Nasturtiums are a plant that every gardener should consider growing. Besides their beauty, nasturtiums are also edible, medicinal, and are great for companion planting in your garden. On the California coast they have naturalized, and you can often find large patches of them growing wild. I have always been amazed by this, and I wonder…
Calendula and Thyme Shortbread Cookies
I have a lot of calendula growing in my backyard. This is not a bad thing, mind you, as calendula has many uses, but my mind kept turning to cookies (whose doesn’t?). It’s probably because of this Sweet & Savory Dandelion Shortbread post by Gather that I keep seeing. That recipe definitely sparked my idea…
Homemade Rosemary Beard Oil
Learn how to make this DIY rosemary beard oil for that bearded man in your life! This is an easy homemade beauty product for men made with just three all natural ingredients – olive oil, rosemary, and tea tree oil, and it smells wonderful! The Big Book of Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health &…
A Quick Backyard Tour
Hello everyone and happy spring! We are excited to announce that we bought a house and are finally all moved in. While it’s not our total dream property, as it’s much smaller that what we would like to have someday, it does have a lot going for it in the semi-urban permaculture sense. We feel…
Foraging for Stinging Nettles: A Highly Nutritious Plant
Foraging for stinging nettles isn’t as hard (or scary!) as it sounds. With just a few tips and precautions, you’ll be able to forage for and use stinging nettles. Learn everything you need to know about how to identify, forage for, safely harvest, and properly prepare stinging nettles for use in edible recipes and herbal…
Homemade Reuben Sandwich (100% Home Fermented)
Yes, I did it! I made a completely homemade Reuben sandwich, where every single ingredient was made from scratch and home fermented. I have to admit it was a bit difficult to do, mainly because of the logistics involved in making sure that every ingredient was ready at the right time. But, in the end…
Simple Rennet Cheese Recipe
This simple homemade rennet cheese recipe is the perfect introduction to cheese making! Rennet cheese can be cultured with either milk kefir or yogurt, so you get all of the probiotic benefits they offer. Making Homemade Cheese Well, I’ve finally done what I used to think was impossible. I made homemade cheese! I’ve been making…
How to Make Corned Beef (Nitrate Free)
This homemade corned beef recipe is easy to make and nitrate free! It is tender and delicious, just like real corned beef is supposed to be. The pickling spices and flavor from the brine make this corned beef have really amazing flavor. Here’s how to make corned beef, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!…
Foraging for Willow
One of the first trees or shrubs to bud in early spring is the willow. I remember as a child getting so excited to find pussy willows, although back then I didn’t liken it to the changing seasons. I’m pretty sure I just thought they were neat and fuzzy and like little tiny kittens, so…
How to Make Soap For Beginners + Calendula Soap Recipe
I’m going to say right now that I am no expert when it comes to making homemade soap. In fact, what you will see in this post is how to make soap for beginners. This is because I am also very much a beginner! The benefit from learning from a soap making newbie like me…
