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.
The Motivation Behind Change
In #futuregen, Jane Davidson explains how, as Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in Wales, she proposed the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015—the first piece of legislation on Earth to place regenerative and sustainable practice at the heart of government. Unparalleled in its scope and vision, the Act connects environmental and social health…
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A Conversation with Paul Hawken
Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, author, and activist who has dedicated his life to environmental sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. He is a member of Ray Anderson’s original EcoDreamTeam. The following is an excerpt from Mid-Course Correction Revisited by Ray C. Anderson and John A. Lanier. It has been…
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Recipe: Hibiscus and Rose Hip Soda
In today’s world of processed foods and too much sugar, it can seem impossible to find truly natural ingredients that taste good. Look no farther than your backyard! Hibiscus and roses are two common flowers that can be used to make natural soda that tastes fresh and have healing properties. The following is an excerpt…
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Become a Fermentation Sensation with these 8 Recipes!
Fermentation can take any ordinary ingredient and turn it into something amazing and delicious! To prove it to you, we’ve compiled some of our best fermentation recipes that you can try at home. Kvass: A Nourishing, Fermented Beverage Looking to add another recipe to your fermenting repertoire? Try your hand at kvass. This nourishing beverage…
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Election Year: Inspirational Reading Before Voting
The following is from the Chelsea Green 2020 Spring Journal. It has been adapted for the web. Rules for Revolutionaries Becky Bond and Zack Exley A riveting behind-the-scenes look at how a small “distributed organizing” team operating on the fringes of the Bernie Sanders campaign was able to identify, recruit, train, and activate hundreds of…
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Changing Oral Medicine
Did you know that many common chronic conditions—including obesity, inflammation, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and cancer, among others—often have their origins in the mouth? Dr. Dominik Nischwitz is an expert on the mouth’s vital role in the body’s microbiome. His groundbreaking book, It’s All in Your Mouth, presents a necessary new approach to natural…
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The Lean Farm Guide: CSA Boxes
CSA boxes are becoming popular as the idea of buying local continues to become more appealing. As a farmer, offering a CSA box to your community is a great way to ensure that you have a market! Author Ben Hartman talks about this concept, and the overall idea of lean farming to reduce waste, in…
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Artisan Foods: Inspiration from Masters of the Craft
Artisan food-makers spend years studying their craft and perfecting their culinary techniques in order to give us the most delicious food possible. Our authors are sharing their knowledge with the world, whether it be brewing beer or making cheese. Pick up any one of the books this list to learn from the best! If these…
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6 Books That Bring Hope to Life
Books can bring comfort, happiness, and most important: hope. Let these books fill you with inspirational stories of perseverance, hope, and innovation. Following the collapse of Ireland’s Celtic Tiger economy, social activist Ruairí McKiernan questions whether he should join the mounting number of emigrants searching for greater opportunity elsewhere. McKiernan embarks on a hitchhiking odyssey…
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Welcome to the Wonderful World of Koji
What if we told you there’s a world of flavor that you’ve never tasted before? There is, and it all starts with a little mold called koji! In the right hands, koji makes anything taste better, from bread to cheese to ice cream. Check out our post on growing your own koji to get started.…
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Sleep, Performance, and the 21st-Century Athlete
Sleep seems to be the thing that escapes most of us. In a society that praises long hours, we aren’t getting the rest needed for optimal physical and mental performance. Continuously practicing to be the best is an unhealthy myth that drives many athletes. Studies recently conducted are reporting that the best way improve athletic…
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Hemp Can Do That: The Forgotten History of Hemp Cultivation
The stat sheet on hemp sounds almost too good to be true: its fibers are among the planet’s strongest, its seed oil the most nutritious, and its potential as an energy source vast and untapped. Our extensive use of hemp may seem like a hot new trend, but hemp is actually inextricably intertwined with human…
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The Ultimate Guide to Sheet Mulching
Sheet mulching is a layered mulch system that nurtures the soil. You start with a biodegradable weed barrier like cardboard. From there, you build a thick, layered substrate for your garden with compost and mulch. As the materials break down, worms move in, softening the soil below, and creating a healthy, aerated planting bed where…
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A History of Electricity and Its Impact on Planetary and Human Health
The story of the invention and use of electricity has been told before, but never from an environmental point of view. An assumption of safety, and the conviction that electricity has no negative impact on life, are by now so entrenched in the human psyche that new research and testimony by those who’ve been injured…
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American Hemp Farmer: An Interview with Doug Fine
Investigative journalist, farmer, and goat herder Doug Fine has been writing about hemp for 26 years. Author of Hemp Bound and Too High to Fail, he believes that hemp can lead the way toward a new, regenerative economy. In this interview with Chelsea Green, Fine gives us the straight dope on one of the world’s…
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Bacteria: The Unsung Heroes of Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene equals a squeaky clean mouth, free of all bacteria, right? Wrong! Our mouths are actually at their healthiest when we have a thriving population of good bacteria. So ease up on those microbes, they get a bad rap! The following is an excerpt from It’s All in Your Mouth by Dominik Nischwitz.…
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Autoimmune Diets: Six Principles to Follow When Starting
Inspired by a combination of his work treating patients with autoimmune disease and working in his garden, Dr. Cowan has developed six principles to help patients create healthy, natural autoimmune diets. He emphasizes the importance of sourcing quality food from your immediate environment and consuming the correct macronutrients. The following excerpt is from Vaccines, Autoimmunity,…
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Change Ourselves, Change the World
Lisa Fithian has shut down the CIA. She has disrupted the World Trade Organization and camped in a ditch with Gold Star mom and protester of the Iraq War, Cindy Sheehan. She has stood her ground in Tahrir Square, occupied Wall Street, marched in the streets of Ferguson, and walked in solidarity with tribal leaders…
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Malt Your Own Grain at Home: Brewing from Scratch
Do you think making a 100%-from-scratch beer is near-to-impossible? We’re here to tell you, it’s not! With just a few ingredients and a little patience, you can malt your own grain at home and get started on a brewing a batch of beer completely from scratch! The following excerpt is from Brew Beer Like a…
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The Spirit of Hitching
Gone are the days where you can stick out your thumb to catch a carefree ride. For a long time though, hitchhiking was considered normal and even reasonably safe. Even more, it gave people a chance to connect with strangers, share stories, and spend a bit of time in someone else’s shoes. While the days…
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Why Cows are the Premier Dairy Choice
Let’s be honest… cows (should) rule the world. Well, at least the dairy world. While many grazing animals have been milked throughout the course of history (reindeer and horses included), none have been more valued than the cow – a producer of wealth and nourishment and stability. The following excerpt is from Keeping a Family…
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Learning to Love Insects
With spring in full swing, bugs are making a reappearance in our gardens and in our lives. Before you reach for the fly swatter, consider this: While they inspire fear in many of us, bugs also play an important role in the ecosystem. So let’s learn to live with bugs, not in fear of them!…
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Homesteading: Highlighting Our Need For Each Other
Homesteading isn’t meant to be a solitary adventure, done in isolation. Building and living on your land takes at least one partner, if not several. That’s why homesteaders have come to rely not just on their specialized skills, but on the skills of their neighbors, family, friends, and other homesteaders as well. It doesn’t make…
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A Gold Rush: The Rise of CBD
Cannabidiol – CBD – has become the new favorite natural wellness supplement for many ailments. It’s become near-impossible to find a product that hasn’t been infused with CBD, the non-hallucinogenic compound extracted from the hemp plant. Drinks, pet chews, smoothies, gummies — you name it, the exploding CBD industry has you covered. While many farmers are…
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Save Your Soil the Power of Pee
It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get down into the dirt – but you may want to grab a bucket, especially first thing in the morning. Nutrient loss in our soil is an ongoing issue for some gardeners, but you may find help in an unexpected—liquid—form. The following is an excerpt from The…
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