Articles: Local

fall picnic

Foraging Up A Fall Picnic: Wild & Fresh Recipes for Fall

You just laid out your blanket & the leaves are turning colors. The only thing that could make your fall picnic even better is if you foraged for the ingredients yourself.

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crab apples

The Surprisingly Sweet Secret of Crab Apples

Crab Apples are easy to find, simple to store, and incredibly flavorful. Keep reading to learn more about the unsung heroes of the apple family. 

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compost

Composting as if it Mattered

Composting is more than a way to minimize waste and a garden supplement. It is a method, when practiced and perfected, can supply all the needs of your crops and soil.

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Compost

A Guide to Great Compost From Eliot Coleman

Compost is the key to an abundant garden. Learn the basics of making compost from gardening expert Eliot Coleman, and enjoy the joy of growing your own food.

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sprouts

Perennial Veggies: The Benefits of Perennial Vegetables

Think about how much work your perennial flower beds take compared to your annual vegetable garden. In a busy year, your perennial garden largely sails through despite…

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honey jar

How to Brew Mead at Home: Ginger-Apricot Mead Recipe

When Jereme was in North Carolina for the 2016 Mother Earth News Fair in Asheville, he picked up a local honey made from summer wildflowers. Why? He…

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The Hunt for Wild Huckleberries and Buckwheat Huckleberry Buckle Cake

Huckleberries are a true prize for fruit foragers. Describing them as “intense, juicy, and addictive,” author Sara Bir has the lowdown on where and how to harvest…

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farm the woods

Farm the Woods: Grow Food and Medicinals in Forests

Contrary to popular belief, forestry and farming are NOT mutually exclusive. Growing food, medicinals, and other non-timber products like mushrooms and ginseng in the woods helps increase self-sufficiency and allows…

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raspberry and blueberry soda

Raspberry and Blueberry Soda: Brewing Up Some Bubbles

One of the best ways to begin brewing is by dipping your toes in the bubbling waters of homemade soda. This recipe for Mountain Raspberry and Blueberry…

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raspberry yogurt

Simple, Greek-Style Yogurt

Looking for a simply & healthy snack to make this spring? These tips will help you whip up a delicious Greek-style yogurt with ease. The following excerpt…

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OSGlead

Choosing the Right Seed Crop: The Seed Series

How do you know if you’re picking the right seeds? Here are some easy tips on choosing the best seed crop for your environment. The following is…

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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…

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tomatoes growing

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…

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Author Ben Falk

Perennial Power: Why You Need Perennials in Your Garden

Keeping up with a garden can be a lot of work; luckily, there’s a secret weapon that will take away some of your stress. Perennials are the…

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Tired of Turkey? Four Ways to Spice Up Thanksgiving Dinner

Want to spice things up for this year’s holiday feast? We’ve got you covered! From a delectable pork tenderloin to Spicebush Goose, these recipes are sure to…

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building your own greenhouse

9 Things to Consider When Building Your Own Greenhouse

Daydreaming of extending your growing season and building your own greenhouse? After considering the following factors and making a few additional preparations, you’ll be all set to…

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goats

Goats Gone Wild: The World’s First Farm Animal

Looking for advice on maintaining a happy herd? These tips will help you care for your goats in ways that will keep them healthy, safe, and productive.…

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In Search of Wild Yeast: Using Foraged Yeast to Create Your Own Brews

Since the dawn of humanity, people have enjoyed a deep relationship with yeasts. You may not realize it, but yeast spores are present everywhere. They’re in the air…

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Farming for the Long Haul: It Takes a Village

It’s almost impossible to achieve farming for the long haul without a group of caretakers behind the scenes, making sure everyone’s needs are met. For hundreds of…

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purslane

The Promise of Purslane & Salt-Pickled Recipe

Are you quick to grab a shovel at the mere mention of purslane for fear it will overrun your garden? If you nodded your head “yes,” might…

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Bread Kvass

Homemade Kvass: Ancient Fermentation

Looking to add another recipe to your fermenting repertoire? Try your hand at Kvass. Bonus: it is the perfect entry-level project.   Kvass is an ancient and beloved…

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Elderflowers and Elderberries

We should just change the name of summer to elderberry season. It’s the perfect time to pick these berries (which aren’t actually berries) and make delicious jams,…

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RedRaspberries

The Ins and Outs of Growing Raspberries: Bramble On

Fresh, ripe raspberries picked straight from the garden in the morning. What could be a better start to your day? According to Michael Phillips, author of The…

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elderberries

Relax and Refresh with Country Elderberry Wine

There’s really nothing better than sitting down after a long day with a glass of wine and the sun setting in the distance. Unless of course you…

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A jar of maple syrup and a wooden spoon on a table

How-To Turn Sap and Syrup into Beer, Wine, and Liquor

As much as we love to drizzle (or drown, let’s be honest) our pancakes in maple syrup, you may be surprised to learn that a variety of…

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