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.
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.) The Importance of Soil Health Our lives depend on…
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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
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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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: 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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How to Preserve Seasonings: Herbs Today, Preserves Tomorrow
What do you do when you have bunches of herbs reaching maturity at the same time? Preserve them! Preserving herbs for seasonings involves traditional techniques that use salt, oil, sugar, alcohol, vinegar, and a few other simple ingredients. The following is an excerpt from Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning. It has been adapted…
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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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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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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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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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Garden Planning: The Most Promising Veggies
Getting ready to do some garden planning? Here are some of the most promising veggies that Eliot Coleman suggests to start with! The following is an excerpt from The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman. It has been adapted for the web. A Guide to Garden Planning When I began farming full-time on my own…
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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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How to Plan the Best Garden Ever
When you plan out how you want your garden to look and operate, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success. Here are some helpful tips on how to plan the best garden this upcoming growing season! The following excerpt is from The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times by Carol Deppe. It has been…
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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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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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Making the Best Sauerkraut on Earth in Four Simple Steps: Chop, Salt, Pack, Wait
Make your own delicious, healthy, probiotic sauerkraut! Four easy steps are all you need to turn fresh garden veggies into a long-lasting, tangy, pungent condiment. The following excerpt is from The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz. It has been adapted for the web. 4 Simple Steps to Making Sauerkraut The English language does…
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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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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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DIY Seed Bank: The Seed Series
A do-it-yourself seed bank is simply your own frozen stash of seeds set aside for long-term storage. The best seed banks are located in your own home or neighborhood and contain vigorous, regionally adapted varieties of the crops you already know how to grow and use. The following is an excerpt from The Tao of Vegetable…
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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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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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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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8 Seed Saving Myths
There is a lot of misinformation out there about how to save your seeds. Luckily, we’re here to bust the most popular myths and answer all your questions about seed saving! The following is an excerpt from The Tao of Vegetable Gardening by Carol Deppe. It has been adapted for the web. Myth #1: You…
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Maple Syrup 101: Spouts, Tapping, and Trees
Everything’s better with maple syrup. So what better way to solidify your love for all things maple than to learn how to make it yourself? If you have a couple of trees nearby, we have all the advice you need from spout to syrup! The following is an excerpt from The Sugarmaker’s Companion by Michael…
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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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