I am a huge fan of elderberries, and not just because they are a natural plant here in the Pacific Northwest! They have such wonderful medicinal value and are probably the best-tasting medicinal herb — aside from maybe peppermint. These berries can be made into various products, including tea, tinct...

Ice cream floats are the quintessential American summertime treat, perfect for anyone looking to cool down or satisfy their sweet tooth. Here on the farm, everyone loves ice cream, and what better way than to make memories with ice cream floats as a family, from trying out new flavor combinations to...

Italian soda has had a special place in my heart since I was a teen! I worked at a pizza restaurant in high school and ran the espresso bar. When customers came in, I would make Italian sodas for them. 

As much as I loved making these sodas — and of course, drinking them too — a typical Italian ...

Simple syrups can be used in so many different ways! You can mix them into cocktails and Italian sodas, drizzle them on desserts, or mix them into salad dressings. Making your own simple syrups is a must-have skill in any homestead and herbalist kitchen. 

Some of our favorite ways to use simple ...

Growing up, my room was filled with all sorts of crafts, usually involving paper of any and every kind. I had glue, glitter, paints, colored pencils, fancy scissors that cut all sorts of shapes, and rubber stamps galore. Hello 80s! 

While all of those things are fun tools for a crafty person to ...

Summer is definitely a time for ice-cold drinks. I grew up drinking Lipton’s sun tea all summer long! Nowadays, I still love a good sun tea but made with higher quality loose-leaf tea instead of tea bags. There are so many wonderful cold drink options for summertime, including Starbucks teas and cof...

Our hoop house greenhouse is one of my favorite places to go when it is cold and wet out in the Pacific North West. It is a peaceful little oasis where I can garden while listening to the rain, and best of all… where I can grow food for my family without getting too soaked.

We have had our origi...

If you have clay soil on your property, you are likely no stranger to the fact that it turns into a rock in the summer. This type of soil is difficult to work in, doesn’t take water very easily, and will either flood until it’s muddy or just not get enough water to the plants. 

Thankfully, raise...

Rice Krispie Treats were my favorite thing growing up. They were a must-have in the summer at every family gathering, reunion, or potluck, and they were probably the first things gone from the table too. But when I later discovered that I had a sugar allergy (and had a near-death reaction to corn sy...

Roses are not only beautiful, but also useful in so many ways. Today, I will share a few recipes using rose petals, along with some new ideas for bringing the garden into your home.

Roses are among my favorite flowers to grow in the garden, especially the kind that smells like raspberries! I pre...

How many of you are growing a garden this year? Are you growing medicinal flowers?

We started ours with basic things that could be eaten. It was a way to help cut down on food costs and to know the story of where our food was coming from. Knowing which growing methods were used, where the seeds ...

I’ve always been an advocate of taking care of our own health as much as possible in a non-emergency situation (when there’s no extreme bleeding, you don’t have a broken bone, etc.). With too many personal experiences of doctors letting me down or prescribing me something that didn’t solve the root ...