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The latest articles from Chelsea Green and our authors: offering tips and techniques about how you can bring our books to life in your kitchen, backyard, or community.
Time-Tested Sourdough Starter
Want to make bread this winter? With this low-maintenance sourdough starter recipe, you’ll have a delicious loaf of hot-from-the-oven bread on the table in no time! The following recipe is from Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods by Sandor Katz. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE: Sourdough Starter Starting…
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9 Books for Backyard Gardeners
Searching for the perfect book to give the gardener in your life? These books are great gifts for gardeners at any level. Head over to our Gardening page for even more great gardening reads! In The Home-Scale Forest Garden, Dani Baker shares what she learned as she became a forest gardener, providing a practical, in-depth…
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Spruce Tip Key Lime Pie: A Flavorful, Foraged Dessert
Nothing is quite as sweet as baking a dessert with ingredients you foraged for yourself. This spruce tip key lime pie recipe is simple, delicious, and sure to impress all your guests this winter. The following is an excerpt from The Forager Chef’s Book of Flora by Alan Bergo. It has been adapted for the…
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Buying Meat for the Holidays? Questions to Ask Your Butcher or Farmer
Getting ready to start planning for festive dinners? Before buying meat for the holidays, it’s important to research a few things about the practices involved in butchering, packaging, and distribution — which directly impact the quality of your meat. The following is an excerpt from The Gourmet Butcher’s Guide to Meat by Cole Ward. It…
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Gifts They’ll Crave: 10 Books for Every Foodie on Your List
Struggling to find the perfect gift for the foodie in your life? Our wide range of food and drink books will give you plenty of options to choose from! Whether you’re shopping for an adventurous cook who likes foraging for their ingredients, a fermentation aficionado, or a lover of culinary classics, you’ll find something for…
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Tips for Operating A Successful Farm
Want to run a successful farm, but don’t know where to begin? These tips from two organic farming pioneers will help you learn everything you need to get started. The following is an excerpt from Many Hands Make a Farm by Jack Kittredge and Julie Rawson. It has been adapted for the web. Lessons From Farming…
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Let’s Get Cheesy! Sandor Katz’s Favorite Homemade Cheese
There’s nothing quite like the flavor of fresh, homemade cheese — especially when there’s a story behind it. This cheese recipe, a favorite of fermentation expert Sandor Ellix Katz, requires a few simple ingredients that you can find in your fridge. The following is an excerpt from Sandor Katz’s Fermentation Journeys by Sandor Ellix Katz. It…
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DIY: How to Make Your Own Hatchet
Ever wanted to make your own hatchet? Then today’s your lucky day! With some scrap steel, a hacksaw, a file, a drill, a bonfire, a bucket of water, and an oven, you can make this simple, hardy, “democratic” axe. The following excerpt is from A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity by William Coperthwaite. It has…
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Red Wine Salt: A Bold and Flavorful Seasoning
Add a rich and robust twist to your meals with help from red wine salt! This delicious seasoning is a perfect addition to dishes like short rib, lamb chops, roasted potatoes, and more. The following is an excerpt from Salt and the Art of Seasoning by James Strawbridge. It has been adapted for the web.…
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Extend Your Growing Season with Crop Protection Structures
Conserve your resources and enjoy fresh produce all year long by growing your own food in the winter months! Achieving a twelve-month growing season is as simple as using the right type of crop protection structure for your climate. The following is an excerpt from The Forest Garden Greenhouse by Jerome Osentowski. It has been…
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On the Rise: How to Make Salt-Rising Bread
Want to spice up your traditional bread recipes this winter? This salt-rising bread recipe by fermentation expert Sandor Ellix Katz has all the simplicity, flavor, and uniqueness you’ve been searching for! The following is an excerpt from Sandor Katz’s Fermentation Journeys by Sandor Ellix Katz. It has been adapted for the web. What Is Salt-Rising Bread?…
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Thanksgiving Takes an Adventurous Twist with This Foraged and Fermented Menu
From gathering items from the woods to fermenting your own bubbly, there’s something about working for your supper that makes it so much more delicious when you finally get to dig in. If you’re looking to really earn your Thanksgiving dinner this year, this foraged and fermented menu is just what you need! These recipes…
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Cooking With Pears: Tips & Recipes
Now is the ‘pear-fect’ time to begin cooking with pears! Get started with help from these preparation tips — plus a few simple and delicious recipes. The following is an excerpt from The Book of Pears by Joan Morgan. It has been adapted for the web. A Guide to Cooking With Pears The pear is mainly…
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Below the Mushroom Cap: The Mycelium and Its Secrets
How do mushrooms grow? How do they eat, reproduce, or spread? What exactly is a mushroom? All of these answers and more can be found in the intricate, web-like fiber found underneath these fungi: the mycelium. Understanding this “vegetative” part of the fungus is key to understanding the whole system. The following is an excerpt from…
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The Vibrance of Vinegar: Methods to Make Vinegar From Scratch
Homemade vinegar is a delicious ingredient in many foods and drinks: quick pickles, soups, sauces, salad dressings, desserts, jams, and more. Before we work on creating these recipes, it’s essential to understand the fundamentals of vinegar and how to make it from home. The following is an excerpt from Wildcrafted Vinegars by Pascal Baudar. It…
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Bring on the Seasonal Brews: Drinks to Pair With Thanksgiving Dinner
Looking for a refreshing drink to pair with Thanksgiving dinner? From cider to sangria to pine soda, one of these seasonal brews is bound to be the perfect fit for you and your family. NOTE: Make sure to prepare these drinks ahead of time so you’re not working for longer than planned on Thanksgiving day! The…
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Two-Step Bed Flipping: Increasing Your Production on a Small Footprint
Flipping your plant beds is as simple as 1, 2! Follow these tips for two-step bed flipping to successfully increase your crop production no matter the season. 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 illustrations copyright…
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Sweet & Salty: Salted Caramel Sauce
Add a salty twist to your next dessert dish! This salted caramel sauce is a perfect addition to cheesecake, ice cream, and other decadent desserts. The following is an excerpt from Salt and the Art of Seasoning by James Strawbridge. It has been adapted for the web. The Salted Caramel Craze We have pastry chefs…
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How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Poultry Flock
There are many factors to consider when choosing a breed for your poultry flock — from climate to commitment level. Thankfully, we’re here to help make your decision easier! Below is some insight into the most common poultry breeds and their characteristics. The following is an excerpt from The Small-Scale Poultry Flock, Revised Edition by Harvey Ussery.…
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Crunchy Candied Tree Leaves: A Natural Fall Dessert Topper
Instead of raking and throwing away fallen leaves this autumn, what if we repurposed them and turned them into something beautiful & delicious? Embrace the natural flavors of fall with this recipe for candied tree leaves. The following recipe is from The New Wildcrafted Cuisine by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the web.…
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Composting and Recycling Mushrooms
Beyond guaranteeing a bountiful harvest, cultivating mushrooms on various surfaces has plenty of benefits. Growing, composting, and recycling mushrooms reduces waste and helps the environment. The following excerpt is from Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation by Tradd Cotter. It has been adapted for the web. (Photographs courtesy of Tradd and Olga Cotter unless otherwise noted.)…
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Make Your Own Apple Kimchi
Kimchi is a tangy and spicy meal with many varieties, including some with fruits. This recipe for apple kimchi adds a seasonal twist to a classic Korean dish! The following is an excerpt from Black Trumpet by Evan Mallett. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE: Apple Kimchi Denise gave me a 5-gallon ceramic…
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What is a Plant Guild?
What does the term “plant guild” actually mean? Technically, a plant guild is a beneficial grouping of plants that support humans, animals, and even one another. The key to creating a successful one is identifying the right design for your permaculture project. The following is an excerpt from Integrated Forest Gardening by Daniel Halsey, Bryce Ruddock,…
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Autumn is Calling! Cilantro and Pumpkin Seed Pesto
With fall in full swing, you likely have plenty of leftover pumpkin seeds to spare. Make the most of your bounty with this Cilantro and Pumpkin Seed Pesto recipe! The following recipe is from Cooking Close to Home by Diane Imrie and Richard Jarmusz. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE: Cilantro and Pumpkin…
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Facing the Beast: Practicing Courage and Reflection
What does facing the beast mean? In this time of uncertainty, we must practice regular reflection to achieve optimal happiness and health. The metaphor below gives insight into confronting and facing it, regardless of what “the beast” is to you. The following is. an excerpt from Facing the Beast by Naomi Wolf. It has been adapted for the…
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