The Gift of Good Health by Anna Herman There are few things more appreciated than a lovely homemade gift, especially one you can eat or drink. Hosts and hostesses will welcome a batch of sweet and spiced nuts to put out with drinks, or brandied fruit to accompany dessert. Cooks and non-cooks alike can admire
MoreFire Pit Fun by Anna Herman A few years back I read a book called “Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human,” which posits that learning to use fire was the essential factor in the evolution of mankind. Sitting around a fire does indeed feel like a quintessentially human experience—satisfying the primal desires for warmth
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Home Brew by Anna Herman Herbs, fresh and dried, are an essential ingredient in many a culinary endeavor. Where would we be without pasta with basil pesto, or chive cream cheese on a toasted bagel? Herbs are equally important in hot water—but try not to call it tea. Black and green tea are both made
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Clean and Simple by Anna Herman Soapmaking is a blend of art and chemistry, and you shouldn’t take the chemistry part lightly. Once you understand the basic chemical process, you will see the importance of taking precautions. Then you’ll learn the many possible combinations ofingredients, and your inner artisan can emerge. I have come to
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Peach Bliss by Anna Herman Gorge though you may, there are only so many peaches and cherries you can eat this summer, and some fruits are just better when they aren’t fresh: I’ve rarely had an apricot on the East Coast that was worth eating when I bought it. But sweet and tart jam made
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Backyard Birds by Anna Herman Backyard chickens have a long history of coexisting with humans in cities, towns and villages worldwide. The 1917 Poultry Gazette ran the following ad: “Even the smallest back yard has room for a flock large enough to supply the house with eggs. … They require little attention only a few
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Photo by Gene Smirnov Counter Culture by Anna Herman Many of us with yards have those small animals that are dubbed micro-livestock—chickens, ducks, rabbits and honeybees and the like—as part of our urban homestead and hyper-local food sources. But even apartment dwellers can improve their nutrition and cultivate microorganisms by fermenting food. So many traditional
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Dear Diary by Anna Herman Handcrafting a book to jot down favorite quotes or sketch your garden plans is an hour or two of work well spent. With a bit of planning and practice, you can transform scraps and hand-me-downs into practical or fantastical journals, albums or printed books. These make great presents and gifts,
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Photo by Addison Geary Hive Mind by Anna Herman Most humans are cheered by spring flowers. For all the pollinating insects, these blooms are a lifeline after the nectar- and pollen-free winter cold. Honeybees and many native bees keep the foods we love—fruits, veggies, nuts, milk and even ice cream—flowing to our tables through their
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Daily Bread by Anna Herman It is hard to improve upon the fresh bread available from so many excellent local bakeries. But you can come close, and few things are as magical as transforming flour, water and salt into fragrant loaves—so it is worth your time to try. Whether turning out unleavened, hand-rolled flatbreads, or
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