This newsletter contains affiliate links. Hey friend, This is the part of summer where your garden starts making decisions for you. A handful of berries turns into a mushy mess. A few vegetables turn into a counter full of āI should really deal with that today.ā And your "quick prep" stir-fry or salad turns into you sweating away an extra 15 minutes, cutting out all the "bad bits" from your not-so-fresh garden produce. Over the years, Iāve learned that preserving food doesnāt always mean a...
about 6 hours agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
This newsletter contains affiliate links. Sponsored by Finance Buzz Get 0% Intro APR + Travel Rewards With This Card Escape high interest with a card offering 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers into 2027. Pay down debt faster, earn travel rewards on everyday spending, and enjoy no annual fee while working toward your financial goals. Hey friend, By mid-July, I want food and systems that work with the season instead of fighting it. That means easy sourdough ideas, simple...
4 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
This newsletter contains affiliate links. Brought to you by Butcher Box Free meat. Every box. For a YEAR. For a limited time, every new ButcherBox subscription earns you your choice of Thick Cut Ribeye, Top Sirloins, or Ground Beef + Bacon in every box for your entire first year. Antibiotic and hormone free, and delivered straight to your door. Hey friend, Cucumber season always starts out so politely. One or two on the counter. Maybe a few in the fridge. Then suddenly youāve got a pile of...
5 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Food Preservation Summit Starts Tomorrow Just a quick reminder in case you meant to sign up for the Food Preservation Summit and havenāt had a chance yet. This 3-day free online event from The School of Traditional Skills focuses on the practical skills many of us are trying to build right now: preserving food, stocking the pantry, making more from what we already have, and wasting less. If rising grocery prices have you looking at canning, dehydrating, fermenting, or building a deeper...
9 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hey friend, If berries are showing up in your kitchen this weekend, donāt wait too long. They always look manageable at first. Then one day theyāre soft, sticky, and begging to be used before they end up in the compost. Thatās why this weekendās newsletter is all about saving the good stuff before it slips away. A few jars now can make winter meals feel a little easier later. Food Preservation Summit July 6 through July 8 Quick note: Thereās also a free food preservation summit coming up from...
11 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
This newsletter contains affiliate links. Hey friend, Every summer, I forget this part. Everyoneās outside more. The snacks disappear faster. And the berries, sandwiches, muffins, leftovers and āquickā meals donāt last nearly as long as I think they will. Yet somehow, even with the garden growing and the pantry stocked, the grocery bill still starts creeping up. Thatās when I know itās time for a reset. Not a big dramatic one. Just a simple look at what we already have, what we can stretch,...
12 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
This newsletter contains affiliate links. Hey friend, July 4 weekend is almost here, and just like with our Canada Day meal planning, I know you want food that feels special without turning into a whole production. Not a huge meal plan. Not a full day in the kitchen. Just a few easy and sweet summer ideas for brunch, berries and slow weekend mornings. So today Iām keeping it simple with three reads you can use before the weekend gets busy. The Free Food Preservation Summit runs July 6 - 8...
12 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
This newsletter contains affiliate links. Hey friend, If you're getting serious about taking the next steps to becoming more self-reliant, this is the email for you. These posts help readers think through projects to build self-reliance, learn about off-grid systems, and take the next step toward a more self-reliant life. Not Ready to Move off Grid and Homestead? No worries. Start your self-reliance journey right where you are by taking charge of your long-term food supply. Whether you're...
14 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Free 3 Day Food Preservation Summit Starts July 6 Hey friend, If your grocery bill feels higher every time you shop, youāre not imagining it. And if youāve been thinking, āThis is the summer I finally learn how to preserve food properly,ā I found a free training that may help. The Summer Preservation Summit 2026 runs live online from July 6 to 8, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM PT each day. Itās hosted by the School of Traditional Skills, and itās focused on practical food preservation skills for...
15 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
This newsletter contains affiliate links. Hey friend, As I've learned over the years, summer doesn't wait for anyone. One day you're picking the first berries, the next you're wondering if the compost is heating up properly and whether you've got enough jars for canning season. This week's newsletter is all about staying one step ahead. I've rounded up plenty of ways to use fresh berries before they spoil, plus a refresher on hot composting and a few simple ways to get ready before preserving...
18 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read