It's January, which means I would usually be sharing my New Year's Resolutions and goals for the year. But this year, with our interrupted vacation plans due to COVID-19, and the changes to our travel schedule, I just wasn't feeling the New Year spirit... Anyway, personally I felt pretty much on track last year, and don't have any major changes that I feel the need to commit to right now.

So, instead, I thought I'd share a quick homestead update, as it's been a while! In fact, I'm not sure I've posted one since we've had chickens, and there are SO many things about this experience that I've found surprising or unexpected over the past few months... Here are a few lessons about chickens that I've learned (and am still learning), and I'm sure there are many more still to come!

Happy New Year! I'm back from our delayed trip to Arkansas after a last-minute COVID-19 outbreak at the office put a crimp in our travel plans... Thankfully, our family is all healthy and well, and my co-workers are recovering. What a crazy year 2020 was! I am looking forward to moving forward into a brighter 2021, and hopefully putting this pandemic behind us this year...

In the meantime, it's time for your monthly freebie! Alzheimer's is one of the most challenging diseases to treat in our modern world - and also one of the most devastating - not just for the patients, but also for their families.

As we learn more about this unique disease, we are discovering that Alzheimer's disease doesn't just "happen;" in fact, more and more evidence suggests that Alzheimer's may, in fact, be another "lifestyle disease," like diabetes and many forms of heart disease. This is good news, as it means there healthy lifestyle changes that we can make earlier in life to reduce our risk as we age.

In this free 23-page Alzheimer's prevention guide from the Live Better Group, you will learn 7 steps that you can take now to reduce your risk and maintain a healthy brain throughout your elder years. Grab yours here now or learn more below.

We all want a long, healthy life, right? When it comes to longevity though, the goal isn't just to live as long as possible. After all, what is the point of living longer if you're constantly sick and in pain?

The true objective is to enjoy your life for as long as possible, and that means staying healthy and vibrant for as long as possible.

This interesting interview discusses what some experts believe is the greatest factor in healthy aging, and how you can maintain greater health, vibrancy, and energy well into your later years. Check it out below to learn the keys to aging well - and how to implement these simple but important steps in your own life.

While the holidays can be a time of joy and celebration, unfortunately, they can also be a trigger for depression in some people. Stress, unhealthy eating, troubled family relationships, and loneliness all become heightened and may compound our mental issues this time of year. And many people also suffer from SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which starts to kick in as the days grow shorter and we start spending more time indoors.

This year, with the pandemic keeping so many apart from their loved ones, the holidays may be even more depressing than usual for many.

The good news is, there are many things you can do - not only during the holidays, but any time of year - to keep your spirits up and keep depression at bay.

This month's freebie includes 7 helpful steps for preventing depression and staying mentally healthy and happy this holiday season and beyond. Grab your FREE copy here now, or learn more below...

Well, 2020 has been quite a year...

Between rampant wildfires and other extreme weather events across the globe, racial protests that spanned the nation and beyond, a particularly divisive election season, and, of course, a global pandemic, many people are looking forward to saying goodbye to 2020. 

However, there are also many things to be grateful for this year, and as I compiled my annual "gratitude list," I thought I would do things a bit differently this year. There are so many things I am thankful for every year, but this year, I have the opportunity to take a new perspective and find the silver linings in something that has negatively impacted all of us in some way.

Below are 5 things that COVID-19 has given me to be thankful for in 2020:

While we usually try to find an "all-natural" and humanely raised turkey for Thanksgiving, this is the first year that we've actually gotten a truly free-range pasture-raised turkey from our local farmer.

Since it's just the hubby and I this year, we wanted a smaller bird, which meant we could avoid spending $75 on a turkey - which still seems exorbitant to me no matter how high-quality the meat is...

We have gotten used to the amazing flavor of the pasture-raised chicken that we buy from the same farm, so I'm excited to see how the turkey turns out!

However, as with other pasture-raised meats, we are aware that it may cook differently from the conventionally raised alternative, so we were looking for some instruction. Fortunately, I discovered the recipe below, and this is how we intend to cook our pasture-raised turkey this year. I'll have to let you know how it turns out, but the comments on the site were all very positive, so I have high hopes!

With the holiday season just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a guest post on some tasty herbs and "super-spices" that you can use to spice up your holiday meals - AND stay healthy this winter!

Most of us think of herbs and spices simply as something to flavor our food, but many of these ingredients may actually have powerful health benefits. Not only can they make your food taste great, but they are also great for you!

Herbs and spices actually contain some of the most potent antioxidants of any food - even higher than some of the most touted "superfoods" such as kale, broccoli, or berries. These antioxidants have been shown to help protect against diseases like cancer, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer's, and more. What's more, they not only contain their own healthy compounds, but they also can actually enhance the nutritional benefits of other foods when eaten in combination.

But it's not just about antioxidants; these "super-spices" also have properties that may help to stabilize and regulate blood sugar, boost metabolism, reduce inflammation, and help the body ward off pathogens - including viruses, bacteria, and even some fungal diseases. All of this without creating issues like antibiotic resistance or other side-effects created by many conventional medications.

This month's guest post lists 10 amazing herbs and super-spices that you'll want to include in your cooking on a regular basis. Check it out below to learn about the healing properties of these common natural flavoring agents, as well as ideas for including more of them in your meals.

As we move into the winter months and the pandemic rages on, many families are concerned about not only health, but also food security. Based on the shortages of some foods that we experienced back in the spring, it is reasonable to expect that if things shut down again, we may face the same - or perhaps worse - before things improve.

Let's face it: these are some crazy times we are living in, and it is important to be prepared for anything.
Fortunately, those of you who follow the holistic living way - growing your own food, taking responsibility for your own health, etc. are better prepared than most. Whether you're growing your own produce, or buying fresh, healthy foods from local farmers through a farmer's market or CSA program, learning to preserve your favorite fresh vegetables and herbs is one way to stock up so that you can enjoy healthy meals without going to the grocery store all the time - and ensure that you have plenty of food if the grocery stores run short.

There are so many amazing healthy foods out there that boost your immunity - and most of them can be easily grown in your own backyard. Imagine being able to preserve these foods to enjoy whenever you want them...

Today, more than ever, this is a game-changer.

And let’s face it, store-bought pasta sauce is just NEVER as good as fresh and homemade! When you make your own, you know it’s chock full of nutrients without all the crazy weird preservatives, sugars, and other additives.

So are you ready to learn how to start preserving fresh food for yourself… all the basics like pasta sauce, salsa, hot sauce, pickles, dried herbs, sauerkraut and more?

If so, you're in the right place!  My colleague, Stacey Murphy, is a "garden guru" who provides mentorship to thousands of people so they can nourish their loved ones with fresh, organic food. And now she’s released a brand new webinar to help you stock your kitchen with fresh goodies so you can enjoy fresh and healthy foods year-round!

Fall is the perfect time to make sure you are prepared for the winter months with plenty of healthy foods to keep your immune system strong.

Click here to register for the FREE webinar on preserving the harvest, or learn more below...

It's no secret that we are living in an epidemic of modern disease caused largely by the foods we consume. Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are rampant - yet so much of this disease could be prevented simply by eating better... So why don't we?

There are many answers to this question, but one that we may not often consider is that "Big Food" actually doesn't want us to! In fact, many processed foods are actually created to be addictive. (To learn more about this insidious practice, as well as how food companies actually market their products specifically to your children to get them addicted early in life - as well as to lower-income minority communities, where obesity and disease are especially high, check out the eye-opening book, Food Fix, by Dr. Mark Hyman.)

Besides eating addictive foods packed with sugar and artificial ingredients, we are also eating many ingredients that are actually banned in other countries due to their health effects.

In this episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, Dr. Mark Hyman chats with author and food activist, Vani Hari, about her experiences with Big Food, including how these massive and powerful food companies manipulate nutrition research to their benefit, hide the ill effects of their food, and make us sick without our knowledge. She also talks about ways to take back control of your health by making smart choices in the kitchen, and educating yourself about what eating healthy really means.

This is such an inspiring interview - you owe it to yourself and your health to watch this now!

While most of us don't usually think of food as medicine, in fact, at one time, all medicine originally came from edible food sources. In recent years, a resurgence in interest in natural medicines and herbal remedies has brought healing foods back to the forefront of health and wellness.

All kinds of foods have healing properties, from roots, to leaves, fruits, and seeds. Healing foods can be as simple as your grandmother's chicken soup, or as complex as a homemade cough syrup or healing tincture made from roots, berries, and spices. (However, even the more complex remedies are often easier to make at home that you may think.)

This month, I'm excited to share with you a wonderful resource filled with healthful recipes that will help you harness the healing power of food! This 7-day meal plan is available for a limited time only, in preparation for the upcoming Home Medicine Masterclass. If you're interested in learning to make your own home medicines and herbal remedies, be sure to check it out!