Fermenting foods is one of my passions in life. With just a little bit of salt and water, you can transform vegetables into something completely different and also increase their healthful properties. Fermented foods contain probiotics, which can be beneficial for the digestive system.

This blog was originally published in 2012. Because it's so popular, we decided to update it for you. Enjoy! 

It's the time of year where pumpkin spice scents and flavors are popping up everywhere. Instead of reaching for a candle or room spray that's chock full of synthetic fragrances, try making your own diffuser blend with certified organic essential oils to bring those familiar pie-inspired smells into your space!

Preserving food is so much more than extending the year’s harvest. It’s a way to connect with the practices of our ancestors. No matter what part(s) of the world your cultural lineage descends from, your relatives preserved food in one way or another. As we begin to transition into the colder months, I channel that knowledge and dream of how my pantry will evolve throughout the harvest. As the cabbages in my humble garden begin to peak, I get excited thinking of all of the different flavors of sauerkraut I can create.

Who doesn’t love a hot bowl of Tom Kha? I’m yet to encounter such a person. I first discovered this tasty Thai soup back in college at a local Eugene, Oregon joint. The trifecta of fresh and traditional herbs completely blew my mind. Lemongrass, Thai makrut lime leaves, and galangal root (where the “kha” in “tom kha” comes from) give this soup its incredible and unmistakable flavor. 

Fire Cider is a popular (and tasty!) herbal folk remedy popularized by esteemed herbalist, Rosemary Gladstar (who inspired the recipe below). This tasty vinegar infusion powered by warming and wellness-supporting ingredients is an especially pleasant and easy way to boost natural health processes, stimulate digestion, and raise your internal thermostat on cold days. Mmm...mmm!...how we love this hot and sweet, zesty, vinegary recipe!

This Love Tea simple syrup is something special. With hints of cacao and cinnamon, this floral syrup is perfect for crafting unique cocktails or stirring into a cozy morning latte. It’s also an easy addition to sparkling or ice water: refreshing, with a delicate flavor that will mystify your friends!

This blog was originally published in 2014, but we noticed it was a blog reader favorite, so we decided to update it for you. Enjoy! 

Combava petitgrain is a bright and uplifting essential oil that is distilled from the leaves and twigs of the Makrut Lime citrus bush, Citrus hystrix. This organic essential oil is used in fragrances and natural body care products. The oil has a soft, thick, citrusy scent with dry, woodsy back notes. It has a strong, long-lasting aroma, reminiscent of lemongrass and petitgrain.

This solar holiday, also known to some as "Midsummer," marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. There is much folklore and myth associated with this holiday, and some traditions consider Midsummer’s Night to be a night where the veil between the human world and the world of the Faerie Folk is at its thinnest—a night the denizens of Faerie might be seen frolicking, making mischief, and dancing in merriment! Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a good illustration of this mythical thread. 

Well, it seems as if summer is finally here in the northwest! The weather has been absolutely stunning, and it’s been such a joy to get out and enjoy the sunshine. I’ve been hitting the hiking trail, the outdoor basketball courts, and the river a lot these days.

I love raspberry leaf! It is a pleasant tasting herb with a mildly sweet flavor reminiscent of black tea but sans all that caffeine. I have fond memories of drinking this blend during my pregnancy many years ago. Since it’s gentle on the stomach, I drank quite a bit, and it really agreed with me at a time when many other foods didn't!