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...

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...

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...

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, yo...

When my dear friend Michele over at Chocolate Box Cottage gifted me Sweet Remedies: Healing Herbal Honeys by Dawn Combs, I wasn’t expecting it to change how I saw honey. Around here, honey is as common as a jar of jam on the counter, but until then, I’d mostly used it to sweeten tea or drizzle over ...

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 converted ...

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...