Living Naturally
Many flowers are not only beautiful—they’re edible, too, adding color and flavor to salads, teas, drinks, desserts, and savory dishes. From peppery nasturtiums to fragrant roses and calming chamomile, edible flowers bring both garden beauty and fresh, creative ingredients to your table.If you’re planning your garden, consider growing flowers you can eat as well as admire. These 15 easy-to…
Chickweed (Stellaria media) is a nutritious edible weed that appears in early spring. Often dismissed as a garden weed, this wild herb has been used for centuries for its health benefits, skin-soothing properties, and mineral-rich leaves.What is Chickweed?In the carnation family, chickweed (Stellaria media) is also known as starweed, starwort, winterweed, and chickenwort. This herb is…
Looking for natural cleaning products that actually work? Many common household ingredients—like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice—can replace expensive chemical cleaners. These six versatile natural cleaners can tackle everything from dirty sinks and stained laundry to deodorizing carpets and cleaning windows.I started using these products many years ago—mostly because so many…
Invasive plants are non-native species that spread aggressively and cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. While not all introduced plants become invasive, some grow rapidly without natural predators or diseases to keep them in check. Over time, these species can crowd out native plants, reduce biodiversity, and alter entire ecosystems.Many invasive plants were originally…
Like dandelions, cleavers (Galium aparine) pop up in early spring—often unnoticed, yet incredibly useful. This sticky, climbing “weed” may cling to your clothes like Velcro, but it has long been valued in traditional herbalism for its gentle cleansing and lymphatic-supporting properties. Also known as goosegrass or bedstraw, cleavers grows along garden edges, trails, and hedgerows, thriving in…
Spring has sprung, and with it, the delicate purple blooms of wild violets! These common blue violets aren’t just a beautiful sign of the season—they’re edible, medicinal, and perfect for your garden or kitchen. From soothing teas and herbal oils to sweet violet-infused honey, this unassuming flower can support your immune system and respiratory health and even add a pop of color to salads or…
Ah-choo! Spring allergies hit hard when the trees and plants release their pollen. Find out if your symptoms are from seasonal allergies and discover a few natural home remedies to find relief—fast!When Is Allergy Season?In this article, we’re discussing seasonal allergies that occur during the spring, when trees, grasses, and weeds pollinate. (See a separate article focused on fall…
One of the first “weeds” to appear in early spring is stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)—and despite its painful sting, this wild plant is incredibly useful. Found along trails, in gardens, and even tucked into forgotten corners of the yard, nettles have been valued for centuries for their culinary, medicinal, and gardening benefits.What Is Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)?The stinging nettle is…
While it’s a challenge to truly allergy-proof your home, there are certainly practical cleaning tips to reduce allergies if you address allergen traps. Here’s helpful advice.Allergen Traps in the HomeSeveral factors have long established our home as a major allergen trap:A dirt driveway, a wood-heated house (sawdust, smoke, ashes) that opens directly into a small solar…
As we come indoors and go out, the dry winter air causes static hair, parched skin, and—especially—cracked lips. It’s easy and inexpensive to make your own moisturizing lip balm from natural ingredientsWhy Homemade Lip Balm WorksYou need only two ingredients for the most basic product: a little beeswax and a good-quality oil.The oil and wax seal in moisture, and the beeswax…
Ever heard the old advice that wearing socks can help you fall asleep? Now, there is evidence that there is some truth to this advice. Warm feet lead to better (and faster) sleep!Many Americans need all the help available to get a good night’s sleep. One Consumer Reports study found that 68 percent of us had sleeping difficulties at least once a week, and an estimated 27 percent of…
Most plain fruits and vegetables are nutrient-dense. But on my long walk today, I started thinking about the variety of other “health foods” rarely described as such. By the time I got home, I’d come up with a list of five. (Okay, I admit: One’s a vegetable.) Add these nutrient-rich foods to your shopping cart next time. What Makes a Food “Healthy”?There’s no standard…