August 5, 2024 By Sarah White No Comments

Inflation has officially hit blueberries; they're charging $75 at my favourite fancy grocery in Huntsville! While our property is abundant with wild raspberries and strawberries we've yet to find the elusive Muskoka wild blueberry on our land so we're stuck purchasing ours, for now (pro tip: the health food store in Parry sound has the best prices we've seen). This year I committed to a full basket so we've been thoroughly enjoying using up our precious stash. We have cups vacuum sealed & frozen for colder weather, many many blueberries smoothies & fresh blueberry jam but the standout was this…

May 29, 2024 By Sarah White No Comments

We inherited a lovely little rhubarb patch with our homestead; along with a trout-stocked pond, wild ramps, a tiny chanterelle patch and tons and tons of wild raspberries! While we've definitely got our hands full with the new baby (2.5 weeks) I couldn't let our rhubarb yield go to waste & whipped up this quick crumble with pantry ingredients and a random grapefruit from our fruit bowl. Luckily the grapefruit compliments the fresh rhubarb and nutty brown butter beautifully, resulting in this extra special treat for tired mama & papa and a new recipe for you all. Printrhubarb & grapefruit…

November 15, 2022 By Sarah White No Comments

The ‘we got these GIGANTIC carrots in our CSA box this week' muffins. While carrots are often thought of as a 'spring' vegetable they're actually at their best in the winter. When the weather gets cold carrots convert a lot of their starches into sugars to act as a natural protectant against the cooler weather, so they become a lot sweeter in winter; perfect for baking these millet & oat based, perfectly sweet carrot muffins. PrintGluten-Free Vegan Carrot Muffins These gluten-free, dairy-free oat & millet based muffins make the most out of those sweet winter carrots popping up in CSA…

September 15, 2022 By Sarah White No Comments

"home grown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes what would life be like without homegrown tomatoes only two things that money can't buy that's true love and home grown tomatoes." - John Denver With ripe late season home grown tomatoes you can really get a away with just a pinch of flakey salt & drizzle of good olive oil, there's nothing better. If you've eaten all the raw sliced tomatoes you can handle and still have a few left from your backyard bounty then I highly suggest this easy, creamy, dairy-free tomato soup. Simply roast your tomatoes, spices, onion + garlic and…

September 18, 2020 By Sarah White No Comments

I don't pasta often, but when I do it's this dairy-free, gluten-free lemony zucchini-filled wonder recipe.  Typically, I prefer my noodles in the form of Thai food (usually glass noodles only, I really really don't do well with a ton of carbs) - Ky and I started the tradition of ordering Thai food on Sunday's years ago and have been pretty consistent in our regular weekend curry consumption. While I do love a good food-based tradition the time inside / off work this year had me questioning a lot of our priorities, goals and spending ... Since starting my practice…

May 15, 2020 By Sarah White No Comments

I have been thinking a lot about self sufficiency lately ... I've always been an funny mix of city girl / country girl - I love being near restaurants, galleries and my friends but at the same time I'm drawn to quiet moments in nature and constantly dream about a simpler life on a farm with my family and dog. We'd host dinner clubs, run a small clinic / apothecary where I could help people heal surrounded by nature, and live entirely off our own land (plus Kyle would have to finally say yes to my bee-keeping dreams if we…

October 26, 2019 By Sarah White No Comments

Foraging is one of my favourite ways to connect with nature; not only is it a great excuse for a long meditative walk in the woods, it also has added culinary & medicinal benefits. In Ontario, fall is the best season to forage for wild mushrooms. Delicious varieties like my favourite chanterelles are plentiful, and the best way to get them is to search for them yourself. It’s a wonderful excuse for a mindful (mushroom hunting takes concentration) walk in the forest before winter settles in. If you’re new to foraging for wild mushrooms going out with an expert is…

October 20, 2019 By Sarah White No Comments

Not only are elderberries delicious, they also happen to be one of the most well-studied herbal medicines, and a staple in this doctor's natural medicine cabinet. Elderberry syrup created from dried elderberries has powerful immune-boosting properties which makes it my go-to prescription for both kids and adults at this time of year. Studies show that elderberry supplementation can reduce cold duration and symptoms because it's high flavonoid content actually binds to the H1N1 human influenza virus as well as the H5N1 avian influenza virus in order to eliminate them from your system more quickly. The best time to supplement with elderberry extract is within the first…

September 20, 2019 By Sarah White 3 Comments

Dense, tangy and incredibly tasty, I promise you this wheat-free 100% rye and spelt sourdough recipe is entirely worth the effort. So far we've made homemade kombucha, taught you about raising backyard hens, grown our own food (read about my top tomato tips here), and fermented our backyard harvest. Our latest urban homesteading adventure is the most ambitious yet: 100% rye and spelt sourdough bread-making. "Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… ” - Theodore Roosevelt I have to assume, after months of tears, burnt loaves, long drives (to procure the perfect starter),…

September 5, 2019 By Sarah White No Comments

Dried herbal tea preparations are daily staple and a mainstay in this doctor's natural medicine cabinet, but nothing beats a tea made with fresh herbs. Herbs plucked straight from the garden have a bright 'alive' taste that I absolutely love. There are also a ton of health benefits derived from freshly cut herbs since fresh herbs are even more dense with antioxidants than most fruits and vegetables. This summer we've been enjoying frequent cups of fresh mint, dandelion leaf, and nettle teas on warm summer evenings out in the backyard. It's the perfect way to wrap up a busy day…