Pedal&Root

02/03/2025

For anyone that wasn't able to come to the vanilla class, we had a blast. I am creating a learning series of videos, so if you miss a class you can still learn along with us.

Pedal&Root Learning Series Videos: this video provides some background on vanilla and how it is made.

02/02/2025

We had a great time making vanilla today. Here are the resources:

Native Vanilla provides naturally-grown, ethically-sourced, high-quality vanilla. Our vanilla is rich in flavor, and is free from any artificial additives.

01/27/2025

It’s FIRE CIDER time!

01/27/2025

I’m looking forward to helping 10 more friends learn how to stay well, get better and boost their body’s immune system to fight off illness. Tonight is the next Fire Cider Workshop. We will strain and sample a jar from the last class.

01/25/2025

I have been studying Magnesium and why it is important to our bodies. It's actually quite amazing! If you take it internally, it's a laxative and not necessarily what you want for yourself or your family on a regular basis, so how do you get it? Good Food: nuts, greens etc. That's a good place to start, but if you don't have enough magnesium for one of the over 300 processes in the body, it'll get robbed from bones - Not Good! Magnesium is present in every organ of the body and is a companion to calcium for building strong bones.

Many children experience growing pains which are helped by applying a transdermal (skin application) dose of magnesium oil. Now, this is not truly an oil, it's just slippery feeling. The skin absorbs the magnesium very quickly through the skin and can help with those achy legs. The magnesium can aid in sleep for people of any age. I use it as a bath soak, but am looking forward to trying it on my restless legs - a nightly battle for me.

I have made up a batch of magnesium oil and have it in 2 oz sample bottles for $5 each. Bring your bottle back for a refill for $.50 off. These can be picked up at my home, address supplied upon Venmo payment Mechel Wall

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.