Violet leaf is one of those plants that’s easy to overlook because it grows so commonly and without much attention. While the flowers tend to draw the eye, it’s the leaves that have traditionally been used for external herbal preparations meant to calm and support the skin. In the rhythm of a slow-l...

Rhubarb is one of the first truly fresh foods to appear after winter. Long before berries or tender greens are ready, their bright stalks push up through cold soil, offering a sharp, clean flavor that feels well-suited to the season.

Rhubarb isn't just for pie! Its natural tartness and bright flavo...

I don’t usually think about decorating for Easter until Holy Saturday. The weeks leading up to Easter are kept fairly simple in our home, and we try to let that quietness remain until the day actually arrives.

When Easter does come, we celebrate it slowly. Rather than marking it for a single day, w...

Down on our farm, spring gatherings tend to revolve around the table more than the calendar. Easter, Mother’s Day, and early garden days all seem to call for food that feels a little more complete without becoming complicated. I usually find myself in the kitchen with a mixing bowl and some fresh he...

Red clover was one of the first herbs I ever blended with, long before herbalism became part of my everyday homemaking. It showed up in an early women’s tea I created, and later, when we moved to our farm, I began noticing it growing all over the property each spring. Once you recognize red clover, ...

By early February, spring simmer pots start to come out in our house.

Winter has usually overstayed its welcome by then. The house is beginning to feel stagnant, and everyone is experiencing some level of cabin fever. Here in rainy northwest Oregon, people often spend more time indoors than outdoor...

I still remember spotting wintergreen for the first time—not in the forest like you might expect, but tucked neatly into a local landscaping display in town. It was one of those crisp winter days, and the little shrub with its glossy leaves and bright red berries just popped against the dry browns o...

If you’ve ever stood over a pot of soup and wondered why the recipe calls for one lonely leaf that you’ll fish out later, you’re in the right place. That simple dried bay leaf, the one that often gets overlooked, isn’t just filler in your spice cupboard. It’s part of a tradition that stretches back ...

When it’s cold outside and you’re craving something hearty but also wholesome, this herbal beef stew hits the spot. Whether you're short on time or planning ahead, it delivers rich, slow-simmered flavor with the power of herbs—no bland, boring stew here.

When I make stew, the first things I reach f...

Some herbs slip quietly into our lives, but marshmallow root arrives like a soft blanket—calming, comforting, and quietly powerful.

Marshmallow root came into my life when I was researching herbs that support the digestive system. Most herbs are drying or astringent, but marshmallow was different. ...

Every year, I barter a gift basket for our Christmas tree. It’s one of my very favorite traditions — not just because of the tree, but because I get to gather goodies, thrift for a creative container, and doll it up to look festive. Some baskets I make are for individuals — a teacher, a friend, or e...

It seems I am always missing one person right near Christmas. Maybe the gift did not arrive on time. Maybe there is a last-minute invitation, and I suddenly need a hostess gift. Or maybe I simply forgot someone in the busyness of December.

What is a homesteader to do?

Dive into the pantry, of cour...