I love a crisp, refreshing glass of kombucha! I've been making my own kombucha on and off for about 6 years now and have experimented with lots of different teas and flavors over that time. This fall, I took to my kitchen to craft a festive pear, cardamom, and ginger kombucha using US grown yaupon. The results were beyond my expectations and most definitely worthy of sharing with you all!

As a person who tries to reduce single-use plastics in my home, learning how to make my own dish soap bars has been a game changer for my family!  Not only do they work incredibly well, but these DIY soap bars can be tailored with scents of the seasons. Plus, crafting cold process soap is a really empowering skill to know, and they make incredible DIY gifts!

Homemade perfumes are wonderful for a myriad of reasons. From the ability to try new things without an enormous price tag to the pleasure of crafting something both beautiful and useful, perfume making is a pastime that I’ve grown to truly love. I custom tailor fragrances to match my mood or emotional needs or to harness the energetics of certain plants. But I also have a fondness for crafting blends that match the seasons.

Despite the long tradition of distillation, the word hydrosol has become increasingly ambiguous. In the US, much like essential oils, hydrosols (or hydrolats) are unregulated, and products marketed under that name can be very different from one bottle to another. Distillation of hydrosols is an ancient art in which the distiller undertakes the no-small-task of mimicking the inspiring water cycle we witness here on earth; just on a micro-level, inside of their still. Have you ever made soup, put a lid on the pot, and when you took the lid off, there was clear water on top of the lid? That is a distillate of your soup, and it is the simplest way to understand where hydrosols come from.

Our animal companions give us unconditional love every day, and they deserve the same thoughtful care in return. Whether you share your life with a playful puppy, a curious cat, a hardworking horse, or another beloved companion, herbs can be a wonderful way to support their overall wellness.

Chances are that if you have been grocery shopping within the last 25 years, you have heard about or seen kombucha. In fact, these days it is hard to throw a rock in a food store and not hit a bottle of the oftentimes brightly colored, effervescent, and vaguely mysterious brew. As a fermented beverage, kombucha is rife with naturally occurring probiotics, which are believed to help promote healthy gut flora and aid in digestion. Pair the health benefits with the countless delicious flavors available, and it is easy to make store-bought kombucha a daily habit. While your tummy and taste buds might scream yes to this, your bank account might be slightly less enthusiastic. Fortunately, making your own kombucha is cost-effective and much easier than you might think!

The intersection of art and nature has always been my biggest draw to herbalism. Throughout history, the roots of herbalism and art have long been intertwined by the rich tradition of botanical illustration and self-expression. Just as no two artists would illustrate a figure drawing in the same way, it’s unlikely you’ll find two herbalists whose home apothecaries display identical herbs—and that right there is the beauty of creativity!

I love the peace of knowing that I have both the skills and stock on hand to thrive in most of the situations life throws my way. I can confidently rely on my resourcefulness and forethought to help me whether I can’t get to the grocery store for a bit, need to pinch some pennies, or just ran out of laundry soap. The efforts that I put into this lifestyle are also in line with my sustainability goals and significantly reduce the waste generated from my household.

A Code of Honor is a personal standard of conduct measured, attributed, and continuously tested not by convention or authorities, but by us ourselves. It’s an unbreakable agreement that we make to our missions and our world, containing standards and stipulations we can’t just weaken or amend depending on shifting circumstances. It’s always evolving as our self-awareness and understandings of the world grow, yet it remains uncompromisable and resolute—an oath reflecting our values and priorities; our calling; purpose and aims.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room for a second. 

Every year, a lot of us say we want to eat better. We want to use more herbs. We’ve read the articles,  seen the posts, and we already know herbs are good for us. And at the same time, there’s a quiet voice in the back of your mind saying, this probably isn’t going to stick.

For over a decade, I have been practicing and teaching natural skin care.I have formulated dozens of homemade skincare products, but I also purchase some that I know are made with the same integrity, quality, and thought I put into my formulations. One of the newest additions to this “can purchase elsewhere” category is Mountain Rose Herbs’ new line of housemade skincare. Now, I may be a little biased, but I would not put something on my face that I didn’t trust, and I can tell you honestly that I love the new line.