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.
Biodynamic Beekeeping 101
Spring is here and I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get started on all of the projects I mapped out during the cold winter months – including trying my hand at incorporating bees into my homesteading adventure! As a new-bee (get it?!), I need help to get started so I did…
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The Best Books for Makers
Books for Makers: Best Gifts for DIY Lovers In the age of computer-assisted design, mass production, and machine precision, the traditional skills of the maker or craftsperson are hard to find. Yet the desire for well-made and beautiful objects from the hands (and mind) of a skilled artisan is just as present today as it…
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The Significance of America’s Maple Syrup History
Everything is better with maple syrup. At least that’s what you’ll hear when you ask Vermonters. So what better way to solidify your love for all things maple than to learn how to make it yourself? The Sugarmaker’s Companion by Michael Farrell is a comprehensive guide for both beginning and professional, home-scale and commercial maple…
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Ten Facts About the Water We Use
Most people have a basic understanding of the importance of water conservation. We’re taught to turn the faucet off while brushing our teeth and not to try and take shorter showers. However, we might not be aware of just how important conserving water is, how it impacts our lives, and how much we need it…
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The BIG Difference Between Small Farms and Big Business
In the herbal medicine industry, due to a lack of quality checkers, it’s easy for any business to be certified “organic”. There is a big difference between small farms and big business, though, as author Ann Armbrecht discovers. The following is an excerpt from The Business of Botanicals by Ann Armbrecht. It has been adapted for the…
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So You Want to Be a Mycologist
Due to the wave of ‘mycophelia’ occurring in North America, educational workshops that cover the basics of mushroom and fungal life are not hard to come by. In his book In Search of Mycotopia, author Doug Bierend takes the reader and aspiring mycologist with him to one of his first mycology classes – filled with…
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The Importance of Nutrient Cycling
Putting nutrients back into the land is almost – if not more – important than harvesting from it. When it comes to growing pretty much anything, it is all about balance, and nutrient cycling can help you maintain equilibrium within your land. There are many simple and affordable ways to practice nutrient cycling, from compost…
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A Different Way of Working
While it’s true that machines can make life easier, they don’t necessarily make it better. Robert Somerville, author of Barn Club, understood this fact. That’s why he decided to gather a team of volunteers to come together and build a barn the old fashioned way – with a little sweat, tears, and his hands. The…
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A New Kind of Cowgirl
Meat eaters rarely see how the sausage (or in this case, steak) is made. At the New Cowgirl Camp, like-minded women come together to learn how to raise livestock sustainably and change the meat industry for the better. The following is an excerpt from The Reindeer Chronicles by Judith D. Schwartz. It has been adapted…
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Get Ready for Maple Sugaring Season
Everything is better with maple syrup. At least, that’s what you’ll hear when you ask Vermonters. What better way to solidify your love for all things maple than to learn how to make it yourself? If you only have a couple of trees nearby — say in your backyard — author Michael Farrell has some simple advice…
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Grow Vegetables Like You Mean It
In the United States, 40 percent of the food we produce is wasted. Ben Hartman is trying to put a dent in that dismal statistic. Inspired by Toyota’s “lean” approach to manufacturing, a production strategy designed to minimize waste and maximize efficiency while increasing profits. In his practical how-to manual, Hartman shows how he has…
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A Short History of Agricultural Seed
Seeds are the foundation of agriculture. As John Navazio describes in this excerpt from his new book, The Organic Seed Grower: A Farmer’s Guide to Vegetable Seed Production, America was once home to hundreds of small-scale agricultural seed producers, each of which developed seeds adapted to grow best in the surrounding region. Today, following the…
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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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Want to Become an Herbalist? Drawbacks of the Herbal Renaissance
From tulsi to turmeric, echinacea to elderberry, medicinal herbs are big business—but do they deliver on their healing promise—to those who consume them, those who provide them, and the natural world? If you’re interested in become an herbalist, check out this insight to get started. The following is an excerpt from The Business of Botanicals…
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Magic Mushrooms: A History
When the word “mushroom” comes to mind, “magic” isn’t far behind. But what started this almost immediate association between mushrooms and illicit drugs? While there are some truly magic mushrooms out there in the world, not all of them cause LSD trips when ingested, yet that is the common connection people make. Doug Bierend explores…
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Say Vegan Cheese! The Basics of Vegan Cheesemaking
Whether you eat dairy products or not, the vegan cheese recipes will surely knock your socks off. Some people even say they’re better than regular cheese. With a little fermentation knowledge (and practice), you’ll be making delicious vegan cheese in no time! To get started, all you need is a culture starter recipe (with this…
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The Barn: Cathedrals to Nature
When renowned craftsman Robert Somerville moved to Hertfordshire, in southern England, he discovered an unexpected landscape rich with wildlife and elm trees. Nestled within London’s commuter belt, this wooded farmland inspired Somerville, a lifelong woodworker, to revive the ancient tradition of hand-raising barns. This is a tale of forgotten trees, a local landscape, and an…
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Sprouted Amaranth Alegria Energy Bars
At this point in winter, if you haven’t already exhausted your cellar of root vegetables, then you’re probably exhausted with it. But just because the ground outside may still be frozen, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy fresh greens. One simple and healthy way to breathe life back into your winter diet is by sprouting your…
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From the Ground Up: Using Soil Amendments
It may be too early to plant your garden, but it’s not too early to PLAN your garden! Beyond what and how you will plant, it’s important to have a plan for enriching your soil. For us, soil amendments are the perfect solution. Do you add compost to your garden? Congratulations! You’re using soil amendments.…
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Video: The Best Blender Plantain Pancakes
Want to try a twist on a classic breakfast favorite? Try using plantains in your pancakes! With this recipe, you’ll make healthy and nutritious pancakes that will have you and your taste buds dancing. With no grains, dairy, or added sugar, these pancakes are wholesome enough to feed to your family on a busy weeknight,…
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Perfect Salad with Soil Sprouts: Unlock the Secret
Around this time of year, when “seasonal produce” is just a synonym for root vegetables, many of us begin to dream about fresh greens and colorful salads. Without a greenhouse or expensive equipment, it’s hard to imagine a reality in which you can have fresh and local greens every day. Luckily, you can grow your…
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Listen! Towpath: The Podcast
Did you know that one of our books has a podcast? Authors Lori De Mori and Laura Jackson talk about their London-famous restaurant Towpath in their podcast of the same name. They share some of their favorite recipes too, giving aspiring cooks a chance to listen as they explain some of their trade secrets. The…
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Herbal Medicine: Knowledge Rooted in Connection
Using herbal medicine to heal the body is an ancient practice, but it has since become a worldwide industry in the twenty-first century. Today, modern-day doctor’s visits and industrial medicine have displaced common knowledge of herbal medicine. Some still remember the ancient practice, though. In her new book The Business of Botanicals, Ann Armbrecht interviews one…
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Fungi: All Around and Among Us
Fungi are fundamental to life. As decomposers, they are critical to the formation and sustenance of soils and ecosystems. As endlessly innovative chemists, they devise and secrete enzymes that can break down a vast variety of materials, mitigate bacterial and viral infections, and interact—for better or worse—with the bodies and brains of animals that consume…
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The Best Meatloaf You’ll Ever Taste… Ever!
It’s a staple in almost every kitchen. It has hundreds – nay, thousands – of variations. It’s delicious, nutritious, and packed full of protein. It’s meatloaf!! This meatloaf recipe from London restaurant Towpath is sure to delight everyone in your household. And who knows, it may even end up taking the place of your tried-and-true family recipe. The…
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