Living Naturally
October 8, 2020
Fire cider is a traditional folk recipe made with herbs stewed in apple cider vinegar. It’s a potent tonic that’s been used generations as a remedy to ward off sickness and boost health. See how to make fire cider!
What Is Fire Cider?
Fire cider. The very name sounds like something you might want to try.
Essentially, this traditional tonic calls for grated fresh horseradish, ginger, garlic, onions, and hot pepper in apple cider vinegar for 3 to 4 weeks, then finishing with honey to balance the... more
October 4, 2020
Since many of us live by the clock today, it’s easy to forget that we live in a world of natural seasons and seasonal change. What if we were more in tune with the age-old rhythms of the seasons? There’s much research that shows we would live a healthier, happier, and more productive life. Here are tips on how to live seasonally—and make the most of each season.
Every main season in a four-season climate contains many micro-seasons of varying length. They arise and die continuously throughout... more
October 2, 2020
If you haven’t eaten cabbage in a while, we urge you to look again at this healthy, unsung hero of the vegetable world. Want beautiful skin, to lose weight, a great immune system? See five great reasons to eat (and grow) cabbage!
Before we had the little greenhouse that enables us to grow salad and cooking greens all winter, we grew between 50 and 100 green and red cabbages each year—and ate them all. I loved looking at them as they grew like giant flowers in the garden, then as they rested... more
September 28, 2020
Water-bath canning—also called “boiling water bath”—is the easier method of canning that lets you store homemade jars of jam, pickles, and tomato sauce. By processing jars in boiling water at the end of the recipe, you lock in the fresh flavor for a full year. See our Beginner’s Guide to Water-Bath Canning—now with a step-by-step video so that you can see how it’s done!
Gardens and farmers’ markets are overflowing with vegetables and fruit in summer and fall. Water-Bath Canning is a terrific,... more
September 25, 2020
Seemingly out of nowhere, yellow jackets come at you and strike at blazing speed. Their venom hurts like the devil. How do you deter yellow jackets and eliminate wasp nests? Learn all about how to avoid yellow jackets as well as prevent and treat yellow jacket stings.
In late summer and fall, untamed places abound with gorgeous displays of late goldenrod, joy-pye, and fall asters, but some less-welcome visitors are the yellow jackets and other aggressive wasps.
Unlike honeybees and bumblebees... more
September 19, 2020
Making homemade applesauce is so easy and takes just minutes—and then you can preserve your fall apples by canning your applesauce in a water bath canner for year-round deliciousness.
With homemade applesauce, you can control the texture and the amount of sugar (or, you don’t need sugar at all if you use naturally sweet apples). Then, there’s the explosive taste! There’s a really good chance you will never buy store-bought applesauce again.
Water-bath canning is also a good way to use up... more
September 8, 2020
It’s hard to think of a natural substance that serves so many everyday purposes as vinegar—from cleaning to lawn care. However, it’s also acidic, which means it’s NOT for everything and can cause damage to your health and home if you use it improperly. Here are things that you should NOT use vinegar for.
The Many Uses of Vinegar
We’re huge fans of vinegar. It’s natural and non-toxic. It’s cheap to buy. It’s versatile.
People use vinegar (Note: not always safely or effectively) to clean... more
August 31, 2020
Don’t waste those fresh garden herbs! Freezing herbs is easy; there’s no need to blanch. Or, some herbs can simply be air-dried or dried in a dehydrator. Here’s how to freeze and dry herbs—as well as which herbs are best for freezing versus drying.
What is an Herb?
I think of an “herb” as any aromatic plant used for food, seasoning, or medicine. I’m thinking Greek oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, dill, parsley, and the various mints, as well as the medicinals: yarrow (leaves and flowers),... more
August 26, 2020
If you’re a gardener or shop at farmers’ markets, you may find yourself with extra herbs, vegetables, or fruit that you can’t use right away. Why not learn how to preserve your surplus vegetables? Here are four easy ways to preserve quickly, including freezing, drying, and pickling.
Reports from seed companies and plant nurseries this spring indicated that record numbers of North Americans turned to home gardening as a way of fighting anxiety over the coronavirus, while supplementing their... more
August 25, 2020
Every rural, suburban, or urban household runs into various problems with pests and critters—or, to use the broadest possible term: nature. Mice, rats, and squirrels are the “big three” mammals. Here’s a checklist of how to deal with pests before you act.
Creatures running around inside the walls, droppings in the cupboards, tunnels in the sills or foundation beams, bats in the attic, chirping in the chimney …
Sound familiar?
Unless you’ve met and solved the problem at hand before, your first... more
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"Living Naturally" is all about living a naturally healthy lifestyle. Margaret Boyles covers health tips, ways to avoid illness, natural remedies, food that's good for body and soul, recipes for homemade beauty products, ideas to make your home a healthy and safe haven, and the latest news on health. Our goal is also to encourage self-sufficiency, whether it's relearning some age-old skills or getting informed on modern improvements that help us live better, healthier lives.
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