Peripatetic philomaths…focusing on what's really important, eating ethically and cleanly, fermenting, foraging/wildcrafting, practicing herbalism, and being responsible stewards of our land. Sharing our photos, musings, and learnings. Still seeking our tribe.
It’s been 11 days since I started the Mugolio and it’s been a fascinating process to watch the maceration occur: fermentation really is like magic!
Continue reading “Wildcrafted Update: Making Mugolio (Fermented Pine Cone Syrup)”
As we near the official start of summer here in the northern hemisphere, baby birds are fledging, flowers are blooming, and the pine treees are putting forth beautiful cones. I’m always looking for ways to utilize the bounty of the land, so when I discovered a wildcrafted syrup called Mugolio, I knew I’d be making some!
Continue reading “Wildcrafted: Making Mugolio (Fermented Pine Cone Syrup)”
I remember, one summer after we bought the farm (ha!), looking quizzically at a tall, leafy tree laden with fruit and wondering what in the world it was. A berry tree? And one where the berries seemingly grow right out of the branches? Will wonders never cease? I discovered that it was a mulberry, and that those berries are very much edible!
Continue reading “Kefir Madness: Mighty Mulberry”
That delighful fragrance wafting in the humid evening breeze is a telltale sign that flowers are blooming on the farm. When I smell that wonderful perfume, I take time to soak it in…and then I start making plans. Last year, I had planned to make Black Locust Flower wine, but missed the bloom. This year, we had a bumper crop of Black Locust blooms!
Continue reading “Wildcrafted: 2022’s Black Locust Flower Wine”
The watermelon rind pickles are happily fermenting away, and we’ve been enjoying the refreshing coolness of the watermelon flesh right out of the refrigerator. But when fresh fruit is around, it almost always works its way into water kefir, and watermelon is no exception!
Continue reading “Kefir Madness: Waste-Free Watermelon”
One of my favorite parts of the delicious Vietnamese sandwiches called bánh mì is the pickled veggies: they’re lightly salty, tangy, and sweet, a wonderful combination that complements the other sandwich ingredients perfectly. Also great in other dishes, like bún (vermicelli noodle bowls), this is a versatile condiment to keep on hand.
Continue reading “Ferment This: Đồ Chua (Daikon & Carrot Pickles)”
When was the last time you bought a whole pineapple and cut it up? And when you did, did you also use the peel and core? If not, you’re missing out: fermented beverages are just waiting to be made from the humble pineapple “waste”…like delightful country wine. If you like frugal and creative, read on!
Continue reading “Winecraft: No Waste Pineapple Peel Wine, Two Ways”
Just because temperatures are below freezing and snow’s in the forecast doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a taste of the tropics – and with the goodness of water kefir, also give your immune system a boost with beneficial probiotics. Today, I bottled a flavor I call “Tropical” and have Banana Cream and Lime-Coconut doing a second ferment.
Continue reading “Kefir Madness: Escape To The Tropics”
With winter’s approach, my thoughts go to ferments, and how particularly satisfying – and beneficial – they are at this time of year. Cool-weather vegetables, such as brassica, lend themselves to making easy and delicious living foods like sauerkraut and kimchi. Why not make some today?
Continue reading “Farm Ferments: Brassica’s Biotic Bounty”
A once-vibrant eggplant sat in the crisper. It was sad to be alone, its companion having already been transformed into delicious keto eggplant rings. What do I do with just one eggplant, and one rapidly succumbing to refrigerator-assisted aging? Preserve it by fermenting it, of course.
Continue reading “Farm Ferments: Enlivened Eggplant”