Gretchen Kruesi

rice koji

Make Rice Koji in 12 Easy Steps

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 6, 2024 / Comments Off on Make Rice Koji in 12 Easy Steps

Looking for a new cooking project? Try your hand at rice koji! Follow these steps by two renowned chefs to make delicious rice koji at home. The following is an excerpt from Koji Alchemy by Jeremy Umansky and Rich Shih. It has been adapted for the web. Making Basic Rice Koji the Traditional Way Let’s walk…

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fruit trees

How to Grow and Maintain Fruit Trees: General Fruit Tree Management

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 5, 2024 / Comments Off on How to Grow and Maintain Fruit Trees: General Fruit Tree Management

Thinking of growing fruit trees? While it’s no small undertaking, fruit trees are much more forgiving than annual crops once established. Fruits like apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines, pears, pluots, and plums can easily be grown on trees in your backyard — you just need to know the correct management practices before you get started.…

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highland cattle

How Cattle Grazing Improves Soil Diversity: Saving Our Soil

By Gretchen Kruesi / June 4, 2024 / Comments Off on How Cattle Grazing Improves Soil Diversity: Saving Our Soil

In Our Wild Farming Life, Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer recount their experiences as they create Lynbreck Croft—a regenerative Scottish farm rooted in local food and community. As they build their farm, Cassells and Baer bring new livestock to their land and learn techniques to help them truly understand how they can farm in harmony with…

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wild strawberries

Foraging For Wild Strawberries

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 31, 2024 / Comments Off on Foraging For Wild Strawberries

Have you ever stumbled across wild strawberries? Growing along the sunny banks and around a forest edge, along roadsides, hillsides or even in your own back yard, wild strawberries are delicious. Wild strawberries are much smaller than those hollow, crunchy, off-season truck farm monstrosities most of us allow to pass for strawberries. Cultivated in-season berries, the…

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grill recipes

Grill Your Way to Greatness: 6 Recipes to Get You Fired Up

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 27, 2024 / Comments Off on Grill Your Way to Greatness: 6 Recipes to Get You Fired Up

Summer is the perfect time to fire up that grill and enjoy the great outdoors. Check out one of our top 6 grill recipes next time you’re barbecuing and savor the flavor of summer! Grill Greatness: The Best Meat Temperatures Have plans to fire up the grill this summer? Want to impress everyone with your…

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raspberry and blueberry soda

Raspberry and Blueberry Soda: Brewing Up Some Bubbles

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 23, 2024 / Comments Off on Raspberry and Blueberry Soda: Brewing Up Some Bubbles

One of the best ways to begin brewing is by dipping your toes in the bubbling waters of homemade soda. This recipe for Mountain Raspberry and Blueberry Soda features just a few local ingredients and allows you to get as creative as you’d like. There are no real rules when it comes to this fun…

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Recipes and Meal Plans for Childhood Cancer

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 22, 2024 / Comments Off on Recipes and Meal Plans for Childhood Cancer

“Your child has cancer.” Every day, forty-three American families hear these words, thrusting them headlong into the terrifying and unfamiliar territory of pediatric oncology. Finding meals that are both enjoyable and good for your child’s health can feel near impossible. Read on for some tips and recipes to inspire and help in one of the…

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Miyawaki Method

Using The Miyawaki Method: A Forest in the Desert

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 21, 2024 / Comments Off on Using The Miyawaki Method: A Forest in the Desert

Growing a forest on barren, dry land calls for an innovative approach. This approach, known as the Miyawaki Method, transforms infertile land into a biodiverse oasis! The following is an excerpt from Mini-Forest Revolution by Hannah Lewis. It has been adapted for the web. Photo Courtesy of Gaurav Gurjar History of the Miyawaki Method When Afforestt’s Gaurav…

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Wild Dijon Vinaigrette: A Spin On Classic Salad Dressing

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 21, 2024 / Comments Off on Wild Dijon Vinaigrette: A Spin On Classic Salad Dressing

Move aside, store-bought salad dressing! Delicious and unique, this Wild Dijon Vinaigrette is bound to be your new salad staple. All you need to get started is some vinegar, a little bit of mustard, and a few more simple ingredients that you can find at home. The following is an excerpt from Wildcrafted Vinegars by Pascal…

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hot sauce

Ramp It Up A Notch: Tabasco-Style Ramp Hot Sauce

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 17, 2024 / Comments Off on Ramp It Up A Notch: Tabasco-Style Ramp Hot Sauce

Looking for a delicious (and spicy) DIY project to work on this spring? This recipe for foraged, tabasco-style ramp hot sauce is sure to turn up the heat. The following is an excerpt from The Forager Chef’s Book of Flora by Alan Bergo. It has been adapted for the web. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs…

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healthy plants

How to Grow Healthy Plants: Strengthening Your Farm or Garden’s Immune System

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 16, 2024 / Comments Off on How to Grow Healthy Plants: Strengthening Your Farm or Garden’s Immune System

Searching for tips on how to grow healthy plants? The excerpt below offers advice on how to improve your farm or garden’s immune system through providing optimal conditions, managing plant competition, and achieving optimal nutrient balance. The following is an excerpt from The Ecological Farm by Helen Atthowe. It has been adapted for the web.…

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raspberry yogurt

Simple, Greek-Style Yogurt

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 9, 2024 / Comments Off on Simple, Greek-Style Yogurt

Looking for a simply & healthy snack to make this spring? These tips will help you whip up a delicious Greek-style yogurt with ease. The following excerpt is from Keeping a Family Cow by Joann S. Grohman. It has been adapted for the web. Making Yogurt Milk from a high-milk-solids breed such as the Jersey…

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goldenrod, joe-pye weed, and jewelweed

Rewilding Your Land

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 8, 2024 / Comments Off on Rewilding Your Land

Picture-perfect farms may be aesthetically pleasing, but they’re likely lacking in biodiversity. Rewilding practices allow the land to return to its natural wild state, providing more room for fruit-bearing plants to grow and animals to control small pests. The following is an excerpt from Farming on the Wild Side by Nancy J. Hayden and John…

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wild greens

How to Forage and Store Wild Greens

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 7, 2024 / Comments Off on How to Forage and Store Wild Greens

Whether you are an expert forager or new to the skill, it’s important to understand how to store your freshly picked bounty. Luckily, author Alan Bergo has the lowdown on how to harvest wild greens and cook them for the best storage so your harvest can stay fresh for days after being picked! The following…

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no-till beets

Drop the Beet: Growing No-Till Beets

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 6, 2024 / Comments Off on Drop the Beet: Growing No-Till Beets

Let’s drop the beet! Beets can be grown year-round and are a perfect, flavorful addition to meals. Get started on growing your own no-till beets with help from these tips! The following is an excerpt from The Living Soil Handbook by Jesse Frost. It has a been adapted for the web. How to Grow No-Till…

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Foraging for Food: 10 Tips to Get You Started

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 3, 2024 / Comments Off on Foraging for Food: 10 Tips to Get You Started

Foraging wild plants in your area is a great way to shake up your culinary delights. Don’t know where to start? Below are our best foraging posts to get you started on your hunt for wild edibles. Foraging 101: Where to find your bounty We’ve given you descriptions. We’ve given you recipes. We’ve given you…

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Homemade Dandelion Beer

By Gretchen Kruesi / May 2, 2024 / Comments Off on Homemade Dandelion Beer

You can forget about waiting for your wine to ferment, because we have a recipe for dandelion beer that will be ready in just a week! Who knew those weeds in your backyard could make such a fun beverage? The following excerpt is from Pascal Baudar’s Wildcrafting Brewer. It has been adapted for the web.…

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pizza oven

How to Build An Outdoor Clay Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 30, 2024 / Comments Off on How to Build An Outdoor Clay Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

Nothing can be compared to the taste of a fresh, hot slice of pizza that came straight out of a wood-fired oven. By building your own clay wood-fired pizza oven, you’ll have this cheesy delicacy at your fingertips whenever you’re craving it! VIDEO: Building An Outdoor Clay Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Take it from Richard Miscovich,…

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local rocks & soil

Rock & Grow: Adding Local Rocks & Soil To Your Garden

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 29, 2024 / Comments Off on Rock & Grow: Adding Local Rocks & Soil To Your Garden

Looking for ways to naturally enrich your garden? The answer is all around you….literally. Add local rocks & soil to your garden to improve soil health and see your crops flourishing in no time. The following is an excerpt from The Regenerative Grower’s Guide to Garden Amendments by Nigel Palmer. It has been adapted for the…

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garden strawberries

Garden Strawberries — A Sweet and Delicious Ground Cover

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 26, 2024 / Comments Off on Garden Strawberries — A Sweet and Delicious Ground Cover

Garden strawberries are excellent for both covering the ground and for growing fruit. If you’re planning out a forest garden, or are just looking for a plant to use as ground cover, strawberries are a great option. The following is an excerpt from The Home-Scale Forest Garden by Dani Baker. It has been adapted for…

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Just Add Bugs: Rewilding in Your Garden

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 25, 2024 / Comments Off on Just Add Bugs: Rewilding in Your Garden

For too long, bugs have had a negative connotation associated with them. But what if we took the time to observe the benefits of insects? It’s time to rebug our gardens, lawns, and parks! The following is an excerpt from Rebugging the Planet by Vicki Hird. It has been adapted for the web. Adding Bugs:…

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asparagus

Asparagus: An Aspiring Spear

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 24, 2024 / Comments Off on Asparagus: An Aspiring Spear

Asparagus is a delicious vegetable with a layered history. How did this aspiring spear make its way from growing in the wild to appearing on our plates? The following is an excerpt from the The Seed Detective by Adam Alexander. It has been adapted for the web. “Nature gives us the key to every secret…

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Planting, Transplanting, and Pruning Trees

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 24, 2024 / Comments Off on Planting, Transplanting, and Pruning Trees

Interested in growing trees? Here are some tips on successfully planting, transplanting, and pruning trees to create a flourishing forest garden! The following is an excerpt from The Home-Scale Forest Garden by Dani Baker. It has been adapted for the web. Planting Potted Trees and Shrubs If you order potted trees, check with your supplier to…

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Compost: Small Farm-Style

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 22, 2024 / Comments Off on Compost: Small Farm-Style

With the right strategies and practices, composting on a small farm is surprisingly easy and inexpensive. Just follow these steps for making compost, and your farm will be thriving in no time! The following excerpt is from The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables by Ben Hartman. It has been adapted for the web. (All photographs by Ben…

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Fermented Plant Juice: A Drink Only a Garden Could Love

By Gretchen Kruesi / April 18, 2024 / Comments Off on Fermented Plant Juice: A Drink Only a Garden Could Love

Everyone loves a refreshing, fermented, nutritious drink…even your garden! Take your fermentation skills out of the kitchen and into the garden by brewing fermented plant juice.  The following is an excerpt from The Regenerative Grower’s Guide to Garden Amendments by Nigel Palmer. It has been adapted for the web. How to Make Fermented Plant Juice Fermented…

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