The fullness, warmth and body of the growing season culminates with the Autumn Harvest. We gather, stock and store the high-density, nutrient-packed foods. The grains, corn, wheat, rice and rye, symbolize sustenance and a longevity of food security for the long winter ahead.

Some days, I’m not excited about cooking an elaborate meal. Or, I just can’t find the time before everyone in my family is hangry. One of my favorite solutions for this, is to have a variety of delicious, homemade sauces on hand. They can be dipped with bread or crackers, spread over simple steamed veggies or baked with a chicken breast. They are easy and add a bright, fresh pop to our meals on the fly.

Making sweet medicine using with the holy plant of the mountains.

Autumn is the time of rooting; drawing vital energy down and into our center as we transition to winter. It can be a vulnerable time for our bodies and minds. The coolness can feel sharp and drying. This transition kicks up wind, which can be abrupt and irritating, as well as the cold and flu season adding a little stress to our system.

Cinnamon…

is a warming tonic herb, circulatory stimulant and a digestive carminative. Cinnamon is an antioxidant, anti viral, anti bacterial and anti fungal so it assists in the transition period to a colder season and fights off infections that may arise in the cooler temperatures.

We love to grow our own carrots; it’s simple and easy. No matter how many times we harvest, the kids always get surprised to see an orange, purple or golden carrot emerge from the dirt. Fresh, home-grown carrots have a vastly different aroma and taste than the bulk bags we can buy from the store. They have an earthy, aromatic smell with a much crisper and sweeter bite. Truly, this is one of the simplest yet most elegant recipes that feels like a celebration of Autumn.

Simple, wildcrafted and packed with health benefits.

The sweet, challenging and fleeting 40 days after a women gives birth is referred to in Ayurveda as the Sacred Window. It is a potent and vulnerable time as the maiden metamorphoses into mother and the fetus into baby. This is a sacred transition, where parents often feel their heart bursting with more love than ever before.

Thoughtful Ways to Start the Day with Simple, Loving Attention to Her Five Senses.

This is traditionally an Italian Easter Bread. If you’ve been wanting to dip your toes into bread baking, this is a great place to start. It's an easy sweet bread and with a beautiful and unique result.

Successful seed starting tips to extend your growing season.

These last cold weeks of winter on the mountain bring expectation of spring, when the winter qualities of cold and dry transition to cool and wet. Ice begins to melt, releasing a slow trickling down the mountain. Mother Earth thaws to a more fluid state, reflected in muddy trails and the sap beginning to flow deep in the trees.

Simple, DIY routine to support a healthy lymphatic system and radiant skin. The quintessential ritual of self-love.

Beneficial herbs for springtime: Nettle, Dandelion, Turmeric & Rosemary.

The mid-spring, Egg Moon births the life of all of Mother Earth’s creatures and brings hope to the heart. We begin to see delicate plants sprouting, the birds are laying their precious eggs and the animals are birthing new life across the land.

Spring treats to make with children!

A group of neighbors have been gardening up here for years testing high altitude gardening techniques and researching traditional gardening in other cultures. After much experimentation and hard work, we are so grateful they share the culminating knowledge from years of gardening in the rocky mountains.

Diving deep into fiber work and homesteading with Phylleri Ball of Three Sisters Weaving.

As the North Wind settles on the mountain for a deep, cold winter, we stock the fires of good health. We want to retain our body warmth as a much a possible so our body can use our energy for strong digestion, full circulation and immunity. If we are getting chilled frequently, our energy goes to just keeping us warm instead of these more optimal modes of the body. Take extra care to protect your head and feet; wrap them in wool and keep socks and hats on inside until you feel a little too warm. Focus on keeping warm by boosting digestion and circulation. Drink and eat every thing warmed up and this is the time to enjoy chilies, pepper and spices that all kindle the digestive fire.

Do your kids love smashing, bashing and ripping up whatever they can get their hands on as much as mine? Would you love a hand-crafted, beautifully wholesome meal? Then hand-making ravioli is just the type of playful, cooking to sustain your whole family.