Chelsea Green

Three pancakes on a griddle

The Grains Glossary and a Recipe for the Perfect Pancake

By Chelsea Green / February 7, 2025 / Comments Off on The Grains Glossary and a Recipe for the Perfect Pancake

Grains are a ubiquitous part of the American diet and a staple in many of our favorite recipes. Bread? Yep, grains. Pasta? Grains there, too. Pancakes? Most definitely! With such a strong presence in our daily eating habits, shouldn’t we know more about what grains actually are and why they make our favorite foods taste…

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agricultural seed

A Short History of Agricultural Seed

By Chelsea Green / February 7, 2025 / Comments Off on A Short History of Agricultural Seed

Seeds are the foundation of agriculture. As John Navazio describes in this excerpt, America was once home to hundreds of small-scale agricultural seed producers, each of which developed seeds adapted to grow best in the surrounding region. Today, following the trend of most businesses, just a few large companies provide seed for farmers everywhere. With…

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Leeks: The Ultimate Winter Crop

By Chelsea Green / January 29, 2025 / Comments Off on Leeks: The Ultimate Winter Crop

Looking for a veggie to grow and harvest through winter? Try leeks! With some careful planning, a bit of elbow grease, and some insight from Eliot Coleman, you’ll enjoy leeks from your garden all year long.   The following is an excerpt fromThe Winter Harvest Handbook by Eliot Coleman. It has been adapted for the…

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Understanding The Etymology of Stocks and Broths

By Chelsea Green / January 27, 2025 / Comments Off on Understanding The Etymology of Stocks and Broths

The importance of a good stock has been overshadowed by convenience. Now you have a better chance of finding quality ready-made stocks from a trusted source.

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stew

How to Make Groundnut Sweet Potato Stew

By Chelsea Green / January 22, 2025 / Comments Off on How to Make Groundnut Sweet Potato Stew

It’s officially stew season! Warm yourself up from the inside out by making groundnut sweet potato stew, a favorite of fermentation revivalist Sandor Katz. The following is an excerpt from Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz. It has been adapted for the web. Fermenting Sweet Potatoes for Stew MaxZine, who lives down the road at IDA,…

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Build Your Own Cold Frame: Get a Jump on the Planting Season

By Chelsea Green / January 14, 2025 / Comments Off on Build Your Own Cold Frame: Get a Jump on the Planting Season

Extend your planting season with a cold frame! Building your own cold frame is a simple way to keep growing plants all winter long. The following is an excerpt from Four-Season Harvest by Eliot Coleman. It has been adapted for the web. What Is A Cold Frame? Gardeners should dedicate a monument to the cold…

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potpie

Winter Root Veggie Potpie: A Seasonal Recipe

By Chelsea Green / January 13, 2025 / Comments Off on Winter Root Veggie Potpie: A Seasonal Recipe

Looking for new ways to use those winter root veggies throughout the season? Put your cooking skills to the test with this Root Veggie Potpie recipe! The following is an excerpt from Black Trumpet by Evan Mallett. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE: Winter Root Veggie Potpie When I was born, my mother…

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sourdough

How to Make and Maintain Your Own Sourdough Starter

By Chelsea Green / December 26, 2024 / Comments Off on How to Make and Maintain Your Own Sourdough Starter

Sourdough is a simple wild ferment made from nothing but flour and water. You can start a batch today, use it in a few days, and keep it alive and bubbling … well …  forever. If you have the patience, enjoy the flavor of sourdough, and can commit to feeding your quiet new “pet” frequently,…

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mushrooms

Growing Shiitake Mushrooms in a Garage or Yard

By Chelsea Green / October 30, 2024 / Comments Off on Growing Shiitake Mushrooms in a Garage or Yard

Learn how to grow shiitake mushrooms in almost any environment, including your yard and even your garage!

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arugula

The Endless Arugula Bed

By Chelsea Green / October 23, 2024 / Comments Off on The Endless Arugula Bed

What if we told you that there was a way to extend your growing season and save time & money? The answer is all in arugula. With quick hoops and greenhouse film, you’ll be on your way to harvesting sweet & flavorful arugula in no time.  The following excerpt is from The Resilient Farm and…

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pumpkin seeds

Tasty Ways to Use Pumpkin Seeds

By Chelsea Green / October 9, 2024 / Comments Off on Tasty Ways to Use Pumpkin Seeds

Wondering what to do with pumpkin seeds? Instead of roasting them, try these alternative ways to prepare & use seeds! Plus a must-try pumpkin granola recipe.

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mushrooms

Brew Outside the Box: Making Mushroom-Infused Beer

By Chelsea Green / September 24, 2024 / Comments Off on Brew Outside the Box: Making Mushroom-Infused Beer

For the adventurous brewer infusing mushrooms into brews is a great way to combine the medicinal benefits of fungi with one of the world’s most consumed drinks.

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acorn harvesting

Move Over Squirrels, It’s Acorn Harvesting Time!

By Chelsea Green / September 19, 2024 / Comments Off on Move Over Squirrels, It’s Acorn Harvesting Time!

These small fruits are a delicious source of nutrients that you can find almost anywhere. Get started on acorn harvesting with help from these simple tips!

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root cellar

Building Your Own Root Cellar for the Fall Harvest

By Chelsea Green / September 3, 2024 / Comments Off on Building Your Own Root Cellar for the Fall Harvest

Building a root cellar is a great way to keep your harvest fresh through the cold months. With protection from weather and animals, these cellars can be just as good as a regular refrigerator. They can be built into a wall in your basement, dug into the ground, or simply buried.  The following excerpt is…

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pickles in a jar

How To Make Sour Pickles

By Chelsea Green / August 28, 2024 / Comments Off on How To Make Sour Pickles

Sour pickles have a deep, robust taste. They are wonderfully sour and crisp with a flavor that’s guaranteed to make you smile.

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drying prune plums

Drying Prune Plums (Plus Figs, Apricots, Peaches and Nectarines)

By Chelsea Green / August 21, 2024 / Comments Off on Drying Prune Plums (Plus Figs, Apricots, Peaches and Nectarines)

Learn the ropes on drying prune plums! Whether you’re a pro at preserving or you’ve never tried it out before, anyone can make these delicious snacks.

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cows grazing

All About Cows: What has Four Legs, Says “Moo,” and Could Save the Planet?

By Chelsea Green / August 7, 2024 / Comments Off on All About Cows: What has Four Legs, Says “Moo,” and Could Save the Planet?

Cows can help rebuild soil and restore land to its rightful state—improving carbon sequestration, natural water cycles, and soil fertility and nutrient density.

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reduce heat stress

Arid Agriculture: Strategies to Reduce Heat Stress in Crops and Livestock

By Chelsea Green / August 2, 2024 / Comments Off on Arid Agriculture: Strategies to Reduce Heat Stress in Crops and Livestock

Become more resilient when the temperatures are on the rise to reduce heat stress and produce food in even the most arid environments.

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Compost

A Guide to Great Compost From Eliot Coleman

By Chelsea Green / July 30, 2024 / Comments Off on A Guide to Great Compost From Eliot Coleman

Compost is the key to an abundant garden. Learn the basics of making compost from gardening expert Eliot Coleman, and enjoy the joy of growing your own food.

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tomato

How to Save Tomato Seeds

By Chelsea Green / July 29, 2024 / Comments Off on How to Save Tomato Seeds

As your favorite variety of home grown tomatoes start ripening on the vine this summer, be sure to save those seeds for next year’s planting. It takes a bit of care to get the seeds out of the gelatinous tomato goo they’re suspended in, but once you’ve done it you can use those seeds to…

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dilly beans

Dilly Beans: Voted The “Best Snack Ever”

By Chelsea Green / July 25, 2024 / Comments Off on Dilly Beans: Voted The “Best Snack Ever”

For those who love fermented foods, we now welcome you into the wonderful world of dilly beans. There’s nothing quite like a dilly bean. Whether they’re next to a plate of cheese and crackers, on a sandwich, or taken straight from the jar in the middle of winter when you’re sick of potatoes and pasta,…

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whole fruit jam

How to Make Whole Fruit Jam

By Chelsea Green / July 23, 2024 / Comments Off on How to Make Whole Fruit Jam

This tried-and-true jam recipe relies on the natural sugars in fruit to provide a balanced flavor and sweetness that can’t be beat.

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chicken

Don’t Bawk: The Wild and Wonderful Chicken Tractor

By Chelsea Green / July 17, 2024 / Comments Off on Don’t Bawk: The Wild and Wonderful Chicken Tractor

Aside from the sheer pleasure of telling your friends, straight-faced, that you maintain your garden using something called a “chicken tractor,” there are a slew of other benefits to working the land with a few of your animal friends. Getting rid of pests without chemicals, for one; letting them do the work of weeding and…

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summer drinks

5 Creative Summer Drinks to Help You Cool Off

By Chelsea Green / July 16, 2024 / Comments Off on 5 Creative Summer Drinks to Help You Cool Off

With the “dog days” of summer underway, the heat can feel a little unrelenting. On hot days, there’s no better way to cool off than with a refreshing, cold beverage. Here’s a list of some perfect cool-down summer drinks made with organic ingredients sourced right from your garden or local wild places.  The following excerpts have…

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sprouts

Perennial Veggies: The Benefits of Perennial Vegetables

By Chelsea Green / July 15, 2024 / Comments Off on Perennial Veggies: The Benefits of Perennial Vegetables

Think about how much work your perennial flower beds take compared to your annual vegetable garden. In a busy year, your perennial garden largely sails through despite neglect. Once your perennials are established, and if they are suited to your climate and site conditions, they can be virtually indestructible. An annual vegetable garden, as we…

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