Simple Garlicky Goat Cheese Nettles
jump to the recipe Thanks to an unseasonably cold, wet spring, my nettle patch was starting to get very leggy, reaching skyward for every little bit of sunshine they could grab onto. You know it’s been a damp spring when your vegetable garden is starting to resemble Super Mario Brothers: Cutting back plants is an […]
Make-Ahead Fresh Garlic-Infused Olive Oil (Minus the Botulism)
As our days get busier, we are far more likely to reach for pre-packaged mixes and other convenience foods to lighten our load and make dinner prep a bit easier. These are some of my favorite homemade kitchen helpers you can make in advance and keep handy for those extra-hectic evenings… or even the non-hectic ones. Work smarter, not harder! Fresh […]
Natural Insect Repellant (that Doesn’t Stink)
jump to the recipe Between my herbalist apprenticeship and getting my gardens planted, I’ve spent a great deal of time the last few weeks outside donating blood to the no-see-ums. I have a hard time finding insect repellant that I don’t mind wearing. Natural products can be hit or miss, and even when they work, […]
Garden of Weed’n (How to Make Weeding More Fun) Part 2
The first weeding job of the year on my vegetable garden is always the most intimidating. It’s easy to maintain throughout the growing season, but preparing the beds for planting is time consuming and tedious.
A great way to transform the tedium into something engaging and even (dare I say it?) fun — is to pay attention to the weeds you’re pulling.
Garden of Weed’n (How to Make Weeding More Fun) Part 1
The first weeding job of the year on my vegetable garden is always the most intimidating. It’s easy to maintain throughout the growing season, but preparing the beds for planting is time consuming and tedious.
A great way to transform the tedium into something engaging and even (dare I say it?) fun — is to pay attention to the weeds you’re pulling.
Using Plantain to Make an Herbal ‘Sting Stick’ for Insect Bites
My herbal apprenticeship spent this week out in the woods, learning about identifying conifers, digging up and processing arrowleaf balsamroot… and feeding the mosquitos.
Fortunately for my itchy self, I developed a recipe for an effective bug bite remedy a couple summers ago. This Sting Stick has been a life saver.
Waking up the Garden
Even though it’s late May, it’s still pretty darn chilly here in North Idaho. I don’t think we’ve made it over 70 degrees yet, and there’s still a risk of frost at night.
Fortunately, my perennial/herb garden doesn’t mind the cooler weather. The haskap is beginning to bud out, getting ready to make its delicious honeyberries:
Willow Wildcrafting & an Herbal Apprenticeship
I’m excited to announce that I just began a 4-month apprenticeship with the wonderful Suzanne Tabert of Cedar Mountain Herb School. I’m literally vibrating with excitement over all I’ll learn in the coming months.
Jalapeño-Thyme Infused Tequila + a Cocktail Recipe
jump to the recipe Alcohol tincturing for therapeutic purposes is a basic and useful skill in herbalism. But beyond the herbal medicine cabinet, there’s another whole wide world of fun alcohol infusions out there. Neutral grain spirits aren’t the only way to go, and infusing herbs into your favorite liquor can seriously elevate your cocktail game! […]
Herbal Coffee to Go
We are, admittedly, coffee snobs of the highest degree, but when we travel, hotel coffee is almost always a bit disappointing. So what to do when coffee at home isn’t practical or possible?
