DIG IN
The latest articles from Chelsea Green and our authors: offering tips and techniques about how you can bring our books to life in your kitchen, backyard, or community.
Wild Edibles: 5 Tips for Beginner Foragers
New to foraging? Here are a few beginner tips to get you started on your hunt for wild edibles! And next time you are taking a walk around the neighborhood, keep your eyes peeled for these thirteen plants: dandelion, mallow, purslane, plantain, thistle, amaranth, dock, mustard, grass, chickweed, clover, lambsquarter, and knotweed. The following is…
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Better Butter: Blossom Butter and Herb Garden Butter
Herb butter is a fantastic trick to have up your culinary sleeve! These two recipes offer simple ways to use edible flowers and herbs that you can pick right in your backyard. If you’ve never made herb butter, you’re in for a treat. These recipes are from The Occidental Arts and Ecology Cookbook, by The…
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How to Manage Invasive Thistle and Improve Your Soil
Invasive plants creeping into your yard is frustrating. Particularly for thistle, there’s a better approach than yanking it out at the root or worse spraying herbicide. Work smarter, not harder, with these approaches to removing invasive thistle. The following are excerpts from Beyond the War on Invasive Species by Tao Orion and The Wild Wisdom of…
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Simple, Greek-Style Yogurt
Looking for a simply & healthy snack to make this spring? These tips will help you whip up a delicious Greek-style yogurt with ease. The following excerpt is from Keeping a Family Cow by Joann S. Grohman. It has been adapted for the web. Making Yogurt Milk from a high-milk-solids breed such as the Jersey…
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Rewilding Your Land
Picture-perfect farms may be aesthetically pleasing, but they’re likely lacking in biodiversity. Rewilding practices allow the land to return to its natural wild state, providing more room for fruit-bearing plants to grow and animals to control small pests. The following is an excerpt from Farming on the Wild Side by Nancy J. Hayden and John…
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How to Forage and Store Wild Greens
Whether you are an expert forager or new to the skill, it’s important to understand how to store your freshly picked bounty. Luckily, author Alan Bergo has the lowdown on how to harvest wild greens and cook them for the best storage so your harvest can stay fresh for days after being picked! The following…
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Drop the Beet: Growing No-Till Beets
Let’s drop the beet! Beets can be grown year-round and are a perfect, flavorful addition to meals. Get started on growing your own no-till beets with help from these tips! The following is an excerpt from The Living Soil Handbook by Jesse Frost. It has a been adapted for the web. How to Grow No-Till…
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Foraging for Food: 10 Tips to Get You Started
Foraging wild plants in your area is a great way to shake up your culinary delights. Don’t know where to start? Below are our best foraging posts to get you started on your hunt for wild edibles. Foraging 101: Where to find your bounty We’ve given you descriptions. We’ve given you recipes. We’ve given you…
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Homemade Dandelion Beer
You can forget about waiting for your wine to ferment, because we have a recipe for dandelion beer that will be ready in just a week! Who knew those weeds in your backyard could make such a fun beverage? The following excerpt is from Pascal Baudar’s Wildcrafting Brewer. It has been adapted for the web.…
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Insects on Fruit Trees: Controlling Pests Organically
How do you control bugs & pests on your fruit trees without using harmful sprays and treatments? Here are some tips for identifying insects on fruit trees and controlling them organically. The following is an excerpt from The Holistic Orchard by Michael Phillips. It has been adapted for the web. Finding Insects On Fruit Trees…
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How to Build An Outdoor Clay Wood-Fired Pizza Oven
Nothing can be compared to the taste of a fresh, hot slice of pizza that came straight out of a wood-fired oven. By building your own clay wood-fired pizza oven, you’ll have this cheesy delicacy at your fingertips whenever you’re craving it! VIDEO: Building An Outdoor Clay Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Take it from Richard Miscovich,…
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Rock & Grow: Adding Local Rocks & Soil To Your Garden
Looking for ways to naturally enrich your garden? The answer is all around you….literally. Add local rocks & soil to your garden to improve soil health and see your crops flourishing in no time. The following is an excerpt from The Regenerative Grower’s Guide to Garden Amendments by Nigel Palmer. It has been adapted for the…
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Garden Strawberries — A Sweet and Delicious Ground Cover
Garden strawberries are excellent for both covering the ground and for growing fruit. If you’re planning out a forest garden, or are just looking for a plant to use as ground cover, strawberries are a great option. The following is an excerpt from The Home-Scale Forest Garden by Dani Baker. It has been adapted for…
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Just Add Bugs: Rewilding in Your Garden
For too long, bugs have had a negative connotation associated with them. But what if we took the time to observe the benefits of insects? It’s time to rebug our gardens, lawns, and parks! The following is an excerpt from Rebugging the Planet by Vicki Hird. It has been adapted for the web. Adding Bugs:…
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Asparagus: An Aspiring Spear
Asparagus is a delicious vegetable with a layered history. How did this aspiring spear make its way from growing in the wild to appearing on our plates? The following is an excerpt from the The Seed Detective by Adam Alexander. It has been adapted for the web. “Nature gives us the key to every secret…
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Planting, Transplanting, and Pruning Trees
Interested in growing trees? Here are some tips on successfully planting, transplanting, and pruning trees to create a flourishing forest garden! The following is an excerpt from The Home-Scale Forest Garden by Dani Baker. It has been adapted for the web. Planting Potted Trees and Shrubs If you order potted trees, check with your supplier to…
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Foraging and Cooking Cattails
Chances are, you’ve seen cattails growing on the edge of your local lake or stream at least once or twice. Instead of just passing these plants, try foraging for and cooking them to create delicious seasonal dishes! The following excerpt is from The New Wildcrafted Cuisine by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the…
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Compost: Small Farm-Style
With the right strategies and practices, composting on a small farm is surprisingly easy and inexpensive. Just follow these steps for making compost, and your farm will be thriving in no time! The following excerpt is from The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables by Ben Hartman. It has been adapted for the web. (All photographs by Ben…
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Garlic Mustard: A Gold Mine of Food and Medicine
Garlic mustard: while known as “invasive,” this plant can be consumed in its entirety and has great nutritional value. Plus, the garlic-flavor is a perfect addition to any recipe that calls for mustard! The following are excerpts from Beyond the War on Invasive Species by Tao Orion and The Wild Wisdom of Weeds by Katrina…
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Fermented Plant Juice: A Drink Only a Garden Could Love
Everyone loves a refreshing, fermented, nutritious drink…even your garden! Take your fermentation skills out of the kitchen and into the garden by brewing fermented plant juice. The following is an excerpt from The Regenerative Grower’s Guide to Garden Amendments by Nigel Palmer. It has been adapted for the web. How to Make Fermented Plant Juice Fermented…
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Peregrine Falcons: Then and Now
Peregrine falcons, while known as predators, are essential to our environment. These stunning birds have a rich history, an interesting present, and an uncertain future. The following is an excerpt from Feather Trails by Sophie A. H. Osborn. It has been adapted for the web. Who Are Peregrine Falcons? Though relatively uncommon wherever it occurs,…
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Delightfully Fizzy Honeysuckle Cordial
Oh, honeysuckle…how we love thee. If only there was a way to capture the sweet essence of this plant so we could enjoy it more than just in passing. Luckily, foraging and some preparation can help make that happen! Here’s a springtime recipe that tastes exactly like honeysuckle smells. The following excerpt is from Forage,…
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A Guide to Soil Fertility and Crop Health
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?…
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The Whole Broccoli Frittata: A Wild Boost To Your Brunch Menu
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…
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Catnip! Good for Cats, Good for Humans
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…
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