liqueur (also…
White clover is almost ubiquitous in lawns and backyards, but most people don’t know that it’s both edible and medicinal. Red clover is known for having amazing medicinal benefits, but white clover is more readily available and is useful in its own right. One of the most simple and delicious ways to use the sweet…
Homebrewing is one of my favorite things to do, but I especially love it when I can incorporate foraged ingredients. I came across some nice big spruce tips recently, and when I saw them I immediately knew what I was going to make with them: spruce beer! Homemade spruce beer has been something that I’ve…
Summertime means elderflowers, and that couldn’t make me more happy! Elderflowers are easy to forage for and are a common sight in many locations (just make sure that you aren’t accidentally grabbing poison hemlock, but I don’t think they look that similar). They have a delicate floral flavor that is delightful and perfect in drinks…
As many of you know by now, making my own homebrew, specifically mead (honey wine), is one of my favorite things to do. I also love infusing flavors into different mediums, including alcohol. When I don’t have the time to brew up some wine or mead, I like to make an infused wine to extract…
One aspect about foraging that I absolutely love is when I discover a plant that I’ve seen for years, since childhood even, is edible and medicinal! This was the case with pineapple weed, also known as wild chamomile. When I learned several years ago that it can be used in the same way as its…
Dandelion wine is an old school recipe that has been around for centuries. The yellow petals have a honey-like flavor and they make a delicious wine! I prefer to make dandelion mead, as I feel like it is even more flavorful that way. Mead is simply wine that is made with honey instead of sugar….
When out foraging for edible and medicinal plants, it is just as important—if not more so—to know how to identify the poisonous plants that grow in your region. Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is one of those that everyone should know how to identify, as it can be quite prolific in some areas. To the untrained…
When I first began delving into making herbal bath and beauty products myself many years ago, it all started with homemade herbal deodorant. It’s the perfect beginner recipe for DIY beauty products, mainly because it’s simple to make, but also because it’s good for your health. The best part is that this homemade deodorant recipe…
A cup of hot chamomile tea is the perfect way to end to any day, as it helps to calm the mind and relax the spirit. I know that I enjoy it most evenings. Beyond its ability to tame frayed nerves, chamomile has many other benefits, both for the garden and for us. I love…
Spring is the season of new beginnings and new growth. As the temperature starts to warm up and everything begins to thaw from the winter, spring foraging options increase! This is the time of year for fresh salad greens, tasty spring flowers and shoots, medicinal plants, and a few edible mushrooms. This list of what…
Permaculture is a word that brings to mind beautiful and large swathes of property filled to the brim with fruit trees, perennial food forests, and natural water sources. While this is a dream that many of us have (myself included!), it can feel like a difficult reality on a small suburban lot. Surprisingly, it isn’t…
{This post is sponsored by Flower Child CBD} Cannabis is now legal in some form or another in 29 states, with many other states likely to follow. If you are lucky enough to live in one of those states, or in a country where medical cannabis is legal, you can use it just like you…