We're back! I apologize for the hiatus in March - things got a bit crazy with getting ready for our Florida vacation, and I fell behind on posting... I had intended to catch up this weekend, but we returned to the devastating news that one of our dearest friends had passed away unexpectedly, and the funeral was this Saturday...

It has been a sad week, but I'm happy to be able to share this month's freebie with you today, along with my plan to bring you more helpful posts this month, as well as an updated website theme, which is long-overdue (coming soon).

This month, I'm sharing an offer from a company whose products I have been trying out this year for the first time. In my effort to reduce plastic use this year, I've been switching some of my personal care products to plastic-free, but hadn't yet found a good solution for household cleaning items. Although I've been using natural and non-toxic cleaners for many years now, they usually still come in bulky plastic containers, and even though they're usually recyclable, I would really rather cut down on purchasing plastic packaging wherever possible.

Then I discovered Truly Free. This eco-conscious company is based in Michigan, and they offer all sorts of non-toxic cleaning products with much less packaging than most. They provide a free container on your first order, and then you simply purchase refills, which are packaged in small pouches made from recyclable plastic (they can go right into your grocery bag recycling bins at most supermarkets and big-box stores).

So far, I have been really impressed with most of the products we've tried. They work well, don't have an unpleasant fragrance, and are safe for our septic system. Plus, you get free stuff with every order! :-) - AND they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all their products.

This month, in honor of "National Laundry Day" (which apparently is April 15 - who knew??), they are offering 50 free loads of their non-toxic laundry detergent with your first order. Click here to check it out, or learn more about this special offer below.

I'm sorry I'm a little late this month with your March freebie, but I've got it together for you now, and it's a great one! This month's gift is a little different... Instead of a free downloadable resource, I've got a whole weekend of awesome resources for you on taking charge of your own health!

One of my favorite homesteaders and herbalists is sharing the best of her popular Home Medicine Summit with our readers, and it's all coming up in just a few days, so be sure to register now to grab your free ticket!

Learn more below about this very special event that will help you learn to make your own safe, natural, and effective medicines and herbal remedies at home.

As a long-time devotee of grass-fed meat, I was particularly interested in this episode of The Doctor's Farmacy.

Meat has become such a controversial topic in recent years, with untold numbers of articles touting a "plant-based" lifestyle that excludes all animal products as the fountain of youth and longevity, and still others extolling the virtues of high-meat diets such as the "Carnivore Diet," or "traditional" diets with a modern spin, such as the Paleo Diet.

In fact, the topic of meat eating is extremely complex and nuanced, and it's neither fair nor correct to say that all meat is good, nor that all meat is bad. The truth, as always when we're talking about healthy eating, comes down to the sources and types of protein that you are eating, as well as the overall balance of other foods in your diet.

As I've discussed at length before, just because you're "vegan" doesn't mean you're healthy. You can just as easily eat vegan junk food and die an early death as you can when eating a diet containing animal products.

Welcome to February! For your freebie this month, I'm sharing something a little different... I was recently introduced to this really cool resource that I thought our visitors and subscribers may find interesting and helpful.

If you’re anything like me, watching mainstream news has gotten harder and harder over the years.

It's often depressing and stressful – and it's designed that way!

The unfortunate truth is that TV producers know that fear-mongering is an effective method to keep you glued to their channel.

Did you know over 90% of what you read, watch, or listen to is controlled by just 6 companies?!

These days, it's even become hard to read news online.

Headlines designed for “clickbait” oversimplify complex ideas and keep pushing us towards more tribalism and division, which I find extremely frustrating.

The good news is, there’s now a proper alternative - AND you can access it for FREE!

Read more below to find out how - it takes less than 30 seconds...

Welcome back! I'm feeling back to normal, and have been trying to catch up on everything I got behind on while I was sick... I've still got a couple of weeks to go before I'm back on track, but it's definitely nice to have my energy back!

I was planning on doing a homestead update post for you today, but I ran out of time, and so I'm sharing a simple and healthful recipe with you instead. You may be aware of my passion for fermented foods, but long before I ever got started making kimchi, sauerkraut, or various fermented beverages, I was making my own yogurt.

Yogurt is by far one of the easiest fermented foods to make at home: All you need is milk, yogurt culture (or a cup of plain cultured yogurt from the store), and a jar! Of course, you can also get "fancy" and get a yogurt maker like I did (mine was cheap and I've had it for over 10 years and it still works fine), but I started making yogurt in mason jars well before I ever splurged on a real yogurt maker. The process is basically the same, but I will explain both below.

Now that we have a source of local raw milk, I've been making yogurt more regularly than ever, and over the years, I've learned how to make it turn out perfect virtually every time!

Happy New Year!

I'm back in action, after our Christmas trip to visit family in Arkansas, closely followed by a bout of Covid-19...  Thankfully, after spending New Year's Eve day in bed, I've been up and about, although still very tired. So your January freebie is a bit late, but we've got a really interesting one for you this month!

I am a firm believer that our bodies are a LOT smarter than most people think. In fact, I think your body usually knows what's good for it - we've just forgotten how to listen...

This fascinating resource provides 20 ways to tap into the natural wisdom of your body and the innate health guidance it can provide! Grab your free copy here, or learn more below...

You may have heard of the so-called "Blue Zones" - areas of the planet where the population lives longer, healthier lives than the rest of the world.

There has been a fair amount of research done on these Blue Zones in recent years, and this podcast episode interviews one of the foremost researchers of the world's Blue Zones - Dan Buettner.

Dan is an explorer, National Geographic Fellow, award-winning journalist and producer, and New York Times bestselling author. His most recent book, Blue Zones American Kitchen, "uncovers the traditional roots of plant-forward cuisine in the United States."

While there is only one Blue Zone in the U.S., there are some hidden traditions that cooks around America have passed from generation to generation that we can embrace to create our own Blue Zone right at home.

Check it out below!

It's December and that means...

It's time for your monthly freebie!

This month, we've got a helpful guide on the healing power of plants. Whether you're concerned about chronic disease, longevity, or exposure to environmental toxins, there are many plants that can help to support your bodily systems and improve your overall health in these areas.

This month's free resource provides you with a list of 22 protective and healing plants. You'll learn what they are, what they do for your health, how to use them, and more. And, as a lead-up to the upcoming awesome holistic healing event in January, Health Means is making this special guide available to you at no cost!

You can go grab your copy here right now, or learn more below...

I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Thanksgiving is already here... Where did this year go?!? It seems like just a few days ago that I was marveling over how early I was able to clean up the fall garden this year, and how I had plenty of time to finish before winter... Now winter is here, and I've been mulching and moving hay bales in 19-degree windchill all weekend!

Fortunately, it looks like we'll have a little warmup for the week ahead, so maybe I can actually get things finished soon - fingers crossed!

Anyway, Thanksgiving means...

...it's time for this year's gratitude list!

This year, I'm specifically focusing on the things I'm grateful for on the homestead, so you can consider this a homestead update as well.  :-)  We are so blessed to have such a wonderful place to live, and I want to celebrate that in today's post. I hope it inspires you to think about the little things you're grateful for in your life as well!

As we head into the holiday season (can you believe it?!), it's time for our November freebie! This one is a great addition to your herbal medicine collection, as it describes some of the wonderful health benefits provided by this common spice: turmeric.

Actually, many of the widely-discussed anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric come from the compound curcumin, which is what gives turmeric its orange color.

But, as we are learning with more and more certainty, many of these healing compounds aren't quite as potent or effective when removed from the food that contains them (guess God knew what He was doing?), so by all means, enjoy turmeric as a seasoning, and don't worry so much about supplementing with pure curcumin.

In fact, studies have found that curcumin is even more beneficial when combined with piperine - a compound found in black pepper - so enjoy them both in a curry today and do your body - and your mouth - a favor! :-) And this month's free giveaway explores another often-overlooked component of turmeric that is even more beneficial for neuroregeneration...

Grab your free eBook here - or read more below - to learn more about this super spice and how it may benefit your health...