organic

Can Coupons Be Used Responsibly?

January 18, 2012

Written by Courtney, Contributing Writer
As mothers raising families in a tough economy, we are always looking for ways to save money and make our dollars stretch a little further. Since the beginning of time, mothers have learned to be wise stewards of the limited resources available to them. More recently, many have turned to coupons [...]

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Gardening with Herbs 101: Harvesting Your Herbs

September 8, 2011

Written by Meg Dickey, Contributing Writer
Our weather may not be showing signs of Autumn, but our plants and gardens are certainly indicating it is time for harvesting!
If you have been consistently using your herbs throughout the summer, you may not feel you have many to preserve for the winter season (my catnip has been well-used [...]

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The State of My Garden So Far (Challenges, Mistakes, Pests and All)

July 7, 2011

Challenges or not, I couldn't give up gardening if I tried. Watching my plants grow, from a tiny seed into delicious food is just so rewarding (like this brand new broccoli head above, which we'll be eating in a another week or two).
This marks our first full summer in our current home, and so far, [...]

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Simple Summer Herbs: Refreshing Infusions

June 10, 2011

By Meg Dickey, contributing writer

Behold the flowers that deck the field,
The gentle breeze perfuming
And tender herbs their fragrance yield
Are health and life diffusing.
~Harvard Shaker Community Herb Catalog, 1843~

For some of us, the tantalizing breezes of summer are already wafting over our gardens.  As the days warm and the herbs in our gardens increase in [...]

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The Nitty-Gritty on The Real Food I Buy and Where I Buy It, Part 2

May 6, 2011

Yesterday I began by sharing about where I buy our meat, fish, eggs, dairy and fats. Today I'll continue on, sharing the particulars of what I buy where.
The goal isn't to tell you that you should buy your foods just as I do, but rather to give you a detailed, inside look at how it [...]

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What’s So Great About Raw Milk?

April 28, 2011

Once upon a time, milk was not such a complex or controversial subject.
Cows grazed on green grass. Healthy, well-fed, and free to roam, they produced a nutrient-dense, thick, white liquid which was relished either straight from the cow (raw) or turned into cultured dairy for short-term storage or delectable hard cheeses for long-term storage.
It was [...]

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At Simple Organic: Identifying and Avoiding Toxins in Beauty and Personal Care Products

April 13, 2011

Ever wondered what the big deal is about using more natural shampoo or soap or even makeup? Maybe it makes sense why we'd want to be careful with the things that actually go in our mouths (ie. food or toothpaste), but why do products that simply go on our skin make a difference?
Have you ever [...]

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How to Plan Your Garden, Part 2

March 31, 2011

Were you as inspired as I was by Shannon's post on Tuesday? I completely understand what she means about becoming more and more excited each year as she considers what she can grow and preserve. I feel the same way. Spring is positively pregnant with possibility when it comes to envisioning my garden and what [...]

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Plan & Plant Now for Sustainability, Freedom, and a Backyard Revolution

March 29, 2011

I am not an expert gardener and have only spent the last few years taking a stab at preserving what we eat and eating what we preserve. Every year, though, I grow more and more excited because every year we are learning, producing, and preserving more.
I have learned that amazing things can happen when you [...]

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How to Plan Your Garden

March 21, 2011

In our Gardening 101 series, we’ve talked about a lot of different things so far... how to select seeds for better success, growing herbs, gardening based on where you live, square foot gardening.
I know that the process of planning what and how much and when and where to plant everything can be one of the [...]

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