Summer is here, the air is warm, and you may be feeling the heat! Where I live in the central valley of California, the temperature has been tipping the scales at 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Whether or not you’re in extreme weather, it’s the time of year to talk about how to beat the heat and stay cool. In this article, you’ll find some simple yet effective home remedies, and a few things you can do on your homestead to help cool down. Cool creek air. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Buttram//InsteadingKnow When You’re Overheating To start off, it’s important to simply recognize when your body is overh ..read more

“Did you know this little treasure is actually a weed?” A friend was showing me the latest addition to her orchid family. “In countries like Cuba” she continued, “this Epidendrum radicans hybrid is invasive. It takes over lawns and gardens.” “Like dandelions?” She chuckled at the comparison. I guess one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Yes, every plant family has its weedy relations. Which could be said for any family when you think of it. Perhaps understanding what a “weed” is can help discern the misnomer of weed: An unwanted plant, not valued or appreciated where it is growing, invasive a ..read more

Spring is known as the season for “getting the garden in” but perhaps, for whatever reason, you haven’t yet put seeds in the soil. Now that spring has nearly run its course, and the long, hot days of summer are coming over the horizon, are hopes for growing your own food dashed? Not remotely. Though you may have missed the window for cool-season crops, gardens are forgiving and full of continual opportunity. Now is the perfect time to get heat-loving, quick-growing plants in the ground and bring in a harvest. Peruse this list of vegetables that can be planted from seed in the garden (even in l ..read more

“Some tea?” My friend asked as we lounged in her plant-filled sunroom. “Dandelion?” “Why not?” She poured … and left the fragrant, yellow flower remnants floating in our mugs. Dandelion tea is good for everything from gut health to your immune system. It’s an excellent source of potassium, which helps kidneys filter out toxins. In fact, dandelions have more vitamins than kale and spinach combined. I frequently put dandelions in my salads. “Thanks.” I took a sip. “Much better than mowing them down.” My friend snorted. “Bees make good honey from the nectar of dandelions and other wildflowers. So ..read more

The Columbian Exchange was an incredible time across the globe, when among other things, crops of the so-called “New” and “Old” worlds were traded for the first time (or the first time in a long time, depending on what resources you read). Because of new trade routes established across the Atlantic, what we consider the quintessential foods of different European countries were introduced from elsewhere: potatoes to Ireland, tomatoes to Italy, peppers to Hungary, chocolate to Switzerland, and so on. A MediEval GArden. Photo courtesy of Daniel Ventura//Wikimedia Commons What is often forgotten i ..read more

Table of Contents Common Radish Types Spring and Summer Radishes Winter Radishes FAQ About Types of Radishes Part of the popular Brassica family, radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus) is an edible root vegetable, mostly enjoyed as a crunchy addition in salads. Some varieties with hardier fusiform or napiform taproots can be cooked in stews, stir-fry, and soups. This amazing vegetable is easy to grow at home — even amateur gardeners will enjoy the process.  Different radishes come in various colors, flavors, shapes, and sizes. Apart from their culinary use, some radishes are pla ..read more

When you imagine a “garden,” what comes to mind? Ripe, red tomatoes? Golden stands of jewel-like corn? Green beans, squash, potatoes, and peppers? These typical food plants all originated in the amazing gardens of ancient Native American gardeners. Much has been written about the mysteries of how teosinte was domesticated into impossible-to-self-propagate modern corn, or how the Incas bred a surprising rainbow of potato colors and textures. Photograph of a Native American Woman Standing in Garden. Photo courtesy of National Archives at Riverside//Wikimedia Commons What we don’t often hear, how ..read more

Now that we’ve covered how to find your land, build your home, and keep things warm or cold in the previous article, let’s get into the nitty gritty of off-grid living and talk about how to get the electricity and water flowing, and the toilets … er, toileting. The whole point of going off-grid is to be independent of outside systems, and this means, of course, able to generate electricity, access water, and handle your own waste. There’s an array of available options both modern and ancient. After all, there was a point in time when humanity lived an off-grid life (until figuring out differen ..read more

As I type this, my husband Jaeger and I are finally and entirely off-grid. Woo hoo! It started with getting our home’s heat off-grid, then our water, then our toilets, and eventually, hand-building our off-grid home. Now, with the installation of some solar panels, we can run the computer we use for articles on solar power. I suppose that has finally completed the transition. Photo courtesy of Jimmy Baikovicius//Flickr It has been a huge endeavor, and one we’ve thought about, learned about, and experimented with for many years. As such, I feel like we’re especially equipped to write this artic ..read more

“This is interesting.” My friend looked up from her gardening magazine — yes, she subscribes to the real thing. A paper copy (as do I). It’s much better than surfing the net. “What’s that?” I looked up from an issue I’d found on the table next to me. “Butterfly gardens,” she answered, pausing to read more. “People are becoming more astute about planting pollinator-friendly plants. There are public gardens around the world that specialize in attracting butterflies. The biggest is in Florida, but we have lots of them closer to home.” Where can you find a butterfly paradise? Well, here are a few ..read more