Pedal&Root

10/16/2024

It’s that time of year. If you know, you know.

10/09/2024

Wild Wednesday

09/10/2024

I may have finally perfected my gluten free whole food muffins. Made with sorghum flour and tapioca, carrot juice pulp( what’s left after juicing peeled carrots) bananas, zucchini flour, eggs, walnuts, applesauce, honey and spices.

09/05/2024

Without the ability to bring people to our farm, my goals to have a teaching farm will never be realized. We have made the difficult decision to sell some or all of our land in Pea Ridge. Someone else who has a different vision will absolutely love this site. We have a 2 acre building lot and a home on 1 ac for sale for $400K.

The building lot overlooks Sugar Creek and has a beatuiful view of the creek - and is way out of the flood plain/zone. It's a prime building spot. The road can be moved so you can build right overlooking/cantilevered over the creek even. There are so many modern and creative ways to build here. The house shares a corner property point and would be a place to live while building or keep it as a short term rental.

https://fsbo.com/listings/listings/show/id/541223/
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/45952403?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=29e82d1a-4e91-4038-b443-156cc0ebd215

The remaining 26 acres can be discussed off-line. Showings must be arranged with us ahead of time and we don't allow anyone on the property unless we are there.

Tucked Away Adventure Home @ Big Sugar Golf Course

09/05/2024

Goldenrod is blooming now! This plant is a wonderful addition to your medicine chest. Harvest with certainty as there are some look-alike plants that are toxic. Always be sure. This plant has medicinal use in allergy/hayfever teas, also aids in care for UTIs.

I used to harvest solidago (goldenrod) for floral arrangements!

If you have goldenrod that you won’t be harvesting, let me know and I’ll come get it!

09/03/2024

“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one".

The phrase is often used to describe someone who is interested in many different fields and skills, but is not an expert in any of them.

In the modern workplace, being a jack of all trades can be a valuable asset. Employers are increasingly recognizing that the fast-paced and evolving nature of work environments requires versatility and adaptability.

In my life, I have always felt that without a piece of paper from an educational institution I would always be “less than” my peers who did.

Soon I’ll have that piece of paper saying I am qualified in something. However, my lifetime of training, hands on learning, workshops and mentoring - I would still consider myself a “jack of all trades.”

Photo of my latest project. Done solo.

08/15/2024

Elderberries are just incredible for health and healing. One way to use them and take in their beneficial properties is to infuse/ferment them in honey.
Today I harvested the last of my baby elderberry plants and got about a half a cup of berries, perfect for making a small jar of syrup. This preserves the flavor and all constituents of the berry without cooking.

08/13/2024

I never throw out pickle juice. Here’s a super quick tip for using it (if you aren’t drinking it).

1. Save the juice in the same container.
2. Take some fresh cucumbers and spiralize them.
3. Add to the juice till all are covered.

With all of the surface area the cucumber spirals soak up the pickle brine and instantly taste like pickles.

Store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

08/06/2024

Those horrid prickle balls from the sweet gum tree were the bane of my existence and my children’s feet.

I wish I’d known that the sweet gum balls in the green stage contain shikimic acid, which is also contained in the same tree used to make Tamiflu®.
So, today I’m preserving them.

Perspective is everything.

08/06/2024

I've enrolled in a program to become a Naturopathic Practitioner and see it as many threads being woven into a fabric. So much of what I have learned and lived will be combined into a quantifiable recognition of years of experience and practice. I'm looking forward to helping friends and family in their health journeys, addressing everything from a kitchen burn to poison ivy rashes to ear infections - all using the natural elements God put on this earth for us to use.

08/01/2024

I need this today either as a loaner or purchase. I know I can get it Amazon, but I need it today for a huge canning project.

07/30/2024

Purslane: Did you know you can EAT this w**d and not only is it edible but it is medicinal? I have pulled this out of my garden for decades and tossed it into the compost. Not today. I cut it up and added the snipped up leaves and stems and covered it in Culinary Solvent (AKA Everclear) and soon it'll become part of my home Apothecary. In China it is referred to "vegetable for long life". The WHO lists it as one of the most used medical plants in the world. It's loaded with antioxidants, vitamin A, Beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Glutathione (anti cancer), Melatonin which helps you sleep and reduce inflammation, is good for regulating blood pressure and boosts immune system. Then the Betalain that gives stems their reddish color appears to have antiviral, antibacterial and anti fungal qualities.
No longer will this plant go to the compost pile. It's coming into the kitchen.

07/30/2024

It's harvest time for SO many things. Today I used some "no pesticide" corn (yes there were a few worms) grown locally to get some Corn Silk for a tincture. Corn silk is often used to treat UTI's and is said to be good for any urinary issues for men or women. So, in to the jar it goes with a potent covering of culinary solvent (AKA Everclear) and I'll strain it off and store it in an amber jar for my home apothecary.

06/29/2024

Being out on a 3000 ac far yesterday opened up the opportunity to harvest Mullein flowers. Using a single estate olive oil, I’ve immersed the flowers in that high quality oil and in about a month I’ll have an earache oil.

06/18/2024

Thank you to my friend Celeste who let me come harvest some Mullein on her homestead. I’m looking forward to tinctures, salves, ointments and tea!

06/14/2024

If the recent tornado event has you thinking about your preparation for emergencies, here is a good checklist if you want to think about it for next time...because there will always be something that comes up.

Living Prepared Checklist
Get your Everyday Carry (EDC) ready
What do you find yourself reaching for multiple times a day? What items do you regularly wish you had near you? What do you return to the house, garage, or barn for often?
Personal Protection Knife
Multitool
Notebook and pen Cellphone
Other communication devices

Your Vehicle
Basic Roadside Emergency Kit
Something to jump your battery and fill a flat tire Spare tire with jack and breaker bar
Flares or LED flashers
Tow chain or rope
Ice scraper
Gloves
First-aid kit Drinking water Basic water filter Shelf-stable food Clothing
Coveralls
Weather-appropriate gear Extra clothes & diapers for kids
Blanket
Gear for getting unstuck
May vary depending on your area and environment
Shovel Chains
Salt or Sand

Personal Protection
Tip: Always keep your vehicle gas tank at least 1⁄2 full
Living Prepared Checklist

Your Go-Bag (One per person)
Good bag or backpack
Large enough to hold your essentials but not baggy or bulky
Headlamp
Flashlight
Lighter
Waterproof matches
Steel water bottle
Use steel, not an insulated bottle, and keep it full of water. Small water filter
Food for 3 days
Freeze-dried food, protein bars, etc.
Emergency hand crank radio Walkie-talkie
Backup battery & charger for your phone First-aid kit
Tourniquet
BleedstopTM
Saline to clean wounds Eye rinse
Bandages
Gauze pads
Medical tape CPR Shield
Living Prepared Checklist

Your Home
Make sure your home is in good order
Up-to-date on maintenance for structures and infrastructure Uncluttered and organized
Water: 1 gallon per person per day
First, store one month’s worth
Second, get to 3-6 months through collection systems
A quality water filtration system like Berkey or Pro One USA
Backup power
Start with a portable generator
Store backup fuel
An Eco-Flow battery is solar-charged and quiet
Lighting
Portable back-up lighting, like LED lanterns, in each room
Food: Buy more of what you already use 7 days of food per person
1 month of food per person
3 months of food per person Consider the same for your animals

Home First-aid kit
Sizeable enough to service your family
Back up supply of medicines you use regularly or might use in an emergency Items that allow you to avoid the Emergency Room for non-emergencies

Courtesy of School of Traditional Skills

06/02/2024

Please share!
The hotline is open! Do you want to volunteer for the hotline to field calls? You MUST join as a member of a team to volunteer in any way. Caring and Sharing of Benton County is the host for all volunteers not part of a group.
Please scan the QR in the first comment to join.
Picture you can share will also be in the comments.