It’s not every day a marshmallow has a backstory, but this one starts with Lent, seaweed, and learning to cook from scratch.

Years ago, we went vegan for health reasons, and thought Lent was a great time to do that. What started as a Lenten fast turned into four years of plant-based living. During ...

I will be the first to admit it. I used to have a love-hate relationship with baking soda scrubs. On one hand, I appreciate a non-toxic home. On the other hand, I grew tired of chasing the chalky film that often followed my cleaning. Once I understood the simple chemistry at play and the fallacy beh...

Last summer, while driving across the country, we stopped at Lehman's Hardware. If you’ve ever been there, you know exactly what it does to you. As a homesteader, you feel right at home. And then there’s the soda wall. Hundreds of bottles in all shapes, colors, and labels. It pulled at something ...

Every once in a while, a question starts showing up again and again in our inbox.

Recently, several readers wrote after reading a book titled The Biblio Diet, asking about what the authors call “the healing leaves.” The question usually sounds something like this:

Can I make tea from the leaves...

When we flew to Bulgaria to adopt our oldest daughter, rose oil was everywhere. Bulgaria is well known for its rose production, and that reputation was impossible to miss, even in the international airport. The scent filled gift shops, hallways, and luggage, so strong that it drowned out nearly ever...

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...

Here’s something about that first bite of ice cream on a warm day that sends you right back to childhood—sticky fingers, barefoot grass, and the hum of bees nearby. Whether it’s high summer or one of those lingering sunny days of early fall, a cool treat made with real ingredients feels just right. ...

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 ...

Boba, also known as ‘bubble tea,’ is a really popular, trendy drink. And while boba sure is delicious, it also has a bunch of sugar, corn syrup, and junk hidden inside of it. Did you know you can easily make your own boba at home? It’s not only more affordable when you do, but it also means you get ...

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 ...