Gretchen Kruesi

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Wild Spicy Forest Paste

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 5, 2020 / Comments Off on Wild Spicy Forest Paste

In his new book Wildcrafted Fermentation, professional forager Pascal Baudar combines his curiosity, research, and in-depth understanding of terroir to explore new and surprising uses for wild ingredients through fermentation. The following is an excerpt from the Chelsea Green Spring 2020 Seasonal Journal. It has been adapted for the web Springtime offers an abundance of delicious and…

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mesquite tree

The Power of the Mesquite Tree

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 24, 2020 / Comments Off on The Power of the Mesquite Tree

The miraculous abundance provided by the mesquite tree continues to astound us. It offers a plethora of culinary possibilities. It has the power to cure, to shelter, to elicit profound emotions, and to connect us to our environment and our neighbors in a way we may not have thought about before. The following excerpt is…

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tops of trees in a forest

Seeing the Trees for the Forest

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 21, 2020 / Comments Off on Seeing the Trees for the Forest

In the opening chapter of Trees of Power, author Akiva Silver sings the praises of tree identification. He first describes the skill as being “as useful to me as reading,” and later promises readers that in learning to discern trees by their bark, twigs, leaves, and silhouettes, “you will be able to read stories in…

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white rabbits in a pen

Why Rabbit is the New Chicken

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 17, 2020 / Comments Off on Why Rabbit is the New Chicken

Not convinced that a pasture-based rabbit production could amount to a sustainable business enterprise for the beginner to market-scale farmer? Nichki Carangelo, a third-generation Italian American, second-generation small business owner, and first-generation farmer from Waterbury, Connecticut, proves that a viable pasture-based rabbitry is not only user-friendly, it’s also profitable. In 2014, she founded Letterbox Farm…

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A child holding a wooden spoon over a cast iron pan on the stove.

How to Get Your Kids in the Kitchen

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 16, 2020 / Comments Off on How to Get Your Kids in the Kitchen

If you’re following a strict diet for health reasons, have picky eaters, or are simply looking for tips on how to get your kids involved in the cooking process, you’re going to want to settle in and read this. According to Leah Webb, author of The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Cookbook, and the mother of two children…

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Publishing in the Time of a Pandemic: On Birth and Survival

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 15, 2020 / Comments Off on Publishing in the Time of a Pandemic: On Birth and Survival

The following is by Charlotte Dennett, author of Follow the Pipelines, and originally appeared on Medium.com. It has been adapted for the web. April 2, 2020 was supposed to be a special day. Not the usual birth-day, mind you. And not the kind of day I anticipated a month ago, before a pandemic took over our lives. I…

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words in book

A Dictionary for Our Times

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 7, 2020 / Comments Off on A Dictionary for Our Times

How would you define the word “Empowered”? Before you run to the dictionary, we’re not talking about the straight definition; what we mean is, what does it mean to be empowered in today’s society. Read on for short extracts from Lean Logic that speak to these times of crisis. The following is an excerpt from…

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Planet Coronavirus: Survival, Resistance and Regeneration

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 3, 2020 / Comments Off on Planet Coronavirus: Survival, Resistance and Regeneration

“There are times in history when sudden events—natural disasters, economic collapses, pandemics like Coronavirus, wars, famines—change everything. They change politics, they change economics and they change public opinion in drastic ways. By Ronnie Cummins, author of Grassroots Rising: A Call to Action on Climate, Farming, Food, and a Green New Deal, and originally appeared on…

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produce on shelf

A Shopping List for Trying Times: How to Stock Up

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 3, 2020 / Comments Off on A Shopping List for Trying Times: How to Stock Up

There’s been a lot of talk about stocking your fridge and pantry, but what exactly does that mean? What foods store well? What foods provide the most nutritional value? How much toilet paper do you really need? In his lifetime, Matthew Stein wrote extensively about being prepared for the worst, including how to properly stock your…

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ireland landscape

Making Your Own Hope

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 1, 2020 / Comments Off on Making Your Own Hope

In uncertain times, it’s hard to maintain a sense of hope and positivity for yourself and those around you. Hope comes from within yourself, even when it seems impossible to continue on. “This current crisis is calling for the emergence of a bolder, braver and kinder humanity.” The following is an excerpt from Hitching for…

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Amino Pastes

Growing Koji in Your Own Kitchen

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 31, 2020 / Comments Off on Growing Koji in Your Own Kitchen

Koji, the microbe behind the delicious, umami flavors of soy sauce, miso, fermented bean sauce, and so many of the ingredients that underpin Japanese cuisine. After you’ve mastered growing your koji, a whole new world of culinary opportunities will be at your fingertips! To start, all you need is a baking tray, rice, koji spores,…

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The Low-Tech Medicine Cabinet

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 25, 2020 / Comments Off on The Low-Tech Medicine Cabinet

The following is an excerpt from When Disaster Strikes (November 2011) by Matthew Stein. It has been adapted for the web. This post offers practical information about herbs, alternative medicines, and self-treatment devices you may wish to stock in your personal self-healing arsenal. The herbs and alternative treatments covered could be the key elements that…

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Resilience in Challenging Times: A Message From Our Publisher

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 23, 2020 / Comments Off on Resilience in Challenging Times: A Message From Our Publisher

Dear Readers and Supporters, As you know, Chelsea Green has been at the forefront of publishing books on self-sufficiency and sustainable living for over 35 years. Given the hundreds of books we’ve published and the groundbreaking authors we’ve had the privilege to work with, we like to think we have a lot to share about…

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sheep looking out on farm

Becoming Resilient in an Ever-Changing World

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 23, 2020 / Comments Off on Becoming Resilient in an Ever-Changing World

There are times in life when we wake up and realize we no longer recognize the world around us. When life throws us such curveballs, being resilient is what determines if we sink or swim. But what is resiliency exactly, and how do we foster it?  The following is an excerpt is from The Resilient…

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Quaking aspen grove in upstate New York. Notice the thick under- growth of shrubs as well as the snags with woodpecker holes.

Poplar – The Homemaker

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 20, 2020 / Comments Off on Poplar – The Homemaker

Poplars are some of the fastest-growing trees in the world. They can tolerate the worst conditions and are heavily favored by wildlife. In places where land has been degraded or is falling apart, the poplars can rebuild. They produce tremendous amounts of biomass, feed unbelievable numbers of insects, birds, and mammals, and suck tons of…

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mushrooms

The Secret Life of Fungi

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 17, 2020 / Comments Off on The Secret Life of Fungi

Fungi have intricate lives, behaviors, and uses most people are unaware of. Mychorrizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with the root systems of other plants. The crucial, symbiotic role that fungi play in everything from healthy plants to healthy soils to a healthy planet. The following is an excerpt from Mycorrhizal Planet: How Symbiotic Fungi Work with Roots…

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Dentist chair

Staying Healthy: FAQs About Dental Care

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 12, 2020 / Comments Off on Staying Healthy: FAQs About Dental Care

Going to the dentist strikes fear in the hearts of many, but a lot of this fear stems from not knowing if we’re taking the proper care of our teeth. Dr. Dominik Nischwitz answers the most frequently asked questions regarding dental hygiene. The following is an excerpt from It’s All in Your Mouth by Dr.…

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two people looking up at the milky way

The Condition of Wondering

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 10, 2020 / Comments Off on The Condition of Wondering

What is the condition of wondering? For as long as humans have been alive, we have been asking questions. It is a part of us. It is what makes us unquestionably human. The following is an excerpt from Courting the Wild Twin by Martin Shaw. It has been adapted for the web. Prefer Audio? Listen…

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jars of fermenting food

Fermentation 101: Just Add Salt

By Gretchen Kruesi / March 5, 2020 / Comments Off on Fermentation 101: Just Add Salt

Fermentation isn’t just for highly skilled experts, at its core, fermentation is actually pretty simple. Once you’ve mastered the basics of fermentation, you’ll be on your way to creating delicious and unique dishes in no time! The following is an excerpt from Wildcrafted Fermentation by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the web. For…

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stone face cut in half

Who Is the Wild Twin?

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 27, 2020 / Comments Off on Who Is the Wild Twin?

All of us have a wild twin––a part of ourselves that we generally shun or ignore to conform to societal norms. Inviting the wild twin back into our consciousness is crucial, for they have something important to tell us. The following is an excerpt from Courting the Wild Twin by Martin Shaw. It has been…

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worm

Vermicomposting: Why Venture Into It?

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 24, 2020 / Comments Off on Vermicomposting: Why Venture Into It?

If you’re at all in tune to the agricultural news of late, you’re well aware that soil health is in decline all over the world –  an issue that is having a disastrous impact on our food systems. The answer to this international problem? Worms. Lots of them. But how, you ask? Well, vermicomposting, of…

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wild berries on purple background

On Foraging and Picking Wild Plants

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 19, 2020 / Comments Off on On Foraging and Picking Wild Plants

Foraging for your own food limits your carbon footprint and helps to maintain the natural landscape. Done correctly, it reconnects us to nature while limiting our impact on our natural surroundings. Humans need to be an active part of changing the environment—even on this small scale. The following is an excerpt from Wildcrafted Fermentation by…

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man planting seeds in dirt

When to Plant: Determining When Crops Thrive

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 18, 2020 / Comments Off on When to Plant: Determining When Crops Thrive

Most people know that different crops thrive in different seasons and climates and that each crop has ideal growing conditions. But, did you know that the moon also has a significant influence over the productivity and health of plants? Paying attention to the proximity, declination, and phase of the moon will help you determine when…

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A grove of trees on an island

Trees: The Fountains of Life

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 17, 2020 / Comments Off on Trees: The Fountains of Life

Trees. They are all around us. They come in all sorts of different shapes, sizes, and colors. They each have a unique scent, a unique feel, a unique purpose. But have you ever really thought about what immense life forces they are? How much power they hold and how much they give to us? The…

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wind turbines

Road to Regeneration: Starting point

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 12, 2020 / Comments Off on Road to Regeneration: Starting point

In order to save the Earth from environmental collapse, we need to move toward total sustainable energy usage and cut greenhouse gases very soon.

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