We have lived on our 1.1 acre property for almost fives years now and all the while have been battling a small patch of poison oak just outside our bedroom window. Thankfully, it wasn’t more than about a twenty by ten foot area but the close proximity to our house just made it that much…
Plastic-Free and Lead-Free The kitchen is not only the heart of the home, but the most important place to make safe and non-toxic for your family. With a few small steps, you can start today to make every bite of food your family consumes safe. It takes time and patience to curate a plastic-free and…
Buying and planting a fruit tree is an easy and satisfying way to enhance any size yard or garden. Leaving a Legacy We have lived in three different house over the last 15 years and have planted a variety of fruit trees in every single one of them. There is something so satisfying about a…
Hugelkulture is a German word that translates into “mound culture.” Essentially you pile up leaves, sticks and wood underneath a mound of dirt. These base layers act as a sponge to lock in moisture and make an excellent gardening technique for dryer climates. Here is a post that explains more. While I don’t love the…
It may sound backwards but a wood burning stove can actually heat an entire home better than a modern gas furnace. We first started using a wood burning stove when we would go up to a little cabin in the woods that my husband inherited after his mom passed away. It was an original vintage…
Follow along as I go through the simple process of creating a raised bed garden using wall blocks from Home Depot. While shopping in the Home Depot garden section one day I came across their wall block garden display. I was immediately determined to make one of my own after seeing this was an easy…
Adding a couple of meat turkeys to your existing flock is an easy and economical way to grown your own Thanksgiving bird. We are seasoned backyard chicken keepers and decided to give it a go at raising our own meat turkeys this year. The price of organic turkeys only goes up each Thanksgiving. Last year…
I am a cancer survivor who went on a mission to find a plastic-free and non-toxic coffee machine. Note: as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. How cancer has changed my outlook on clean living. This Christmas I attempted to find a unicorn for my husband – a non-toxic coffee machine. I have…
When I need something satisfying and nourishing that’s also gluten-free and dairy-free, this porridge is my go to. Note: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I was recently diagnosed with thyroid disease and had to follow a strict 30 day diet free of the top five allergens. This included dairy, eggs and…
Even a first time gardener can plant a garlic crop to have and enjoy all year round. I have been trying to garden in this Southern California desert region for almost 15 years now. It’s not an easy climate to grow in since we have so much sun and so little rain. There have been…
Have you ever wondered how people are able to order a quarter, half or even whole steer to fill their freezer with grass-grazed beef? You are what you eat but you also are what you eat, eats. Once I started feeding a family it was hard to picture feeding little kids and babies feed lot…
A simple way to cut back on the stress of hosting a holiday meal is to prepare as much as possible ahead of time. Note: as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I have been doing this for 15 years now along side my dad, a chef. My oldest turned 15 this year…