Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
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Get hands-on information related to organic farming and gardening, ecology and the environment, healthy food, sustainable economics, progressive politics, and, most recently, integrative health and wellness, DIY and recipes. Chelsea Green Publishing are the publishers of renewable energy, sustainable living, organic gardening, and progressive books since 1984. Their purpose is to reverse the..
Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
2d ago
Want to see your crops thrive this upcoming growing season? The key is in soil fertility and health. Spend time maintaining your soil’s health to guarantee bigger and better crops come harvest time!
The following is an excerpt from No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture by Bryan O’Hara. It has been adapted for the web.
What Is Soil Fertility?
Soil fertility refers to the overall ability of a soil to produce abundant healthful crops. As growers it is one of our primary duties to manage the soil to bring it into an increasing state of fertility.
Factors that work against this effort incl ..read more
Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
2d ago
Introducing…your new favorite brunch dish! This whole broccoli frittata is packed with fresh, wildcrafted flavors that are bound to help you start your day off on the right foot.
The following is an excerpt from The Forager Chef’s Book of Flora by Alan Bergo. It has been adapted for the web.
RECIPE: Whole Broccoli Frittata
Serves 4–6 as a light entrée
The first time I walked through a garden growing broccoli, I noticed straightaway the large, collard-like leaves—something you never see in the store. Broccoli is more than just florets. The leaves are one of my favorite fall greens.
Cousins ..read more
Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
1w ago
Many know the effects of catnip on our feline friends, but few realize that catnip has medicinal effects for humans.
From stomach aches to reducing fevers, catnip is a versatile herb with many benefits. The next time you grow this plant for your cat you may end up taking a few cuttings for yourself!
The following is an excerpt from The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer by Jeff and Melanie Carpenter. It has been adapted for the web.
Catnip. Photograph courtesy of Kate Clearlight
Catnip – Nepeta Cataria Life Cycle
Catnip is a short-lived herbaceous perennial that is hardy to USDA zones ..read more
Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
1w ago
It’s time to take control of your seeds and become a plant breeder! Saving your seed allows you to grow and best traditional & regional varieties, and develop more of your own.
The following excerpt is from Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties by Carol Deppe. It has been adapted for the web.
Becoming A Plant Breeder
Developing new vegetables doesn’t require a specialized education, a lot of land, or even a lot of time. It can be done on any scale. It’s enjoyable. It’s deeply rewarding. You can get useful new varieties much faster than you might suppose. And you can eat your mistakes.
Garden ..read more
Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
1w ago
Wondering where to forage for greens this spring? Look no further than hedges, which serve as natural havens for wild greens and herbs!
The following is an excerpt from Hedgelands by Christopher Hart. It has been adapted for the web.
Food from Hedges: Salads and Greens
Let’s start by looking at all the wild foods and remedies available just in the hedge at Underhill.
After blackberries, the green leafy abundance of the hedgerow in March is probably what most people are familiar with. And the choice on offer at this particular salad bar can be dazzling.
The Underhill hedge alone, for instance ..read more
Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
1w ago
There’s a whole new world out there when it comes to koji. It doesn’t matter if you’re making bread, cheese, or ice cream, koji helps you pump up the flavor!
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, and a little bit of heat. Enjoy this delicious mold!
Read More ..read more
Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
1w ago
Rewilding is one of the best things you can do for the biodiversity of your farm or garden. By no longer mowing your lawn, flowers will start to grow, creating a meadow and a habitat for creatures that often get forgotten.
The following is an excerpt from The Healthy Vegetable Garden by Sally Morgan. It has been adapted for the web.
Rewilding Your Garden: A Myriad of Benefits
An oak seedling among the brambles.
I have seen first-hand how the biodiversity of our farm has increased over 16 years through our organic, agroecological management. We’ve built ponds, planted willow and let our hedg ..read more
Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
1w ago
Whether you’re looking to replace your end-of-the-day cocktail, relax before bed, or want something new to add to your tea, this non-alcoholic mocktail syrup base will do the trick. Delicious and all-natural, take a sip of this nightcap mocktail and feel your troubles melt away.
The following is an excerpt from Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Volume 4 by Jill Stansbury. It has been adapted for the web.
RECIPE: Herbal Nightcap Mocktail
The combination of coriander, jujube dates, lavender, and lemon balm has a calming effect and can improve sleep.1
This recipe is aimed at producing ..read more
Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
1w ago
Trying to figure out how to manage weeds in your garden beds? Use cover crops and living mulches for weed suppression while your garden flourishes!
The following is an excerpt from The Ecological Farm by Helen Atthowe. It has been adapted for the web.
Suppressing Weeds With Cover Crops: Getting Started
Figure 8.5. Blooming red clover “weeds” moving from living mulch row middles into maturing onions and red cabbage in late summer at Woodleaf Farm, Oregon.
Cover crops suppress weeds via several mechanisms that often interact and affect more than one ecological function at a time.
Common weed ..read more
Chelsea Green Publishing Blog
1w ago
Want to enjoy bread without worrying about gluten? With Einkorn bread, a light bread with the lowest glycemic index, you can still enjoy all of the delights of bread. without any of the allergic reactions!
The following is an excerpt from Restoring Heritage Grains by Eli Rogosa. It has been adapted for the web.
Einkorn Sourdough Starter
About a week before you plan to bake, mix equal amounts of flour and pure water; that is, well water, spring water or distilled water. (Do not use chlorinated water. It will destroy the beneficial microbes.)
Repeat the feeding each day for about seven days. Af ..read more