Ever find yourself reaching for chili powder only to realize you're out again? Same here. And if you're anything like me, buying the good stuff can get pricey fast. So I decided to try my hand at making my own. It’s not the classic bright red kind I usually go for, but the flavor and aroma are amazing. Earthy, rich, and full of character. I used pasilla chilies, but ...
HOME & HOMESTEAD
How to Identify Dandelion and Why It Matters
For the past couple of years, I’ve been quietly watching the plants around my yard, trying to learn who's growing where and what they're trying to tell me. There’s one plant in particular that kept catching my eye: the humble dandelion. I’ve always been drawn to it. Something about those sunny little flowers showing up in the middle of a rough patch of lawn or sneaking into ...
Homemade Chili for the Shelf and Other Ways to Use Dehydrated Beans
One of the best things about beans is that it is a completely perfect food to convert into convenience food! Don't believe me? Well, why not dehydrate some beans and I'll show you how you can have home-cooked convenience foods Burritosside dishin chilienchilida as a side dish in chili enchilada casserole There's nothing like opening up the cupboard an hour ...
How to Freeze Green Beans at Home (Easy Step-by-Step Guide)
Today I had a small batch of green beans to get into the freezer, and I thought of you. Maybe you’ve got a couple extra pounds of green beans sitting around, and you don’t want them to go to waste either. I really love having frozen veggies on hand. They’re perfect when I need to pull a meal together fast, especially since I don’t always plan ahead. Between 4 and 5 pm, I’m ...
How to Harvest Radish Seeds from Your Garden
Every spring, I somehow manage to forget to pull a few radishes in time. Instead of crisp little roots, I end up with thick stalks and woody radishes that are way past their prime. For years, I didn’t know what to do with them besides toss them into the compost pile or into the green waste bin the city provides. But this year, I got smart. From Woody Radishes to Seed ...
How to Flash Freeze at Home to Save Time, Money, and Your Harvest
I absolutely love freezing food. It’s one of the easiest ways to preserve the harvest and cut down on meal prep time. I’m super thankful to have both an upright freezer and the bottom freezer on my fridge, and I keep them well stocked year-round. That way, there’s always something ready to toss into a soup, blend into a smoothie, or bake into a pie. Most of the time, I stick ...
Harvesting Seeds from Your Garden and How to Harvest Coriander
I love sustainable ideas. I'm always trying to figure out ways to use every bit of something or find new uses for old things so that we can do that much more to stretch our dollars, limit waste, and do my part to keep things out of the landfill. I don’t always succeed, and sometimes I am downright lazy about it, but I really love it when things come together and I can find one ...
Herbal Cold and Flu Support for the Whole Family
It’s that time of year again. Someone’s coughing, someone else is sniffling, and suddenly the whole house smells like garlic and eucalyptus. Cold and flu season is here, but with a little herbal know-how, you can ease symptoms, support recovery, and maybe even stay ahead of the worst of it. These are the remedies I keep stocked and how we use them when sickness makes its ...
10 Useful Gardening Gifts That Are Budget-Friendly
Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, a seed swap, or a just-because gift for your favorite garden buddy, February is a fun time to share a little green-thumb love. And while there are plenty of cute gadgets out there, I always appreciate useful gardening gifts that are practical. Useful gardening gifts don’t have to be flashy or expensive. Some of the most appreciated gifts are the ...
Planning a Pollinator Garden: Plants and Layout Ideas for Beginners
If you want to bring more bees, butterflies, and beauty to your garden this year, planting with pollinators in mind is one of the simplest and most rewarding changes you can make. Even a small section of your yard or a few pots on a patio can help support local pollinator populations. Pollinators don’t just make your garden look good. They help increase your vegetable ...
Herbs You Can Start Indoors Before Spring and How to Transplant Without Shock
When the garden's still frozen but you’re craving green, setting yourself up to start herbs indoors before spring is the perfect way to get your hands in the soil. It’s easy, rewarding, and gives you a jumpstart on your growing season, not to mention fresh flavor and medicine for your kitchen and apothecary. Here’s how to get going with indoor herb starts and make sure they ...
Homestead Money-Saving Hacks for Growing Food, Herbs, and Self-Reliance
Homesteading doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, one of the reasons many of us start down this path is to spend less, waste less, and live more simply. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to trim costs this year, these practical, homestead money-saving hacks will help you stretch your budget while growing more of what you need. Start With What You Have You ...