Foraging Archives - Gently Sustainable

13AprApril 13, 2021

DIY Homemade Dandelion Oil and Salve

There are few flowers in more abundance than dandelion in the springtime! So why not make use of this miracle plant and make some DIY Homemade Dandelion Oil and Salve! Dandelion, also known as Taraxacum Officinale, is a member of the Sunflower family. While the entire dandelion plant can be consumed and is a power-house of vitamins and minerals, today we will be focusing on the blossoms of the dandelion to make Dandelion oil. Dandelion oil is for topical use only and makes a great massage oil for sore muscles and stiff joints. It's also good for reducing inflammation and stress after...

By KellyForaging0 Comments

09FebFebruary 9, 2020

How to Tap Maple Trees and Make Syrup

After many years of procrastinating, I finally accomplished my goal to make my own maple syrup! The whole process isn't difficult, I regret waiting so long! I'm excited to share my experience with you about "How to Tap Maple Trees and Make Syrup"! First off, you're going to need a good-sized Sugar Maple tree, no less than 10" in diameter. In my opinion, Sugar Maple trees are the best choice for syrup. However, there are 27 trees that can be tapped for syrup! My Sugar Maple tree isn't large enough to tap, so I was grateful when a good friend allowed...

By mediavineForaging, Growing Food, Veteran0 Comments

30JanJanuary 30, 2020

How to Make Flu-Fighting Elderberry Syrup

You've heard about the health benefits of elder and elderberries, but what's all the hype about? Does elderberry really have any affect on the body's ability to fight the flu? I've got some answers for you, as well as the recipe for how to make elderberry syrup! What is Elderberry? Black Elder, also known by the botanical name Sambucus, is a 10-30 foot tree that likes moist areas from brooks, creeks, suburban areas and farmland. Elderberry is rich in vitamin A, B and C, as well as antioxidant flavonoids and iron. The bark, leaves, flowers and berries can be used medicinally. There are...

By kmorrisAccomplished, Foraging, Self Care0 Comments

04JulJuly 4, 2019

How to Prepare Your Family for a Food Shortage

Would you know how to prepare your family for a food crisis, should one happen? Or, do you think that because you live in the US that such a thing would never happen? Unless you've been in a cave for the last few months, you've watched the world become an entirely different place due to a virus called the "coronavirus". Not since the Y2K crisis have I seen such wide-spread, worldwide panic. But it seems that every year brings it's challenges. Last year, we dealt with certain food shortages due to #noplant19, brought on by catastrophic rains that kept farmers from planting their spring...

By KellyAccomplished, Canning, Essentials for Chickens and Eggs, Financial Resilience, Foraging, Growing Food, Homesteading, Livestock, Newbie, Preserving Food, Skill Building, Sustainable Home, The Garden, Veteran4 Comments

24MayMay 24, 2019

The Gently Sustainable “Homestead Planner and Calendar”

I've always kept a planner and calendar. Planners help to keep track of errands, appointments and lists, right? But what about the homesteader? The average planner/calendar has no idea what the homesteader thinks about, plans for, does during the day and needs to keep track of! That's why I created the "Gently Sustainable - Homestead Planner and Calendar"! I love all of the different tools that I get to use on the homestead, from hand tools to tractors. But of all the tools I use everyday, there is one tool that precedes everything I do around here and that's my "Homestead Planner...

By KellyBeekeeping, Canning, Foraging, Freezing, Growing Food, Herbs, Homesteading, Livestock, Preserving Food, Shop, Skill Building, The GardenJournal8 Comments

22FebFebruary 22, 2019

Can You Safely Eat Dandelion?

There's nothing new or amazing about plain old dandelion...or is there? YES, I say! Dandelion is awesome! Let's talk about dandelion, it's uses, recipes and answer the question "Can You Safely Eat Dandelion"? I remember when we first moved to our farm 10 years ago. Spring had just arrived, and one day, as I went out to feed and water the animals, I couldn't believe my eyes! Across our pastures, there were thousands of gorgeous dandelions that seemed to appear overnight! It was like a massive carpet of dandelion! Once I caught my breath, I had to wonder what purpose all of these...

By KellyForaging, NewbieDandelion4 Comments

18FebFebruary 18, 2019

How to Find and Use Mulberry

Mulberry is the under-dog of foraged berries. They fall on sidewalks and cars, only to make unappreciated purple stains. Many people remain convinced that they are poisonous...so are mulberries edible? I hope to convince you that mulberries are not only worth the effort to harvest, but that they have nutritional benefits as well! Let me teach you how to find and use mulberries! Can You Eat Mulberries? What Do Mulberries Taste Like? What Parts Can Be Used? Mulberries mature in the late Spring/early Summer and have been used for centuries! Mulberries are sweet and juicy, making them a wonderful snack straight off...

By KellyForaging, HomesteadingForaging mulberries0 Comments

18FebFebruary 18, 2019

Foraging Tips for Beginners

As a beginner, foraging doesn't have to be a scary or intimidating thing. With a few tools and a bit of advice, you'll start recognizing what's safe to forage, how to collect and how to eat! Here's some "Foraging Tips for Beginners" to get you started! So much delicious, diverse, organic (and did I mention FREE?) food waits for us to discover and appreciate! There's so much wild food around us that we walk past most of the time and don't recognize it! What a shame! But that stops right here! Foraging defined means "to search for wild food sources." I...

By KellyForaging, Growing Food, Homesteading, Preserving Food, Skill BuildingForaging2 Comments

29MayMay 29, 2018

54 Ways to Be More Sustainable

In "54 Ways to Be More Sustainable", you'll discover big and small ways and ideas to promote sustainability in your home...no matter where you live! Creating more sustainability and self-reliance in your life brings more freedom from unfulfilling jobs, stress and debt. By becoming more sustainable, we gain confidence and freedom that we can indeed provide quite a bit for ourselves! Where to begin to become more sustainable in our lives? 54 Sustainable Living Tips and Ideas 1. Take Inventory What do I mean by "take inventory"? What I mean is to take a look around at what you have access to where you live. It doesn't...

By KellyCanning, Dehydrating Tools, DIY Personal Products, Essentials for Chickens and Eggs, Financial Resilience, Foraging, Freezing, Growing Food, Herbs, Homemaking, Livestock, Mental Health, Minimalism, Newbie, Non-electric living, Preserving Food, Self Care, Sewing, Skill Building, Sustainable Home, The GardenSelf-sufficiency, sustainability, sustainableliving27 Comments