Gretchen Kruesi

ginger carrots

Ginger Carrots for a Healthy Gut

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 22, 2024 / Comments Off on Ginger Carrots for a Healthy Gut

Looking for something to munch on that’s both tasty and good for you? These ginger carrots are a healthy snack that are easy to make at home! The following excerpt is from The Heal Your Gut Cookbook by Hilary Boynton and Mary G. Brackett. It has been adapted for the web. Ginger Carrots Recipe Several…

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birds

Bring on the Birds: Attracting Birds to Your Garden

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 21, 2024 / Comments Off on Bring on the Birds: Attracting Birds to Your Garden

Birds: they’re beautiful, they sing sweet songs, AND they can help our gardens thrive. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of birds in gardens, and how you can attract more to your backyard! The following is an excerpt from The Healthy Vegetable Garden by Sally Morgan. It has been adapted for the web.…

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pesto

Make a Foraged, Immune-Boosting Pesto for Spring

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 19, 2024 / Comments Off on Make a Foraged, Immune-Boosting Pesto for Spring

Spring is finally here! Put your cooking and foraging skills to the test with this seasonal, delicious garlic mustard pesto recipe. The following is an excerpt from The Fruit Forager’s Companion by Sara Bir. It has been adapted for the web. (Heading photo credit: Phil Moore. All other photos courtesy of Sarah Bir unless otherwise…

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soil health

5 Principles of Soil Health

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 18, 2024 / Comments Off on 5 Principles of Soil Health

Wondering how to make your soil (and plants) thrive? Use these principles of soil health to properly prepare your farm or garden to grow. The following excerpt is from Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown. It has been adapted for the web. (Photography curtesy of Gabe Brown.) Prefer audio? Listen to the excerpt below from the…

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maple roasted nuts

Maple Roasted Nuts: A Sweet, Seasonal Treat

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 15, 2024 / 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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grey wolves

Grey Wolves: The Howling Gods

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 14, 2024 / Comments Off on Grey Wolves: The Howling Gods

Grey wolves are complicated, beautiful animals that are now absent in many parts of the world. Where did these creatures come from, and how did they get to where they are today? The following is an excerpt from Hunt for the Shadow Wolf by Derek Gow. It has been adapted for the web. Grey Wolves:…

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How to Create Your Own Forest Garden

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 14, 2024 / Comments Off on How to Create Your Own Forest Garden

A forest garden provides a beautiful, bountiful edible landscape at any scale—whether only a few dozen square feet or if you have over an acre to spare. Ready to embark on your own forest garden adventure? Check out these articles for inspiration to get started. Featured image by Dani Baker. The Seven Layers of A…

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salsa

Mushrooms & Wild Herbs Salsa: A Refreshing Spring Recipe

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 13, 2024 / Comments Off on Mushrooms & Wild Herbs Salsa: A Refreshing Spring Recipe

Spring into the season with a fresh, wildcrafted appetizer! This recipe for mushrooms and wild herbs salsa is very adaptable, giving you freedom to use ingredients you find in your own environment. The following is an excerpt from Wildcrafted Vinegars by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE: Mushrooms & Wild Herbs…

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permanent beds

Permanent Beds: Designing An Efficient Garden

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 12, 2024 / Comments Off on Permanent Beds: Designing An Efficient Garden

Permanent beds are going to change your gardening game. This type of garden bed helps improve soil health, ensures crop growth, and is extremely easy to design! The following is an excerpt from The Living Soil Handbook by Jesse Frost. It has been adapted for the web. Designing Permanent Beds The term permanent beds is…

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fieldwork

Simplify Farm Fieldwork: Stop Working So Hard

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 8, 2024 / Comments Off on Simplify Farm Fieldwork: Stop Working So Hard

Looking to simplify fieldwork on your farm? The key is to act like a tree: stop working so hard and let nature do some of the work for you.  The following is an excerpt from The Lean Micro Farm by Ben Hartman. It has been adapted for the web. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs and…

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seed integrity

Preserving Seed Integrity: How Far is Far Enough?

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 7, 2024 / Comments Off on Preserving Seed Integrity: How Far is Far Enough?

While there is a lot of information out there about keeping the “purity” of seeds, the true “pure” seed is a myth. There are still best practices that any seed grower should keep in mind; but once they understand seed integrity and let cross-pollination happen, the real fun begins. The following is an excerpt from…

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Birch & Walnut Syrups: Beyond the Maple

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 6, 2024 / Comments Off on Birch & Walnut Syrups: Beyond the Maple

Move aside, maple! We have two new syrups to add to the table. Check out this insight on tapping, selling, and eating syrup from walnut & birch trees. The following is an excerpt from Farming the Woods by Steve Gabriel and Ken Mudge. It has been adapted for the web. Walnut Syrup Walnut (Juglans spp.)…

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planting site

7 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Planting Site

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 6, 2024 / Comments Off on 7 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Planting Site

With spring starting soon, now is the perfect time to start planning out your garden. For those new to gardening or homesteading, the location of your planting site is one of the first things to consider. The following is an excerpt from Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts by Scott Serrano and Allyson Levy. It has been…

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grow mushrooms on woodchip

How to Grow Mushrooms on Woodchip

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 5, 2024 / Comments Off on How to Grow Mushrooms on Woodchip

These days, growing mushrooms is all the rage. It is extremely simple, and they will grow pretty much anywhere — from milk cartons to denim to the always-reliable woodchip. The following is an excerpt from The Woodchip Handbook by Ben Raskin. It has been adapted for the web. Grow Mushrooms On Woodchip Growing mushrooms on woodchip can…

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wild greens and daikon achar

Fermented Mixed Wild Greens and Daikon Achar

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 1, 2024 / Comments Off on Fermented Mixed Wild Greens and Daikon Achar

Let’s forage and ferment! This wild greens and daikon achar recipe is simple but delicious – an ideal recipe to hone your fermentation skills. The following is an excerpt from Wildcrafted Fermentation by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the web. (Unless otherwise noted, all photography curtesy of Pascal Baudar.)  RECIPE: Fermented Mixed Wild Greens…

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bread

Knead Some Bread Baking Inspiration?

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 28, 2024 / Comments Off on Knead Some Bread Baking Inspiration?

Any bread baker can tell you: After you take that first loaf out of the oven, you’ll never want to eat store-bought bread again. Whether you’ve been feeding your sourdough starter for years or you’re just getting into the bread baking game, we have a bread recipe for you! Making Amazing Amazake Rye Bread Ready…

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goats

Good Fences and Gates Make for Great Goats

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 27, 2024 / Comments Off on Good Fences and Gates Make for Great Goats

Wondering how to get your goats to stay in one place? The secret is all in choosing the right fences and gates to keep them safe, happy, and healthy. The following excerpt is from Holistic Goat Care by Gianaclis Caldwell. It has been adapted for the web. All photographs courtesy of Gianaclis Caldwell unless otherwise noted. Finding…

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cover cropping

Optimize Your Soil with Cover Cropping

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 23, 2024 / Comments Off on Optimize Your Soil with Cover Cropping

Make use of these slow gardening months by preparing your soil for the year ahead! Cover cropping creates nutrient-rich soil for winter gardening AND provides an extra boost to your seedlings come springtime.  The following is an excerpt from The Resilient Farm and Homestead, Revised and Expanded Edition by Ben Falk. It has been adapted…

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wolf

In Search of the Shadow Wolf: Beginning the Hunt

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 22, 2024 / Comments Off on In Search of the Shadow Wolf: Beginning the Hunt

What ever happened to the wolves in Britain? Rewilder Derek Gow seeks to answer this question as he embarks on a quest for the shadow wolf. The following is an excerpt from Hunt for the Shadow Wolf by Derek Gow. It has been adapted for the web. Starting the Search for the Shadow Wolf When…

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cheez-its

Healthy Homemade Cheez-Its: Cheese with a Crunch

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 21, 2024 / Comments Off on Healthy Homemade Cheez-Its: Cheese with a Crunch

Do you love Cheez-Its, but not the nutrition facts? Try your hand at this healthier, homemade version. These crunchy, cheesy snacks are not only ridiculously yummy, they’re also very easy to make! The following recipe is from The Heal Your Gut Cookbook by Hilary Boynton and Mary G. Brackett. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE:…

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black raspberries

Growing Cold-Hardy Black Raspberries

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 20, 2024 / Comments Off on Growing Cold-Hardy Black Raspberries

Black raspberries are unique, delicious fruits that can be grown in almost any weather condition. Keep reading for tips & tricks on growing these delightful berries yourself! The following is an excerpt from Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts by Scott Serrano and Allyson Levy. It has been adapted for the web. Growing Cold-Hardy Black Raspberries For many years…

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mushroom beer

Candy Cap Mushroom Beer: Brewing Wild Beers

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 19, 2024 / Comments Off on Candy Cap Mushroom Beer: Brewing Wild Beers

Yes, you read that right…mushroom beer! This recipe is perfect for beginners who want to try making their own wild, homemade brews. The following is an excerpt from The New Wildcrafted Cuisine by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the web. Making Wild Beers There is something primal and almost magical about making beers using…

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insects - ladybugs

Love Bugs: Why We Need to Love Insects

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 14, 2024 / Comments Off on Love Bugs: Why We Need to Love Insects

Remember when bugs used to be all the rage? This fascination  is something that we need to re-gain as a society and instill in the next generation. Instead of shying away from these controversial creatures, it’s time to teach kids (and ourselves) how amazing insects really are! The following is an excerpt from Rebugging the…

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flower farm

Starting & Growing A Flower Farm: What to Consider

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 13, 2024 / Comments Off on Starting & Growing A Flower Farm: What to Consider

Want to start a flower farm? Most of your decisions when starting and growing a farm are interdependent, so it can be hard to know where to start. The following is an excerpt from Flower Farming for Profit by Lennie Larkin. It has been adapted for the web. Featured photo by Molly DeCoudreaux. Take Stock…

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amazake

Making Amazing Amazake Rye Bread

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 12, 2024 / Comments Off on Making Amazing Amazake Rye Bread

Ready to take your rye bread to the next level? Whether you’re in the mood for a piece of toast or an elaborate sandwich, this new twist on an age-old amazake bread is sure to satisfy your cravings! Note: This recipe calls for koji. If you don’t know how to make it, check out our…

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