Mother Earth

Living off the Grid: Syrup Season - Tree Tapping 101

Did you know that maple trees are not the only trees that provide us with the sap necessary to make syrup? There are several different trees that produce a sap sweet and sticky enough to make delicious syrups and sugars. The sugar maple is one of the most well known and most common trees tapped because it has the highest sugar content –  which is key to a fine syrup.

Mother Earth's Medicine Cabinet: The Power of The Poultice

Poultices are some of the most interesting medicines. A poultice is a warm medicated dressing. To make a poultice, you just crush up different plants, herbs, and other healing medicinal items into a paste and apply to the affected area. It really is one of the simplest medicines to make, with incredible results.

Eco-Friendly Vehicles: The New Way To Cruise

Solar-powered cars may sound like something modern, but the truth is that they actually made an appearance in the late 1970s. However, the first completely solar-powered car was developed in 1984 by Greg Johanson and Joel Davidson. Solar-powered cars were obviously slow to catch on, but electric cars in general have been gaining in popularity in recent years.  While electric cars were difficult to find 20 years ago, several automakers have now developed electric versions – and the crowd is loving it. 

Mother Earth's Medicine Cabinet: The Benefits of Hops

More often than not, the first thing that comes to many people’s minds when they hear the word hops is a cold beer. Did you know hops is actually a medicinal plant? Hops can help you with some very common ailments.

Living Off The Grid: The Value of Roughing It

One doesn’t truly know the value of something until it is missing from one’s life. Going without and having to work for things brings out the true value in them. Living off of the grid, or even just spending time off of it now and then, can really have a positive impact.

Mother Earth's Medicine Cabinet: A Natural Approach To Quitting Nicotine

I began smoking at far too young of an age, though any age is too young to start such a habit. Eventually, I decided to quit. There are so many doctors out there who are quick to put you on prescription medications and nicotine substitutes in order to help you quit smoking. However, this method really just amounts to replacing one bad habit with another. It is very important that if you DO replace a habit to make it be a good habit that takes the place of the bad. Of course, each person is different, so different methods work for different people.

Mother Earth's Medicine Cabinet: Elixirs 101

 An elixir may sound like something concocted in a magical realm of some fantasy movie or video game BUT they truly exist and provide healing. Elixirs are actually some of the sweetest medicines provided by Mother Nature and concocted by healers all over the world. These clear, sweet, and aromatic drinks are considered Hydroalcoholic, meaning they contain both water and alcohol.

Living Off The Grid: Nature's Soap

Soap is incredibly amazing and useful. There are many ways to make your own homemade soaps and shampoos, but do you know there are plants out there that do most of the work for you? Some people prefer to make or buy lye to make their soaps, but working with lye in its pure form can be dangerous if not handled properly.

But, fear not: I am not simply referring to the flowers out there that add scents to the soaps. Instead, I am talking about raw fresh soap straight out of nature. In this article, I will teach you about a few plants that can be used to scrub up with.

Mother Earth's Medicine Cabinet: 8 Spices with Healing Properties

 Almost every house has a kitchen cabinet or a rack designated just for their cooking spices. Did you know that a majority of those spices contain beneficial healing and medicinal properties? Many spices can be used for both healing and preventing ailments.

Topping off your bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon in the early morning sure is pleasurable to the palette, but it is also great for aiding in proper brain function. There are so many edible medicines –  whether they’re used to heal, cure or to simply prevent health issues that taste delicious.

Living Off The Grid: Pickling For Preservation 101

Pickling a portion of your garden’s fruits and vegetables allows you to bring farm fresh food to the table ALL year . Pickling for preservation may be one of the oldest methods of preserving food, as it traces back to the B.C. time period.