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 outd...

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 brown...

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 ba...

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 reac...

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 differen...

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, o...

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 c...

There’s something about a plate of buttery shortbread and a hot cup of tea that feels like slowing down at the farmhouse table. Around the holidays, it becomes even more special. I started experimenting with tea in shortbread a over a decade ago, and now these cookies have become a tradition fo...

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,...