Chelsea Green
Contrary to popular belief, forestry and farming are NOT mutually exclusive. Growing food, medicinals, and other non-timber products like mushrooms and ginseng in the woods helps increase self-sufficiency and allows you to maintain a healthy forest. The following is an excerpt from Farming the Woods by Steve Gabriel and Ken Mudge. It has been adapted for the web.…
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What can we do to reduce our waste? Use less, recycle and reuse packaging materials, and compost your organic waste. And if you’re a gardener, there’s no reason to throw away this beneficial (and cheap!) source of nourishment for your soil. Compost is the key to a flourishing garden. Turn your kitchen scraps and yard…
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The following is an excerpt from Preserving Food Without Freezing or Canning by the Gardeners & Farmers of Terre Vivante. It has been adapted for the web. A few guidelines: Pick plants in the morning, when it is dry and sunny and they are at their peak, depending on the plant and the part that…
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Get ready to create your own seven-layer forest garden! Food forests, or edible forest gardens, are life-filled places that provide habitat for wildlife and food for humans while promoting natural beauty and biodiversity. To get started, all you need is to take a page from Mother Nature’s book. The following is an excerpt from Gaia’s…
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New to foraging? Here are a few beginner tips to get you started on your hunt for wild edibles! And next time you are taking a walk around the neighborhood, keep your eyes peeled for these thirteen plants: dandelion, mallow, purslane, plantain, thistle, amaranth, dock, mustard, grass, chickweed, clover, lambsquarter, and knotweed. The following is…
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Herb butter is a fantastic trick to have up your culinary sleeve! These two recipes offer simple ways to use edible flowers and herbs that you can pick right in your backyard. If you’ve never made herb butter, you’re in for a treat. These recipes are from The Occidental Arts and Ecology Cookbook, by The…
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Invasive plants creeping into your yard is frustrating. Particularly for thistle, there’s a better approach than yanking it out at the root or worse spraying herbicide. Work smarter, not harder, with these approaches to removing invasive thistle. The following are excerpts from Beyond the War on Invasive Species by Tao Orion and The Wild Wisdom of…
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How do you control bugs & pests on your fruit trees without using harmful sprays and treatments? Here are some tips for identifying insects on fruit trees and controlling them organically. The following is an excerpt from The Holistic Orchard by Michael Phillips. It has been adapted for the web. Finding Insects On Fruit Trees…
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Chances are, you’ve seen cattails growing on the edge of your local lake or stream at least once or twice. Instead of just passing these plants, try foraging for and cooking them to create delicious seasonal dishes! The following excerpt is from The New Wildcrafted Cuisine by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the…
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Garlic mustard: while known as “invasive,” this plant can be consumed in its entirety and has great nutritional value. Plus, the garlic-flavor is a perfect addition to any recipe that calls for mustard! The following are excerpts from Beyond the War on Invasive Species by Tao Orion and The Wild Wisdom of Weeds by Katrina…
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It’s time to take control of your seeds and become a plant breeder! Saving your seed allows you to grow and best traditional & regional varieties, and develop more of your own. The following excerpt is from Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties by Carol Deppe. It has been adapted for the web. Becoming A Plant…
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Want to enjoy bread without worrying about gluten? With Einkorn bread, a light bread with the lowest glycemic index, you can still enjoy all of the delights of bread. without any of the allergic reactions! The following is an excerpt from Restoring Heritage Grains by Eli Rogosa. It has been adapted for the web. Einkorn…
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To turn a barren lot into a permaculture paradise, you’ve got to start from the ground up — and sheet mulching is an easy way to start. Here are some tips to help you strengthen your soil with the power of sheet mulching! The following is an excerpt is from Perennial Vegetables by Eric Toensmeier. It…
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How do you know if you’re picking the right seeds? Here are some easy tips on choosing the best seed crop for your environment. The following is an excerpt from The Organic Seed Grower by John Navazio. It has been adapted for the web. Seed Crop Characteristics There are a number of prominent characteristics of…
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Do you want to learn how to transform your balconies and windowsills into productive vegetable gardens? Try urban gardening! Choosing the right crops based on climate and light conditions, along with creating a companion planting strategy to prevent pests and attract pollinators, can help maximize food production with limited space. The following is an excerpt…
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Growing your own vegetables may be easier than you think! All you need is an indoor or outdoor space & some seeds, and you’ll be starting plants in no time. The following is an excerpt from Fresh Food from Small Spaces by R. J. Ruppenthal. It has been adapted for the web. Starting Plants from Seed…
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What do you do when you have bunches of herbs reaching maturity at the same time? Preserve them! Preserving herbs for seasonings involves traditional techniques that use salt, oil, sugar, alcohol, vinegar, and a few other simple ingredients. The following is an excerpt from Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning. It has been adapted…
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Getting ready to do some garden planning? Here are some of the most promising veggies that Eliot Coleman suggests to start with! The following is an excerpt from The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman. It has been adapted for the web. A Guide to Garden Planning When I began farming full-time on my own…
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When you plan out how you want your garden to look and operate, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success. Here are some helpful tips on how to plan the best garden this upcoming growing season! The following excerpt is from The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times by Carol Deppe. It has been…
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Make your own delicious, healthy, probiotic sauerkraut! Four easy steps are all you need to turn fresh garden veggies into a long-lasting, tangy, pungent condiment. The following excerpt is from The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz. It has been adapted for the web. 4 Simple Steps to Making Sauerkraut The English language does…
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A do-it-yourself seed bank is simply your own frozen stash of seeds set aside for long-term storage. The best seed banks are located in your own home or neighborhood and contain vigorous, regionally adapted varieties of the crops you already know how to grow and use. The following is an excerpt from The Tao of Vegetable…
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There is a lot of misinformation out there about how to save your seeds. Luckily, we’re here to bust the most popular myths and answer all your questions about seed saving! The following is an excerpt from The Tao of Vegetable Gardening by Carol Deppe. It has been adapted for the web. Myth #1: You…
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Everything’s better with maple syrup. So what better way to solidify your love for all things maple than to learn how to make it yourself? If you have a couple of trees nearby, we have all the advice you need from spout to syrup! The following is an excerpt from The Sugarmaker’s Companion by Michael…
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Making cheese at home may seem like a time and labor-intensive process — but what if you could have a delicious, high-quality cheese that practically made itself? With chèvre, you can. The following recipe for all-natural chèvre will change the way you look at homemade cheese! The following is an excerpt from The Art of…
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So you want to start reaping a winter harvest, but you’re not sure where to start? Eliot Coleman breaks down the three basic components of the winter harvest so that this time next year, you’ll be knee-high in produce! (Maybe not knee-high, but you’ll definitely have fresh vegetables!) The following is an excerpt from The…
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