Living Naturally
Why use homemade deodorant, shaving cream, aftershave, and toner? They’re simple to make, better for your skin than harsh chemicals, and accessible from your pantry in a pinch! See our simple recipes using natural pantry ingredients.Most DIY body care articles seem to aim exclusively at women. But both men and women may have similar concerns about the products they use on their…
There’s no shortage of magazine articles about avoiding the 10-pound winter weight gain, but why do we really put on pounds in the winter? Plus, here are 10 sensible tips to avoid too much weight.Why do we put on pounds during the winter, anyway?One theory is it’s in our genes. As the days shortened and the weather got cooler, our earliest ancestors’ hormone balance changed,…
For decades, we’ve slung slogans such as “Eat local” and “Buy local.” This past year, many us did stay local, aka near home (often because we had to). And we went outside: for respite, companionship, and exercise! We also connected with nature in new ways, from the garden beds below to the stars above. Why stop now? Let’s talk about all the ways we did—and can continue to—live locally and…
Napping gets a bad rap, but it’s not a mark of the lazy! According to science, napping is good for you (to a point). So grab a blanket and a hot cup of tea and get comfortable!No Napping?I’d always considered daytime napping a slothful time-waster. I also remember reading popular articles that pronounced that daytime napping would reduce the quality of nighttime…
Perhaps you’ve been eyeing beautiful vegetables all summer long at farm stands. Maybe you have a patch of lawn or weeds in a sunny backyard. Fall is a great time to start a new garden area for spring—without having to dig up the grass. So, if you’ve started thinking, “Hey, what about that garden next spring?,” here is some advice!
If you’ve long dreamed about having a small food…
One day early last spring, I counted the ingredients of my shampoos. Each contained at least 20 ingredients—many of them unpronounceable—and three or four of them had suspected toxins. Two contained fragrances that made me sneeze. On that day, I decided to try an easy two-ingredient homemade shampoo that I’d read about for years but that had always seemed too hokey. I’ve never looked back.…
Seemingly out of nowhere, yellow jackets come at you and strike at blazing speed. Their venom hurts like the devil. Do yellow jackets die after they sting? How do you treat their stings? What do you do if there’s a nest in the yard or garden? Let’s take the sting out of fall by learning about yellow jackets!In late summer and fall, untamed places abound with gorgeous displays of late…
Yes, carrots are good for eye health—and offer even more health benefits than the Vitamin A! Plus, carrots are inexpensive, always available, and easy to grow. Here are some of the ways that carrots are good for you.Carrots Are a Healthy FoodThey’re nutritious. A single carrot, raw or cooked, will provide more than a day’s worth of Vitamin A.Carrots…
With all the ups and downs that happened during COVID this past year, it’s undeniably been an eye-opening and reflective period for all of us. Looking back, I realize how much our world shifted dramatically, both physically and psychologically, some of it perhaps permanently. As I live on a rural farm, we lived much the way we always do: planting a supersized garden, harvesting,…
Aloe vera is truly amazing. Since ancient times, the gel from the leaves of aloe plants has been used for healing skin and as a folk remedy for many skin problems. Learn more about this houseplant that does double duty as a self-regenerating first-aid kit.Among the easiest-to-grow houseplants, aloe vera will decorate a kitchen shelf with quiet grace while also providing…
I have five pieces of cast-iron cookware: two frying pans, a flat skillet, a biscuit pan, and a popover pan. I love looking at them and cooking with them. What’s not to love? But for all the newbies, here are some benefits of cast iron cooking.
Cast-iron bears the heft and weight of history (and feels like it, too). The Chinese developed cast-iron foundries 2500 years ago, and…
Most of us know folks who intentionally and constantly crack their knuckles (necks, backs, wrists, etc.). Ever wondered some folks crack their joints more than others, if it’s helpful or harmful, and how to avoid popping those joints? Let’s get cracking on some answers … Is Cracking Your Joints Bad For You?Let’s get the main question out of the way…