There’s something special about preparing for Christmas in a way that’s both simple and steeped in tradition. Advent has always been my favorite time of year — a time to prepare our hearts and homes for the coming of the Savior. And when Christmas finally arrives, there’s nothing that warms my he...

Around the farm, hot cocoa is more than just a sweet treat—it's a warm hug in a mug. It starts our slow winter mornings, warms us after feeding the animals, and makes the perfect evening treat around the fire. But if you were raised on those little packets of powdered mix and chalky marshmallows,...

There’s something wonderful about walking into a home that smells like Christmas. The first time I ever made a simmer pot was when I was a young mom, just learning how to cook from scratch. A pot of orange peels and cinnamon sticks gently simmering on the stove became part of that journey—a humb...

The first time I made my own lip balm, I felt like I’d uncovered one of homemaking’s best-kept secrets: it’s easy, it’s fun, and it actually works. Lip balm was one of my very first herbal DIY projects—partly because I was already using so much of it! Once I learned what was actually in those li...

Warm up the holiday season with this Spiced Cranberry Orange Wassail recipe, a cozy and alcohol-free twist on a traditional Christmas punch that’s full of festive flavor and symbolic meaning. When I think of wassail, I always think of the Feast of Saint Nicholas on December 6th. When I convert...

Discover how to make an herbal hawthorn berry tea recipe, explore heart-supportive benefits, and craft a homemade tincture with this wintery, homegrown herbal guide rooted in slow living. When winter comes, the leaves are gone and hawthorn looks bare except for its poky branches and those brig...

On the farm, our go-to is usually a wild cherry bark syrup I keep on hand for the colder months. But let’s be honest—there are times when the kids are coughing, and I realize I haven’t brewed a fresh batch yet. That’s when I head to the kitchen and grab what’s already there: honey, garlic, onion,...

Elderberries grow all over where we are, at the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range. My grandfather used to tell me that when they first moved here, they would go up and down the country roads collecting elderberries.    I firmly believe that our Creator left us all sorts of useful plants t...

I don’t even want to think about flu season, but here we are in September, and if some sort of illness hasn’t hit everyone yet, it's a matter of when, not if. The most important thing to remember is that being ready for flu season is half of the battle. Making sure your immune system has everythi...

There’s something comforting about keeping jars of herbs in your kitchen cupboard. You don’t need a whole shelf full of them to get started. Just a few well-chosen staples can go a long way. In fact, my very first step into herbalism started with a packet of calendula seeds. I didn’t know much a...