Gretchen Kruesi

Beyond the Maple: Birch & Walnut Syrups

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 10, 2025 / Comments Off on Beyond the Maple: Birch & Walnut Syrups

Move aside, maple! We have two new syrups to add to the table. Read on for insights on tapping, selling, and eating syrup from walnut & birch trees.

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maple roasted nuts

Maple Roasted Nuts: A Sweet, Seasonal Treat

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 3, 2025 / Comments Off on Maple Roasted Nuts: A Sweet, Seasonal Treat

Craving something sweet? These delicious maple roasted nuts are the perfect treat to help you push through those end-of-winter blues. The following is an excerpt from Full Moon Feast by Jessica Prentice. It has been adapted for the web. The Magic of Maple: A Rich History Following the Hunger Moon, just before the first thaw…

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Sprouting 101: Easy Breezy Home Seed Sprouting

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 26, 2025 / Comments Off on Sprouting 101: Easy Breezy Home Seed Sprouting

Sprouts are easy to cultivate, mature quickly and pack a nutritional punch! You can make nutrient-rich sprouts from all kinds of edible seeds in your kitchen.

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cover crops

Laying Down Cover Crops in 7 Steps

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 21, 2025 / Comments Off on Laying Down Cover Crops in 7 Steps

Want to make the most of the slow gardening season? Lay cover crops to improve the health of your soil and plants! The following is an excerpt from The Celestial Garden by Jane Hawley Stevens. It has been adapted for the web. Benefits of Cover Crops Cover cropping is a management practice that benefits the…

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Umami Bomb: Caramelized Miso Cheese

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 19, 2025 / Comments Off on Umami Bomb: Caramelized Miso Cheese

If you read our post about growing koji in your kitchen, you’re probably itching to try out those new koji skills! This miso cheese recipe is an excellent next stop on your koji-kitchen journey. Miso cheese is sure to add a twist to any cheese lover’s plate, plus it’s easy to make at home! The following…

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tools for micro-farming

Starter Kit Tools: 9 Vital Tools for Micro-Farming

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 18, 2025 / Comments Off on Starter Kit Tools: 9 Vital Tools for Micro-Farming

Interested in micro-farming, but don’t know where to begin? Believe it or not, you only need 9 tools to get started. These easy-to-find tools for micro-farming will set the stage for productive growing! The following is an excerpt from The Lean Micro Farm by Ben Hartman. It has been adapted for the web. Unless otherwise noted, all…

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roasted root veggies

Roasted Root Veggies with Pomegranate Drizzle

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 7, 2025 / Comments Off on Roasted Root Veggies with Pomegranate Drizzle

Do you still have an abundance of root veggies from your final fall harvest? You’re in luck! This  pomegranate drizzle will add just the right amount of “oomph” to your favorite dish of roasted root veggies. The following recipe is from The Fruit Forager’s Companion by Sara Bir. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE:…

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Wood-fired Pizza Oven

Winter Pizza Duo Using a Sourdough Starter

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 5, 2025 / Comments Off on Winter Pizza Duo Using a Sourdough Starter

Turn any night into pizza night! This sourdough pizza holds the secret to a stress-free weeknight dinner. Make the crust ahead of time and let it rise in the fridge. By dinnertime all you’ll need to do is shape the dough, add your toppings, and bake! This excerpt is from The Occidental Arts and Ecology…

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A Gift From the Gods: Blue Corn Bread

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 31, 2025 / Comments Off on A Gift From the Gods: Blue Corn Bread

A sweet cornbread made with blue cornmeal draws on traditional Mexico and US Southwest flavors. The blue cornmeal gives its haunting flavor and lavender hue.

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seed detective

Becoming A True Seed Detective: Mastering the Mission

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 24, 2025 / Comments Off on Becoming A True Seed Detective: Mastering the Mission

Did you ever wonder how leeks, kale, asparagus, beans, squash, and corn have ended up on our plates? Well, so did Adam Alexander, otherwise known as The Seed Detective.  The following is an excerpt from the The Seed Detective by Adam Alexander. It has been adapted for the web. My Seed-Detective Mission Crammed into two…

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micro-farm

Starting A Micro-Farm: Tips for Getting Smaller

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 20, 2025 / Comments Off on Starting A Micro-Farm: Tips for Getting Smaller

Want to set up your own micro-farm? These tips will help you learn how to simplify your work, increase profitability, and shape your ideas so you can create the perfect tiny farm for you. The following is an excerpt from The Lean Micro Farm by Ben Hartman. It has been adapted for the web. Unless…

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sourdough

How to Make a Sourdough Starter: Everything You Need to Know Starter Guide

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 17, 2025 / Comments Off on How to Make a Sourdough Starter: Everything You Need to Know Starter Guide

Sourdough begins through spontaneous fermentation—essentially by getting your wheat wet! All you need to start a batch is flour and water.

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vinegar in soup

Vinegar in Soup: The Soup-er Secret Ingredient

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 10, 2025 / Comments Off on Vinegar in Soup: The Soup-er Secret Ingredient

Move aside, chicken noodle and tomato bisque! We’re trying out some new soups with one ingredient in common: vinegar. Flavorful and unique, these recipes will have you including vinegar in soup for years to come. The following is an excerpt from Wildcrafted Vinegars by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the web. Adding Vinegar in…

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indoor gardening

6 Tips and Tricks for Indoor Gardening

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 8, 2025 / Comments Off on 6 Tips and Tricks for Indoor Gardening

Craving a fresh harvest during the winter months? Try indoor gardening to grow fresh greens and more year-round! Here are 6 articles to jump-start your indoor harvest and get you growing in no time. Must Have Tools for Successful Indoor Gardening The process of producing high-quality food inside requires time and attention, along with the…

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migraines

Herbal Formulas for Migraines and Other Headaches

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 6, 2025 / Comments Off on Herbal Formulas for Migraines and Other Headaches

Suffering from frequent headaches is miserable and immobilizing. If you haven’t had luck treating and preventing your headaches, skip the over-the-counter approach and prepare herbal formuals for migraines to use in the future! The following is an excerpt from Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Volume 4 by Jill Stansbury. It has been adapted for the…

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The Ultimate Good Sweet: Upside Down Apple Pie

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 3, 2025 / Comments Off on The Ultimate Good Sweet: Upside Down Apple Pie

Make an irresistible upside down apple pie with this easy recipe. No pie crust skills needed! “Secretly” healthy apple pie for a guilt-free sweet treat.

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Fire Cider: A Healing, Warm Tonic

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 31, 2024 / Comments Off on Fire Cider: A Healing, Warm Tonic

“It is more important to know what kind of person has a disease than to know what kind of disease a person has.” —Hippocrates Drawing on her decades of clinical experience and her extensive research, Dr. Jill Stansbury offers an unparalleled range of herbal formulas in her five-volume set, Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals. For each…

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protect plants

How to Protect Plants from Winter Elements

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 30, 2024 / Comments Off on How to Protect Plants from Winter Elements

Living in a colder climate doesn’t mean you need to give up on more fragile plants. By adequately preparing your less-hardy plants for the winter, you’ll set them up to survive and thrive! The following is an excerpt from Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts by Scott Serrano and Allyson Levy. It has been adapted for the web. Protect…

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Sweet Winter Carrots: Growing & Harvesting

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 27, 2024 / Comments Off on Sweet Winter Carrots: Growing & Harvesting

Want to keep growing great food during the cold months? Try growing winter carrots in your cold house! These carrots, which Eliot Coleman grows on his farm in the winter, are even sweeter and more flavorful than the more conventionally timed “spring carrots.” The following is an excerpt fromThe Winter Harvest Handbook by Eliot Coleman. It has…

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reindeer

Who Are The Reindeer Whisperers?

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 23, 2024 / Comments Off on Who Are The Reindeer Whisperers?

Most people know that the big man in the North Pole has a team of reindeer waiting to deliver presents, but not as many know who is taking care of these animals behind the scenes: the Sámi people of Norway. This is an excerpt from The Reindeer Chronicles by Judith D. Schwartz. It has been…

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desserts

Show-Stealing Desserts for Holiday Celebrations

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 20, 2024 / Comments Off on Show-Stealing Desserts for Holiday Celebrations

Holiday dinner dishes and sides get all the attention — but the reality is, dessert is where it’s at. Here are some show-stealing desserts to serve at your next holiday celebration. The following recipes have been adapted for the web. Lost Nation Cider Pie From The Apple Grower Make ahead: The recipe calls for making…

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snow

Is Your Greenhouse Winter-Ready? Dealing with Snow on Your Greenhouse

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 19, 2024 / Comments Off on Is Your Greenhouse Winter-Ready? Dealing with Snow on Your Greenhouse

Want to keep your protected crops heated and healthy all season? Get your greenhouse ready for winter with these snow removal tips! The following is an excerpt from The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook by Andrew Mefferd. It has been adapted for the web. (Photographs courtesy of Andrew Mefferd unless otherwise noted.) Dealing with snow…

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Worth Puckering Up For: Simply Delicious Cranberry Muffins & Holiday Bread

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 16, 2024 / Comments Off on Worth Puckering Up For: Simply Delicious Cranberry Muffins & Holiday Bread

Cranberries add a sweet, tart tang to treats. Feature them as the main ingredient or a happy sidekick in these cranberry bread recipes. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch or snack time!

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Herbal Medicine: Knowledge Rooted in Connection

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 13, 2024 / Comments Off on Herbal Medicine: Knowledge Rooted in Connection

Using herbal medicine to heal the body is an ancient practice. It has since become a worldwide industry. Today, modern-day doctor’s visits and industrial medicine have displaced common knowledge of herbal medicine. Some still remember the ancient practice. In her book Following the Herbal Harvest, Ann Armbrecht interviews one such person, Phyllis Light, a fourth-generation…

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side dish

Elevate Your Holiday Dinner Side Dish Game

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 11, 2024 / Comments Off on Elevate Your Holiday Dinner Side Dish Game

Tired of the same old side dishes taking up the table during your holiday feast? Excite your tastebuds with these unique and flavorful side dish recipes! The following recipes have been adapted for the web. Amazake Rye Bread From Koji Alchemy by Jeremy Umansky and Rich Shih (Note: This recipe calls for koji. If you don’t…

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