Water Kefir SOS: Troubleshooting Your Brew

Making your own probiotic-rich water kefir can be a rewarding and cost-effective hobby, but as a living culture, it can sometimes throw you a curveball. Room temperature, water quality and inadequate nutrition are just a few factors that can influence the health of your kefir grains and the quality of your water kefir.

More Than Just a Pretty Face: Tincturing with Self-heal

Prunella vulgaris, commonly known as self-heal, is charming little purple flower that never fails to make me smile. But it’s so much more than just a pretty face. Self-heal possesses potent medicinal qualities, offering both topical and internal benefits, from wound healing to immune support.

A Look at Herb-Infused Honeys

When it comes to crafting herbal preparations, the choice of a suitable menstruum — aka a solvent used to extract the therapeutic properties of herbs — is of utmost importance. Honey can be considered a moderate-to-strong menstruum, unique in its ability to extract water-soluble constituents as well as small amounts of oil-soluble compounds.

Anatomy of Fire Cider

Are you ready to spice up your wellness routine? Created in the early 80s by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, fire cider is a traditional herbal tonic that combines a base of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and local honey infused with a variety of stimulating herbs and spices. The fiery concoction is designed to boost digestion, improve circulation and support overall immune function. Over the years, fire cider has taken on a life of its own, gaining popularity among herbalists and natural health enthusiasts alike. It’s one herbal preparation I try to always keep on hand!

Got Garlic Scapes?

I just love garlic scapes! They add visual interest to a vegetable garden with their whimsical, Dr. Seussian spirals. But while they look charming and I’m always a bit sad to cut them off, removing the curly green stalks dramatically improves the development and flavor of the garlic bulbs forming below the soil. There’s another reason to remove the scapes… They’re delicious! ♥

Garlicky Sunchokes with Lemon Butter

Sunchokes are crunchy, nutty and mildly sweet and tend to take on the flavor of whatever you cook them with. To me, they resemble a cross between a potato and a water chestnut, so we use pretty much any way we would normally use water chestnuts or potatoes. You know… “Boil ʹem, mash ʹem, stick em in a stew.”

Topo Chico Inspired Mineral Water for Home Carbonators

There are plenty of other mineral waters out there, but for my money, there are none quite like Topo Chico. For those of us living outside of their distribution area, (or those of you who just love a good DIY project) you can mix your own Topo Chico-inspired mineral blend that will make hundreds of bottles… for about $25 in ingredients.

Ethical Wildcrafting

Wildcrafting, sometimes simply called ‘foraging’, refers to the practice of harvesting plants and herbs from their natural habitats for medicinal, culinary, craft or spiritual purposes.

Reciprocal wildcrafting is a perspective that emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between humans and the natural world, viewing wildcrafting as an opportunity for mutual exchange and benefit.

In other words, making an effort to give back as much as we take.

Prepared Horseradish with Dandelion Vinegar

If you ran out and got yourself a big ol’ pile of horseradish roots after reading last week’s post, now what? What do you do with them?

Make some prepared horseradish, of course!

Why & How to Grow Horseradish

At first encounter, horseradish’s intense spiciness might seem overwhelming, but with repeated exposure, its complex flavors can be truly appreciated. The initial heat gives way to a slightly sweet and tangy undertone, adding depth and character to dishes. Its sharpness can be invigorating and add a lovely ‘kick’ to a variety of culinary creations.

Horseradish tends to have a “love it or hate it” reputation, but for those willing to embrace its bold flavors, it’s an acquired taste worth acquiring!