Gretchen Kruesi

Wood-fired Pizza Oven

Winter Pizza Duo Using a Sourdough Starter

By Gretchen Kruesi / February 5, 2025 / Comments Off on Winter Pizza Duo Using a Sourdough Starter

Turn any night into pizza night! This sourdough pizza holds the secret to a stress-free weeknight dinner. Make the crust ahead of time and let it rise in the fridge. By dinnertime all you’ll need to do is shape the dough, add your toppings, and bake! This excerpt is from The Occidental Arts and Ecology…

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A Gift From the Gods: Blue Corn Bread

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 31, 2025 / Comments Off on A Gift From the Gods: Blue Corn Bread

A sweet cornbread made with blue cornmeal draws on traditional Mexico and US Southwest flavors. The blue cornmeal gives its haunting flavor and lavender hue.

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seed detective

Becoming A True Seed Detective: Mastering the Mission

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 24, 2025 / Comments Off on Becoming A True Seed Detective: Mastering the Mission

Did you ever wonder how leeks, kale, asparagus, beans, squash, and corn have ended up on our plates? Well, so did Adam Alexander, otherwise known as The Seed Detective.  The following is an excerpt from the The Seed Detective by Adam Alexander. It has been adapted for the web. My Seed-Detective Mission Crammed into two…

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micro-farm

Starting A Micro-Farm: Tips for Getting Smaller

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 20, 2025 / Comments Off on Starting A Micro-Farm: Tips for Getting Smaller

Want to set up your own micro-farm? These tips will help you learn how to simplify your work, increase profitability, and shape your ideas so you can create the perfect tiny farm for you. The following is an excerpt from The Lean Micro Farm by Ben Hartman. It has been adapted for the web. Unless…

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sourdough

How to Make a Sourdough Starter: Everything You Need to Know Starter Guide

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 17, 2025 / Comments Off on How to Make a Sourdough Starter: Everything You Need to Know Starter Guide

Sourdough begins through spontaneous fermentation—essentially by getting your wheat wet! All you need to start a batch is flour and water.

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indoor gardening

6 Tips and Tricks for Indoor Gardening

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 8, 2025 / Comments Off on 6 Tips and Tricks for Indoor Gardening

Craving a fresh harvest during the winter months? Try indoor gardening to grow fresh greens and more year-round! Here are 6 articles to jump-start your indoor harvest and get you growing in no time. Must Have Tools for Successful Indoor Gardening The process of producing high-quality food inside requires time and attention, along with the…

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migraines

Herbal Formulas for Migraines and Other Headaches

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 6, 2025 / Comments Off on Herbal Formulas for Migraines and Other Headaches

Suffering from frequent headaches is miserable and immobilizing. If you haven’t had luck treating and preventing your headaches, skip the over-the-counter approach and prepare herbal formuals for migraines to use in the future! The following is an excerpt from Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Volume 4 by Jill Stansbury. It has been adapted for the…

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The Ultimate Good Sweet: Upside Down Apple Pie

By Gretchen Kruesi / January 3, 2025 / Comments Off on The Ultimate Good Sweet: Upside Down Apple Pie

Make an irresistible upside down apple pie with this easy recipe. No pie crust skills needed! “Secretly” healthy apple pie for a guilt-free sweet treat.

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Fire Cider: A Healing, Warm Tonic

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 31, 2024 / Comments Off on Fire Cider: A Healing, Warm Tonic

“It is more important to know what kind of person has a disease than to know what kind of disease a person has.” —Hippocrates Drawing on her decades of clinical experience and her extensive research, Dr. Jill Stansbury offers an unparalleled range of herbal formulas in her five-volume set, Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals. For each…

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desserts

Show-Stealing Desserts for Holiday Celebrations

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 20, 2024 / Comments Off on Show-Stealing Desserts for Holiday Celebrations

Let’s be real… the best part of holiday dinner isn’t turkey or mashed potatoes… It’s DESSERT! Here are some show-stealing desserts to serve at your next celebration.

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snow

Is Your Greenhouse Winter-Ready? Dealing with Snow on Your Greenhouse

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 19, 2024 / Comments Off on Is Your Greenhouse Winter-Ready? Dealing with Snow on Your Greenhouse

Want to keep your protected crops heated and healthy all season? Get your greenhouse ready for winter with these snow removal tips! The following is an excerpt from The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook by Andrew Mefferd. It has been adapted for the web. (Photographs courtesy of Andrew Mefferd unless otherwise noted.) Dealing with snow…

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Worth Puckering Up For: Simply Delicious Cranberry Muffins & Holiday Bread

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 16, 2024 / Comments Off on Worth Puckering Up For: Simply Delicious Cranberry Muffins & Holiday Bread

Add a sweet & tangy twist to your baked goods with these delicious cranberry bread recipes! Cranberries shine in these delicious bread recipes – perfect for breakfast, lunch or snack time.

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Herbal Medicine: Knowledge Rooted in Connection

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 13, 2024 / Comments Off on Herbal Medicine: Knowledge Rooted in Connection

Using herbal medicine to heal the body is an ancient practice. It has since become a worldwide industry. Today, modern-day doctor’s visits and industrial medicine have displaced common knowledge of herbal medicine. Some still remember the ancient practice. In her book Following the Herbal Harvest, Ann Armbrecht interviews one such person, Phyllis Light, a fourth-generation…

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wreath

How To Create A Homemade Wreath

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 2, 2024 / Comments Off on How To Create A Homemade Wreath

From clipping the proper branches to tying the right knots, building a wreath takes patience and precision. Create this holiday craft with your family to decorate your home, or spread the joy to others by gifting or selling your homemade wreath. The following is an excerpt from Carving Out a Living on the Land by…

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egg rolls

Turkey Egg Rolls With Vietnamese Dipping Sauce

By Gretchen Kruesi / November 27, 2024 / Comments Off on Turkey Egg Rolls With Vietnamese Dipping Sauce

Looking for a unique way to cook with turkey this holiday season? This gluten-free and kosher recipe for turkey egg rolls is sure to impress everyone at the dinner table. Serve these easy-to-make appetizers with a side of Vietnamese dipping sauce for an extra kick of flavor! The following is an excerpt from The Nourishing Asian Kitchen…

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Gift Ideas: 10 Books for the Foodie in Your Life

By Gretchen Kruesi / November 23, 2024 / Comments Off on Gift Ideas: 10 Books for the Foodie in Your Life

Got a foodie in your life? Struggling to find the perfect gift for them (or yourself)? We’ve got you covered – from classic cookbooks to the art of cheesemaking!

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Tired of Turkey? Four Ways to Spice Up Thanksgiving Dinner

By Gretchen Kruesi / November 18, 2024 / Comments Off on Tired of Turkey? Four Ways to Spice Up Thanksgiving Dinner

Want to spice things up for this year’s holiday feast? We’ve got you covered! From delectable pork tenderloin to Spicebush Goose, these recipes will surely delight everyone at your Thanksgiving dinner table, even those passionate turkey traditionalists.   These recipes have been adapted for the web. Roast Pork Tenderloin and Plum Sauce from The Healthy…

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pruning

A Guide to Pruning Protected Crops

By Gretchen Kruesi / November 15, 2024 / Comments Off on A Guide to Pruning Protected Crops

Pruning is essential for keeping protected crops healthy & balanced through the winter months. Keep reading for tips on pruning greenhouse and hoophouse plants.

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stocks and broths

The Fundamentals of Stocks and Broths

By Gretchen Kruesi / November 14, 2024 / Comments Off on The Fundamentals of Stocks and Broths

Soup season is finally here! While the weather is getting colder, stocks and broths warm our bellies and fill our souls.  Get started on your own classic stock this winter with help from this culinary insight and advice! The following is an excerpt from Mastering Stocks and Broths by Rachael Mamane. It has been adapted for the…

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keeping seeds organized

Keeping Seeds Organized: Saving & Storing

By Gretchen Kruesi / November 11, 2024 / Comments Off on Keeping Seeds Organized: Saving & Storing

Storing seeds is the key to having a successful growing season. Follow these tips for keeping seeds organized so you’re ready to plant as soon as the time is right!

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worms in soil

Soil Is Alive: What Lives In Our Soil?

By Gretchen Kruesi / November 4, 2024 / Comments Off on Soil Is Alive: What Lives In Our Soil?

Ever wonder what worms and centipedes are doing as they crawl through your soil? They’re actually working to improve the soil’s health, which benefits the environment and all living things in the long run. The following is an excerpt from Farming on the Wild Side by Nancy J. Hayden and John P. Hayden. It has been adapted…

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apple slice monsters

Funky Apple Slice Monsters

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 31, 2024 / Comments Off on Funky Apple Slice Monsters

BOO! Spooky season is here. Introducing our easy-to-make treats that are perfect for kids and the kid in you.

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Sweet Brunch Delights: Doughnut Holes, Breakfast Cake & Fruit with Tahini Yogurt

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 29, 2024 / Comments Off on Sweet Brunch Delights: Doughnut Holes, Breakfast Cake & Fruit with Tahini Yogurt

Looking to elevate your brunch recipes? Treat yourself to this delightful trio that promises to satisfy your sweet tooth & will have guests asking for seconds!

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mini-forests

The Magic of Mini-Forests

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 24, 2024 / Comments Off on The Magic of Mini-Forests

“Hannah Lewis describes a gift to a despairing world…There may be no single climate solution that has a greater breadth of benefits than mini-forests…[and] can be done by everyone everywhere.”—Paul Hawken, from the foreword Mini-forests are simple to create, satisfying, and can get us closer to improving our climate and future. Read the foreword by Paul…

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Tips & Tricks for Harvesting and Drying Herbs

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 21, 2024 / Comments Off on Tips & Tricks for Harvesting and Drying Herbs

Harvesting and drying herbs correctly is crucial for crafting your own medicinal remedies. Here are some tips to get you started!

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