Oxalates in My Food?

Oxalates in My Food?

Superfoods are nutrient rich and good for us. They are healthy, right? I was surprised to find out that they might also be hard on our human bodies. Overconsumption of oxalates may lead to the formation of caustic crystals that can cause dis-ease.

Peace Tea Garden

Peace Tea Garden

In pain? Jittery? Anxious? Restless? Out of sorts? There’s a plant for that!
I have discovered many plants with known soothing properties that are easy to grow in a small space. This might be the time to consider creating a peace tea garden.

Adaptogens Coffee Booster

Adaptogens Coffee Booster

Coffee. If you know you need it, you drink it right? Yet it comes with real benefits, and you can easily ramp up the power of your morning coffee even more with a few simple plant additions. Maybe you haven’t heard of adaptogens. Let me tell you …

Black Elderberry Syrup

Black Elderberry Syrup

Black elderberry syrup is valued as a health tonic and herbal medicine. It is loaded with antioxidants and vitamins that boost the immune system. You can easily make it at home with these instructions.

Clear Your Head

Clear Your Head

Allergies. Pollen. Germs. Whatever the cause, having a stuffy head is no fun. This easy lymphatic drainage self massage has been a valuable addition to my natural health toolbox.

Crafting Face Masks

Crafting Face Masks

For the past two weeks, my time has been occupied with crafting face masks. During the lock-down, we didn’t seem to need them, but now that our province is beginning to open up, more outings require non-surgical face masks. They became top priority when we...
Thieves Essential Oil Formula

Thieves Essential Oil Formula

A few years ago, Thieves Oil was on my daughter-in-law’s Christmas wish list. I discovered that retail versions are astronomically expensive but, as I suspected, it is easy to create the blend at home. The hardest part was deciding which essential oil formula to...
Herbs for Bone Broth

Herbs for Bone Broth

Bone broth has been big news the last few years. Part of the health benefit of broth comes from herbs which contribute their medicinal essence as well as their flavour. I grow many culinary and medicinal herbs, and dry them for a year-round supply.

Fighting Colds with Thyme Tea

Fighting Colds with Thyme Tea

I would guess that thyme and sage are familiar culinary herbs every cook has used as flavouring. Less well known, I’m sure, is their value in helping to fight cold symptoms and all kinds of bronchial problems. This is one more reason to dose up on home-made bone broth...
Lyme Notes

Lyme Notes

Until about a decade ago I had never heard of Lyme disease, which means I’ve lived most of my life without that fear. But now a number of sources call it an epidemic, and I know people who have been hit so I feel a deep concern for keeping my grandchildren safe.

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut

In the past decade, there has been a rising tide of research and resultant knowledge about the human microbiome. Probiotics are becoming as commonly familiar as antibiotics have been in our lifetime. The good news is that probiotics are freely available and easy to...
Sunshine Soup

Sunshine Soup

Seasonal eating is a big part of how I manage our food supply, so now is the time for squash and pumpkins to take centre stage. As we move toward winter, the daylight hours wane and, in the Pacific Northwest, we also have a lot of cloud cover. Enter seasonal affective...