What is kombucha? An effervescent fermented tea made from regular black/green tea, sugar and the starter culture, also known as the Scoby. What is that alien-looking thing and why do I want it in my tea? Scoby is actually an acronym for “symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast”. The bacteria is Acetobacter (a genus of acetic… Continue reading How to make kombucha
It’s amazing what a little rain and warm spring weather will do! Last year I planted a small raised bed garden in the backyard of my duplex apartment. I had a couple tomato plants, herbs and peppers, but not much else. As the summer progressed, I got a little bit of food out of the… Continue reading My backyard garden
Usually, yogurt making is fool-proof. This week I made nine pints of yogurt using my food dehydrator, since the outdoor daytime temperatures aren’t anywhere near 100°, which is necessary for porchgurt. I have an Excalibur 4 tray dehydrator like the one in the image here. I take out the trays and there’s just enough space… Continue reading Grainy indoor yogurt
I’ve never been pepper sprayed, and I consider myself fortunate for never having that particular experience. Today, however, I think I may have encountered the next best (worst?) thing. Regularly when I’m feeling a bit of crud coming on, I take a packet or two of Emergen-C with a spoonful of my homemade fire cider… Continue reading Burning head of fire
The Fifth of November. It’s a significant date in my life. “Remember, remember, the Fifth of November” is familiar thanks to V for Vendetta, in which a masked revolutionary works to bring down a corrupt British government of the future. The date was chosen to evoke memories of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot when Guy Fawkes… Continue reading Remembering the Fifth of November
I did it. As of this week, I have no detergents in my regular cleaning lineup. Instead, I am using a combination of natural soaps and other products. Laundry detergent: Dr. Bronner’s Citrus Castile Liquid Soap, borax and washing soda. Shampoo: Kiss My Face Olive Oil Bar Soap (I was using “shampoo bars” but discovered… Continue reading Detergent-free household
Guadalupe Peak. At 8,751 feet it’s the highest point in Texas, about 3000 foot elevation gain over 4.2 miles from the base. And it was my destination this past weekend. Climbing a mountain wasn’t ever anything I thought I could do. In fact, had you asked me even a year ago if I could envision… Continue reading Once you climb a mountain, it’s all downhill from there
If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, what does a spoonful of fire cider do? Fire cider is a concoction of hot peppers, ginger, garlic and apple cider vinegar, and other stuff if you feel so inclined. It is a health tonic that can help boost immunity and improve circulation. As Jack… Continue reading Make your own fire cider
Sucking chest wounds. Blisters. Altitude Mountain Sickness. Spider bites. Evacuation techniques. Sprained ankles. These are just of a long list of ailments and injuries I learned how to treat in my Wilderness First Aid Certification class this past weekend. As any first aid knowledge, the skills I learned will come in handy at any time,… Continue reading Wilderness First Aid Certification class
Never tell your frustrations to a prickly ash tree. Back in May I attended a two-day spirituality and energetics workshop taught by Scott Schoner of The Human Path. I’ve been trying to get more in touch with my own spiritual identity lately, but I really didn’t know what to expect from the class. The weekend’s… Continue reading The wisdom of trees
Surviving the Modern World 