DIG IN
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.
A Guide to Harvesting Hazelnuts
Today, hazelnuts are all the rage. These small nuts, known for their one-of-a-kind flavor, are both delicious AND hearty enough to be grown and harvested in almost any weather conditions. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to start harvesting hazelnuts! The following is an excerpt from Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts by Scott Serrano and Allyson…
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Bokashi Bins: Easy and Affordable Kitchen Composting
Looking for a new way to compost? With Bokashi bins, the organic matter from your compost is broken down and turned into a preserved or pickled substance. Plus, the whole design is affordable and easy to build & use! The following is an excerpt from The Ecological Gardener by Matt Rees-Warren. It has been adapted for the…
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How to Preserve Food Without Nutrient Loss
Want to get the most out of your harvest? Preserve food to keep your fruits and veggies fresh for weeks to come! Methods of food preservation like fermentation, drying, and salt-curing are very simple, don’t require fossil fuels, and promote food safety. The following is an excerpt from Preserving Food Without Freezing or Canning by the…
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Boreray Sheep: A “Woolly” Remarkable Flock
“Ewe” won’t believe how much Boreray sheep have to offer! This breed provides much more than just a cute face and a full coat of wool. When raised in an ideal environment, Boreray sheep can have a huge positive impact on your farmland. The following is an excerpt from The Lost Flock by Jane Cooper.…
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Unique Pickling Ideas: We Can Pickle That!
Pickling goes far beyond turning cucumbers into sour or sweet sides for your sandwich or putting up your beans and beets. To show you what we mean, we put together two unusual pickling ideas for your perusal. RECIPE: Cinnamon Dark Red Plums You’d be missing out if you didn’t try these Cinnamon Dark Red Plums —…
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Easy 15-Minute Meals to Promote Gut Health
Want to improve your gut health, while also enjoying the food you love? Try out these easy, 15-minute recipes to indulge in a delicious meal while still being good to your gut. The following is an excerpt from Covid Vaccine Adverse Reaction Survival Guide by Caroline Pover. It has been adapted for the web. Recipes to Promote…
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8 Steps to Fermented Hot Sauce With Wild Greens
Hot sauce fans, this one’s for you! This easy recipe for fermented hot sauce with wild greens is sure to add an extra punch of flavor to your favorite meal. The following is an excerpt from The New Wildcrafted Cuisine, by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE: Fermented Hot Sauce With…
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Summer Cherry Cornmeal Cobbler
Cherry season isn’t over quite yet! Soak up the flavors of summer while they last with this sweet, mouth-watering recipe for Summer Cherry Cornmeal Cobbler. The following is an excerpt from Cooking Close to Home: A Year of Seasonal Recipes by Diane Imre and Richard Jarmusz. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE: Summer Cherry…
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How to Use Vinegar Extracts to Enrich Your Soil
Want to enrich your soil and get the most out of your garden? Mastering soil amendments is a must! Soil amendments, such as composting and natural sprays, enhance soil and increase nutrients available to your plants. Use just a little bit of vinegar and some leftovers in your kitchen to create an extraction that will give your crops a…
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Beat the Heat and Be Good to Your Gut: Dairy-Free Ice Cream Recipes
No summer day is complete without an ice cream cone. Unfortunately, dairy intolerance makes it tough for many to enjoy this seasonal dessert. Try out these dairy-free ice cream recipes to indulge in this frozen treat while still being kind to your gut. The following recipes have been adapted for the web from The Heal…
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Not Level? No Problem. How to Build a Greenhouse on a Slope
Is your yard uneven or sloped, but you want to build a greenhouse? It may not seem like the “perfect spot,” but building a greenhouse on a slope actually comes with a couple of benefits that you won’t get from making one a level site. The following is an excerpt is from The Bio-Integrated Farm by…
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Easy-to-Make Drying Trays
Looking for a new way to enjoy the benefits of your garden all year long? Follow this easy tutorial for making drying trays to expand the lifespan of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The following is an excerpt from Preserving Food Without Freezing or Canning by The Gardeners & Farmers of Terre Vivante. It has been adapted for…
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Fruity Ferments: End of Summer Fruit Kvass
Fruit kvass is a great first ferment for beginners. All you need is fruit, whey or ginger bug, and jar to hold the ferment. Start this recipe today, and you’ll be enjoying a delicious fizzy drink in about three days! The following excerpt is from The Wildcrafting Brewer by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for…
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A Game Of Chicken: The Demand for Real Meat
Meat production can be a tricky business. Everyone wants to consume real chicken and pork, but meeting this demand can be difficult for farmers and food companies. To ensure that we’re eating high-quality chicken and poultry, we must even out the demand for real meat. The following is an excerpt from Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future…
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Start Your Own Medicinal Herb Garden with These 3 Herbs
Want to start your own medicinal herb garden? Passionflower, lemon balm, and goldenseal are the best place to begin! These herbs are not only jam-packed with medicinal properties; they’re also extremely easy to grow in a majority of climates. With a little background information on the proper growing conditions, medicinal uses, and harvesting and drying tips,…
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Wild Flavors to Fire Up Your Grill: Foraging for Wood and Aromatics
If you love grilling, you probably know that various woods add delicious smoky flavors to grilled meat, fish, and vegetables; but where do you find them? Here are some tips on foraging for wood, bark, and aromatics to help you add a wild twist to anything you toss on the grill this summer. The following…
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Lacto-Fermenting: A Faster Way to Ferment Vegetables
Looking for a faster way to ferment your vegetables? Lacto-fermenting, a fermentation method widely used in Japan, involves a special glass or plastic container that has a device for constantly pressing down the vegetables. With this method, you’ll be ready to eat your fermented veggies in as little as a few days! The following is an excerpt…
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5 Activities for Summer Vacation Fun
School’s out for summer! Fill the lull between beach trips and camp with some of our favorite kid-friendly activities for summer vacation fun. From sunrise to sunset, there’s always something to do in the kitchen or the garden that will keep the kids entertained and educated all season long. How to Get Your Kids in the…
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The Radiant Raspberry: Foraging For and Cooking With Wild Raspberries
Raspberries: they’re sweet, flavorful, extremely versatile, and can be found in your own backyard or local forest. Forage for raspberries yourself and use them to create delicious dishes, as well as some lasting memories! The following excerpt is from The Fruit Forager’s Companion by Sara Bir and has been adapted for the web. The Freedom of Foraging For…
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So What Exactly Is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, the most commonly used weedkiller in the world. Nearly 300 million pounds of glyphosate-based herbicides are sprayed on farms (and food) every year, making them almost impossible to avoid. What actually is glyphosate, and what does it do to us? Keep reading to find out more about this…
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I Scream, You Scream, We All Forage For Ice Cream
We’re over plain vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. This summer, we’re craving some new and original ice cream flavors! Forage for your own ingredients and create a one-of-a-kind seasonal dessert. The following is an excerpt from The Forager Chef’s Book of Flora by Alan Bergo. It has been adapted for the web. Spruce Tip Ice Cream…
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All In The Sting: Health Benefits of Honey Bee Venom
Tired of trying different traditional medicines to relieve inflammation and joint pain? Give bee venom therapy a try. Apitherapy and bee venom therapy is an emerging medicinal treatment that uses the stinger of a honey bee to alleviate pain and aid in healing. Bee venom therapy works by catalyzing the body’s natural healing processes. Most…
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Preserving Vegetables in Salt: Whole Tomatoes
Buying fresh produce feels like a waiting game — if you blink, your food will go from ripe to rotten all too soon. Beat this game by preserving vegetables, such as tomatoes, in salt. This process will keep them fresh and ready for sauce, stock, and more. The following is an excerpt from Preserving Food Without…
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From Field to Storage: Grain Storage Container Options
Wondering where to put all the grains you grew? Storing grains accurately is essential for a successful harvest; and how you store them can make or break the quality of your crops. Check out the following grain storage container options to see which is best for your farm or homestead. The following is an excerpt from The…
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How to Cook the Perfect, Tender Grass-Fed Steak
Summertime is here, which means it’s officially grilling season! Whip up a delicious grass-fed steak at your next BBQ to support small-scale farmers, help protect the environment, and give your guests a meal they’re going to be talking about all summer. The following is a collection of recipes from cookbooks by Shannon Hayes, author of…
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