Ever wondered what kinds of survival foods you could eat if you were caught in a survival situation? When I first came to Washington, all I could see was a wall of green plants. I knew nothing about what I could and could not eat if I were to get lost in the woods. That […]
We found ourselves making these kelp energy bars so much this time last year, and thought it would be the perfect recipe to share with you. Kelp energy bars are easy to make, and the perfect snack for the colder months when your body craves more nutrient-dense foods. They also make a great holiday treat. […]
Much like an angel glowing in the light, the elk thistle (Cirsium scariosum – also known as meadow thistle) often glows in the sunlight reflected off its abundant silvery hairs and spines. We saw many of these glowing angels on a recent walkabout, crisscrossing the continental divide through the Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness of Montana. As is […]
Herbal Vinegars: Aromatic Delights from your Garden A pantry full of herbal vinegars is a constant delight. Preserving fresh herbs and roots in vinegar is an easy way to capture their nourishing goodness. It’s easy too. You don’t even have to have an herb garden. BASIC HERBAL VINEGAR Takes 5 minutes plus 6 weeks to […]
Why do I love dandelions so much? You know, I could write a book on that. For now, let’s just say dandelions are another one of those amazingly delicious and nutritious herbs. Dandelion is the plant that inspired me to study herbal medicine. So it MUST be an incredible herb! “If you want to take […]
It’s that time of year again: The time when I dream of eating a hearty bowl of venison-chanterelle stew. And while we’re at it, let’s add some homemade bread and a mug of dandelion tea. Now, this isn’t a stew that came from a can or one of those soymilk-looking containers. This is a stew […]
Don’t kill, spray, tear up, or destroy the weeds in your garden, yard, and fence rows. Many of them are actually highly-regarded, widely-used, and extremely-valuable medicinal herbs! What could be easier than growing an herb garden with no effort? Of course, you’ll have to harvest your edible weeds, but you would do that anyhow: it’s […]
As summer nights lengthen into autumn, the forests of the Catskill mountains in upstate New York fill with magical, mystical, medicinal, and edible wild mushrooms. “Toadstool” is a quaint name for the many mushrooms that spring forth between rains, while “fungi” is the more technical term. Fungi are plants, but plants without flowers, or roots, […]
 Harvesting black walnuts is enjoyable and well worth the effort. Black walnuts are very nutritious and delicious! This is a messy activity, so be sure to wear old clothes, old sneakers and cover your hands with gloves, unless you want to be dye-stained for several weeks. The black walnut tree is pictured above. Here’s a […]
Fall is a wonderful time to harvest the roots from Burdock, Arctium lappa. Burdock root is extremely nutritious and a deep healer. It is a long-term immune system strengthener among many other things, which makes it a wonderful herb to use for the upcoming cold and flu season. My favorite way to use healthful herbs […]