Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut

I've been experimenting with lactic acid fermentation for a couple years now. I've always enjoyed anything salty and sour, but always thought pickling was responsible for all of it, and that 'pickled' things were just a yummy treat for the senses and the mouth. It wasn't until I went on antibiotic therapy for my Lyme…

“All-natural” Experiments: Liquid Hand Soap

As a kid, we used bar soap for bathing and hand washing. As the one responsible for cleaning the kitchen and the bathrooms, I always dispised the leftover gunk that those bars of soap left on the sink rim where they sat, so when I moved out on my own, I switched to liquid hand…

Forage Friday/Weed Walking: Plantain

Continuing with our weed walk, this week is plantain...the plant, not the banana-like thing that shares the same name. There are actually over 200 species in the genus Plantago, but there are two I'd like to cover that are most common in the areas that I've seen, Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata. Plantago major Broadleaf plantain, common plantain,…

Ghee: the what, the why, and the how

Ghee (pronounced like the thing karate guys wear, not like gee-whiz) is basically liquid gold in my house. Maybe you've heard of it. Maybe you've experienced it in all its glory. Maybe you're still trying to figure out how to pronounce it. Whatever you're current state, I'm about to give you the low-down on what…

Baby, it’s gettin’ cold outside…we need fire! (EASY firepit/grill instructions)

This time last year, my (then) 12 year old daughter and I threw this baby together in an afternoon. Seriously, it was that easy. A year later it's still sturdy as it every was and is working out great for another sitting-'round-the-fire season. The hardest part was the two trips (probably should have been three…

When life give you lemons, use them!

There are so many things you can do with lemons! (Other than simply chucking them at whoever brought the proverbial lemons into your life...) I love lemons. They're bright and cheery, they're tart and tangy, and they are oh, so versatile! Food, drink, cleaning, deodorizing, whitening, lightening, refreshing, thickening...what can't you do with lemons? So…