Using Pesticides Safely

Parkinson’s disease killed my father-in-law. It took a beautifully vibrant man and stole a little piece of his dignity every minute of every day for over 20 years. The latest studies link this hideous disease to pesticide use. We can believe it. Dad used pesticides freely and without reservation.   I trust that Natural Health […]

What is the Difference Between Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter?

Cocoa butter and shea butter are two popular ingredients that are used as bases in many natural skincare products. Although people often confuse the two products, they are in fact extracted from two very different trees. The chemical composition and uses of the final skincare product are very similar but it is useful to understand […]

5 Benefits of Raising Your Own Meat

I rarely buy meat at the grocery store. For years now our family has raised our own chickens or pigs for butchering, or hunted deer in the forest. There are many benefits to raising your own meat, for your health and otherwise. But I’d like to share just five of them with you here. 1. […]

Uses For St John’s Wort

St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an ancient herb that was used extensively by the Greeks and the Romans, amongst other ancient civilizations. Today it is still used as a natural treatment for many conditions. However, overuse of St John’s Wort can cause some allergic reactions, so it is useful to understand what the plant […]

How to Make Milk Gravy

My mother always worked outside the home. When she was home, she spent her time fashioning beautiful and useful garments for her family and clients—not cooking. Consequently, I grew up on lovingly-prepared meals out of a box or can. Everything I now know about cooking from scratch and using whole foods from my own backyard, […]

How To Grow A Table Top Indoor Garden

You may dream of growing all of your own food, but your personal reality might not be as romantic as a rural retreat with an acre of ground in the south of France (my as yet unfulfilled vision for living my good life). You may be an urban eco-warrior, or like me a suburban greenie. […]

The Use of Aromatic Waters for Your Health

Aromatic waters, more commonly known as hydrosols or hydrolats in aromatherapy practice, have a number of health benefits; most people associate the therapeutic practice of aromatherapy with essential oils, but interest is growing in the use of aromatic waters. Once considered the by-product of distillation of an essential oil, aromatic waters are actually valuable commodities […]