Living Naturally
You open a bag of whole wheat flour, a box of cereal, or a bag of dog food only to find little worms, moths, or even some webs. Ew! Here’s how to get rid of these pantry pests, such as pantry moths or worms.What Are Pantry Moths?You’ve just encountered the Indian meal moth, perhaps the most common among the “pantry pests.” These moths can infest bags or boxes of flour, grains,…
Everyone has heard of turmeric as a cooking spice. But this powerful herb is also worth keeping on hand for its plethora of health benefits—especially inflammation (which affects so many parts of our body!). Turmeric can be grown and harvested in most climates. Learn more, plus I’ll share a turmeric drink recipe to give your body a boost.What is Turmeric?Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is in…
We’ve been after the Great Pumpkin since we watched that fantastic Halloween special! Wondering how to grow a huge pumpkin? Start early! Choose the right seeds, prepare a spacious patch, and give your plant plenty of sunshine, water, and attention. See our tips and tricks for growing a big(ger) pumpkin at home.Choose a Giant Pumpkin VarietyWhat’s the secret to such a massive harvest? It…
Got dry skin? Turn herbs into a healing salve. Herbal salves have been used for centuries as the premier household first aid for chapped skin, scrapes, and more. While the word “salve” may sound fancy, it refers to a two-ingredient ointment that takes 30 minutes to make, start to finish. Learn how!A salve is simply an oil (olive oil, almond oil) infused with herbs and combined with wax…
What’s that smell? There are many ways to mask bad odors in your home, but how do you truly eliminate them? Here’s how to get rid of bad household smells once and for all!Why Can We Smell?Neuroscientists say humans can distinguish 10,000 scents, though we don’t have names for many of them.Our sense of smell—the olfactory sense—brings depth and emotional richness…
If you burn firewood, you have wood ashes. Don’t throw them out! There are many surprising ways to use ashes around the home and garden. Here are five practical ideas.Each cord of firewood you burn will leave you with about 20 pounds of ashes or more, depending on your fuel source, heating appliance, and wood-burning skill.Instead of putting them out with the trash, use your…
You know what they say—an apple a day keeps the doctor away! And we’re here to tell you that there may be some truth to that. Here are some of the numerous health benefits of apples as well as some of their other interesting uses!At our farm, we don’t grow tree fruit, but we do buy and enjoy many local apples from late September through the winter months. In seasons when the Baldwins or…
Summer’s extreme heat may take the starch right out of you. But it’s the time of year to reach for one of the common cooking starches—cornstarch, arrowroot, tapioca, or potato starch—to thicken your berry pies, crisps and cobblers, vegetable stir-fries, and other foods. Why might you choose to use one kind of starch over the other?What Is a Starch?Just a few teaspoons of any cooking…
What are haiku poems? The traditional structure of the classical Japanese poetic form known as haiku includes a personal observation, a concrete seasonal reference, a pivot word or turning point that introduces an insight/shock of awareness, and all in only three lines of text totaling 17 syllables.I try to write a haiku poem every day. I recommend it! I call my poems…
Fall is a wonderful time to forage for wild fruits, nuts, roots, and greens. Depending on where you live, autumn may bring crab apples, rose hips, sumac, black walnuts, burdock roots, dandelion greens, and even late-season berries. Come along on an October foraging walk through my little patch of northern New England and see what Nature’s Pantry has to offer!What is Foraging?Foraging…
Our modern potato came from southern Peru, domesticated there 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. Humble, homely, and earthy, the potato has traveled around the world, exerting an extraordinary influence on global civilizations for centuries. Potatoes are productive and easy to grow. They keep for a long time without processing and fit into any meal plan. Serve them for breakfast (hash browns),…
Marshmallow is truly versatile as a gorgeous flowering perennial, an herb with a variety of medicinal uses, and a sweet treat. Learn more about growing marshmallows in the garden, as well as how to make a healing tea and real good-for-you marshmallows.What are Marshmallow Plants?I love growing marshmallows in our orchard along a fence row where she has her own space to grow and expand.…