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Cranberry Orange Muffins {gluten free, paleo}

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Sweet and tangy with a mouthful of delicious flavor, these cranberry orange muffins are a perfect breakfast on the go, or snack anytime!

Has this ever happened to you? You have your busy schedule all worked out to the last second, and then something comes along and throws it for a loop?

On those days, grabbing a quick breakfast is essential to keeping yourself going strong. If you are in a hurry, then that may off the table for you. (so to speak) What do you do?

I totally get it, I have been there so many times myself. With a busy homestead, 3 active kids and hubby, there are days I forget that I haven’t eaten at all until sundown. By then, I am a ravenous wolf, seeking to devour any food I can get my hands on. Even food that is full of things I need to avoid, like gluten and highly processed sugar.

Of course, when I do things like that, I get headaches, joint aches and all the other things that go along with gluten intolerance. It’s not a lot of fun to deal with.

But, these delicious muffins are perfect for breakfast on the run. They are quick and easy to bake up, and freeze well. When you need a quick snack, just grab one and allow to thaw a few minutes at room temperature and you’re ready to go!

The best part is that they are totally gluten free. With some amazingly nourishing ingredients as well.

  • Almond flour is a great source of protein, with 7 grams per serving. It’s also low on the glycemic index, meaning it won’t spike your blood sugar.
  • Cranberries are full of anti-oxidants, Vitamin C, and have been used to help treat bladder and kidney infections. They are also lower in carbs, with only 7.6 grams for a 100 gram serving.
  • Coconut oil is a medium chain triglyceride that is a healthy fat.
  • Honey is an all natural, low processed form of sweetener that you can obtain quite easily. (if you want to know more about keeping bees, read the post here)

Now, off to make some deliciousness! Note, the dried cranberries I used here are not the “craisins” that are full of sugar. They are without added sugar. You can find the ones I used here.

Here’s the ingredients you need to gather to make orange cranberry muffins, using dried cranberries if they are not in season for you.

  • 2 cups almond flour
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • ⅔ cup honey
  • ½ cup coconut oil, measured in liquid state

Let’s put our Cranberry Orange Muffins Together:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. If you are using dried cranberries, measure out the orange juice in a large measuring cup and allow the cranberries to rehydrate in the juice.
  3. In a medium mixing bowl, add the almond flour, baking powder, and salt together.
  4. Whisk to combine.
  5. In a separate mixing bowl, beat the eggs.
  6. Add honey, coconut oil, orange juice and rehydrated cranberries.
  7. Mix well to combine.
  8. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and stir well.
  9. Scoop ⅔ cup of muffin batter into a medium sized muffin pan, lined with papers or greased with coconut oil.
  10. Bake for 17-20 minutes, until cooked through in the center.

**Here’s your little tip for the day…when you remove the muffins from the oven, turn them in the pan on their side. That will let the steam and heat escape from the bottom of the pan and your muffins won’t end up soggy**

Will you make these muffins for your next brunch or gathering? How about for a quick and easy breakfast? Be sure to pin this for later, too!

Need some help getting back into the kitchen and cooking from scratch? Try this delicious collection of easy to make recipes to get you started!

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The post Cranberry Orange Muffins {gluten free, paleo} appeared first on The Homesteading Hippy.

the post first appeared on thehomesteadinghippy.com See it here

How to Make Living Green a Bit More Fun

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by Tracy Plunkett

If you try to live green as much as possible, there is no denying that you are making a difference in the world. However, the minor problem with sustainable living is that it can feel like you’re making a lot of sacrifices. After all, you do have to give up certain activities that make your life either easier or more fun. Well, the good news for you is that it doesn’t have to be like that all the time. There are actually a number of ways to enjoy yourself while also living green. Here is how you can balance it all:

An Innovative No-Vehicle Day

There are few things that make life easier than your vehicle. Unfortunately, you are also aware of the carbon footprint that it leaves behind. Considering just how much greenhouse gas your car can produce, it makes sense to limit how much you drive it. Of course, this by itself isn’t all that thrilling. Well, what if you added a twist? Instead of just leaving your car at home, try to think of the most creative way that you can get to your destination.

For instance, you can model it after a triathlon. This works best if you have friends’ houses that you can stop by as you travel. This way, you will have a place to store all of your different ‘modes of transportation’. You can do one leg of the journey on foot, cycle for the rest, and maybe skate for the last bit.

Sustainable living

Spend an Entire Day Outside

This is a particularly great idea if you have children. These days, it is all too common for kids to be stuck inside the house watching TV, playing video games, or surfing the internet. This is why it is more important than ever for them to see all the things that they can do outdoors. First things first, pack a bag with water and snacks and head outside. Then, get everyone to make a list of all the things they can do outdoors – the catch is that it has to span the whole day. If you are having trouble coming up with ideas, there are plenty of suggestions online.

Now, this activity has a two-fold advantage. For instance, you are encouraging the love of the great outdoors in your children. You are also reducing your energy consumption for a whole day. As you can see, it is a win-win situation.

Sustainable living

Go Thrift Shopping or Have a Swap

Who doesn’t love shopping? Unfortunately, traditional means of shopping often mean tons of plastic packaging and clothes that aren’t eco-friendly or fair trade. Not to mention, you also end up spending quite a bit of money. Well, what if you could solve all of your problems at once? This can be easily done by going thrift store shopping. Here, the clothes, jewelry, books and so on are all pre-owned, so you don’t have to feel guilty. They are also incredibly affordable which means that you get to save some money too.

If you don’t have any thrift stores near you, then it is time to get inventive. You can host a swap in your own backyard. Invite all those who are interested to bring second-hand clothes and any other items that they want to give away. Then, people can exchange these things for similarly valued items and will not have to spend a dime.

Upcycle and Make Some Money

There are just so many things in your home that can be upcycled. Plastic bottles, old clothes – the list goes on. Now, the last thing you probably want is your home to get cluttered with the things you have created during your upcycling projects. So, why not make some money off your ventures? These days, it is quite easy to sell your wares online. To top it off, there is also a huge demand for handmade items. You can use both these things to your advantage and look for buyers willing to purchase your upcycled products. You will find that bags and ornaments are sold particularly quickly. As they say, one person’s trash is someone else’s treasure.

Sustainable living

Make Meatless Mondays More Fun

One of the more useful things you can do to contribute to the environment is to cut down on the amount of meat that you eat. This is true for beef, in particular. Now, for most people, this can be one of the tougher tasks. After all, it can be quite difficult to give up burgers, bacon, and steaks, even if it is just for one day.

So, in a bid to make this a bit easier for you, give yourself a cooking challenge. Here, try to recreate your favorite meat dishes with vegetables or plant-based products instead. The key here is to make them look and taste as close to meat as possible. If you want, you can also get others involved and see who makes the best dish. At the very least, it will provide you with a few laughs and a lot of variety.

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to make green living enjoyable. All of these ideas will also come in handy when you are trying to convince others to join your way of life. Regardless, though, you now are aware of all of the different ways that you can save the planet and have a bit of fun yourself. This is sure to liven things up for you.

Sustainable living

***

Tracy Plunkett is a Kiwi writer who keeps close to nature with her love for animals, photography, and the outdoors. In fact, she can often be found working on projects that even combine these three interests.

This article first appeared on offgridworld.com Check it out here

The Complete Guide on How to Make a Terrarium (and 4 Ideas to Use)

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Are you up for a new miniature adventure? Do you like to observe plants or try to raise plants outside of their typical environment? Well, you could be the perfect candidate for creating and growing your own terrarium.

If you’re unfamiliar with the idea of a terrarium, you’re going to love it.

I’m a homeschooler and continually looking for new ways to bring the curriculum to life for my children.

When I came across this idea, I knew whether you’re an educator looking to bring intrigue to school work, or someone who loves plants and their beauty, everyone would like this idea.

Here’s what you need to know to create your own terrarium:

What is a Terrarium?

A terrarium is a tiny garden created inside a dish. You can make a closed container garden or place it in an open container.

The type of container will depend upon the environment you’re trying to create. You can easily place this small garden on your table and enjoy it as a live decorative item.

However, if you’re a parent or an educator looking to teach your children something from this activity, it’s a great way to show your kids about photosynthesis and the water cycle.

Also, if you’d like to try your hand at growing a tropical plant which generally wouldn’t grow well in your environment, consider growing it in a terrarium. You might have much better luck when you can create a sealed environment.

How to Create Your Terrarium

Creating your own terrarium is simple. It doesn’t require many supplies and can be done in less than an hour, in most cases. Here are the steps and what you need to be on your way to having your own terrarium:

Supplies:

1. Pick Your Container

Decide what type of planting environment you want to create before you get started. If you want a dryer climate for growing cactus, you’ll need to find a container with no lid.

If you’d like to produce a tropical climate for ferns, you’ll need a container with a lid to hold the moisture in.

You can use items such as a fish bowl, cookie jar (with or without the lid), a plate with a glass bowl over the top to create a dome, a glass mason jar, or an empty soda bottle cut in half (for either an open or closed terrarium.)

Once you know what type of climate you’d like to create and what kind of container you’re going to use, you’re well on your way to creating your perfect terrarium.

2. Stone Foundation

The terrarium is going to be made up of different layers to make the environment function as it should inside the container.

When your container is ready, add a layer of pebbles to the bottom of the container. Once the base is covered, you’re ready to move on to the next layer.

3. Add the Charcoal

Next, you need to add a layer of activated charcoal. Be sure not to overlook this particular layer as it not only filters the water in the terrarium but also stops fungi from being produced within the terrarium.

When you have this layer covered, you’re ready to move forward with adding the next layer.

4. Place Some Separation

A separation layer is another crucial layer to add to your terrarium. Either add a layer of moss or cut a section of a screen to fit inside the terrarium.

Either way, this layer is going to stop the soil from sinking down into your pebbles. You need each layer to hold in place to be able to do its job correctly.

When you have this layer in place, you can add the next layer.

5. Add Your Soil

Now, you’re ready to add the soil. Choose a quality potting soil and place a layer which is anywhere from two to three inches thick.

It should be deep enough to plant pint-sized plants within it. When your soil is in place, you’re ready to add your vegetation.

6. Place Your Pretty Plants

The beauty of a terrarium comes partially from the plants. You should have decided which plants you want to grow in your terrarium when choosing the environment for your container set-up.

When you have your plants, begin by making tiny holes in the soil. You may have to divide your plants up into small segments containing only one root since most terrariums are rather small.

You can use a pair of tweezers to help set the plants in the soil for simplicity. When each plant is in place and has soil around the roots, you’re ready to move along to complete your terrarium.

7. Decorate It

This step is optional but is a fun suggestion. Adding small decorative items to your terrarium compliments the beauty of it.

Not to mention, if you’re doing this as a fun activity with children, they’d enjoy the terrarium being decorated.

You can find fun items such as fairy houses, garden gnomes, and much more to fit inside your terrarium to give it a fun and unique look.

8. Let it Rain

Next, you need to add some water to your terrarium. Use a squirt bottle to mist the terrarium about 10 times gently.

Be sure to spray the soil and the sides of the terrarium. It will ensure there’s enough water in it to allow the water cycle to begin and sustain itself for an extended period.

9. Seal Jar

Finally, if you’ve chosen to have a moist environment for your terrarium, you’ll need to seal the jar tightly. This will hold any moisture in place within your terrarium.

How to Care for Your Terrarium

As previously mentioned, terrariums need little care to thrive. If you give them a couple of key ingredients, you should have a beautiful terrarium. Here’s what they need:

1. Indirect Sunlight

Place your terrarium in a window where it will get plenty of indirect sunlight. If you place your terrarium in direct sunlight, it will get too hot.

In turn, your plants will scorch, and your terrarium won’t function as you had hoped. If you have a window which gets ample amount of sunlight, this would be a great location.

2. H2O

Keep an eye on your terrarium regularly. It’s normal to see the water cycle taking place within it. You should see mist forming, fog, or condensation forming on the side of your terrarium container.

When your terrarium becomes hot, it will pull moisture from the soil and rocks you’ve placed inside of it.

However, if your terrarium gets too clouded where you can’t see inside of it, take the lid off the jar to allow some of the moisture to evaporate.

This is a sign there’s too much moisture inside the container, and it needs help to remove it. When you’ve let the terrarium dry for a while, place the lid back on it, and try again.

3. Proper Watering Techniques

Eventually, you’ll see less and less moisture inside your terrarium. This can take weeks or months, depending on the container you chose and how hot the terrarium gets.

When it’s time to water the terrarium, it’s best to add another ten sprays to the terrarium. If you choose to water the terrarium directly, be sure you don’t go above the screen or moss layer.

If you leave water standing on the soil, it will become oversaturated and harm your terrarium. This is why misting is usually the best bet.

4. A Haircut Every Now and Again

Terrarium

Terrarium

You will need to prune the plants within your terrarium from time to time. It’s natural for plants to grow, but if you don’t keep them trimmed back, they’ll quickly outgrow the space in your container.

For this reason, you should use a pair of scissors to snip each plant back down to the desired size. When they grow again, repeat this process.

5. Skip the Fertilizer

There’s no reason to fertilize your terrarium. Fertilizer encourages plants to become larger and larger. You don’t want this in a terrarium because the plants will outgrow their space.

6. Plant Wisely

When designing your terrarium, be mindful of the environment each plant included will need. It’s best to choose plants with similar needs.

For instance, you don’t want to mix ferns with a cactus. A cactus requires a dry environment, while a fern desires more moisture.

If you try to satisfy one plant, you will be harming the other. This is why it’s best to only place plants with similar environmental needs together in one terrarium.

However, if you like the idea of growing both varieties of plants, you could make a closed terrarium and an open terrarium.

Creative Terrarium Ideas

Now you know how to create a terrarium and how to care for one properly. I wanted to provide a few ideas from around the internet to inspire your terrarium creation:

1. Simple Cactus Garden

This is a simple terrarium created inside a glass bowl. It’s an open terrarium since the cacti will require a dryer environment.

However, it’s a gorgeous arrangement because you see each layer of the terrarium. The plants add a simple but gorgeous look as well.

2. Lego Terrarium

If you have kids, they’ll love this terrarium idea. Again, this is an open terrarium idea, but it’s a fun one because of the Lego figurines inside of it.

Plus, it would be a fun way to teach your children about photosynthesis, caring for plants, and should keep their attention too.

3. Salt Shaker Terrarium

Are you looking for a subtle décor item for your kitchen table? This could be it in a small package. The next time someone says, “Pass the salt, please,” they’ll be in for a big surprise.

This terrarium is created inside a salt shaker. It’s an excellent design idea for a closed (moist environment) terrarium.

4. The Magical Forest

Do you have kids who love fairy tales? They need this terrarium in their life. You could make it together and place it in their room or favorite location in the house.

From there, they could let their minds run wild with imagination as they pretend to be a fun character in this magical forest.

Well, you now know what a terrarium is, what its purposes can be, how to create one, how to care for one and have some fun ideas to inspire your terrarium project.

This is a fun and inexpensive way to decorate your home, get creative, and teach the children in your life a few fun things about science too.

This article first appeared on morningchores.com Original Article

The Ultimate Way To Season Cast Iron (with flaxseed oil)

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Cast iron cookware is awesome! The cookware is easy to care for, and cook food at an even heat. Learn how to season your pans to get that wonderful non stick coating!

Cast iron is amazing. No matter what size pan or pot, you can go from meats to desserts with equal ease. Once your pan is well seasoned, there’s almost nothing you can’t do with it. It will be non stick and food will amazingly come right off, with very little effort.

There is a lot of different ways to season your cast iron. The idea is to use a saturated fat that will cool onto the cast iron and stay. Vegetable oil, such as corn or soybean, can be used, if you really want, but it’s not preferable due to the consistency (and the idea that it’s not a healthy fat).

A saturated fat will help seal the pores of the cast iron pan, and will solidify enough that it will not drip off. Saturated fats are also high heat resistant and will not break down when the pan is heating for food use.

Some fats you can use to season your cast iron skillets with:

  • Rendered tallow
  • Coconut oil
  • Palm oil
  • Flax oil
  • Melted shortening

To season a cast iron pan, or to reseason it:

  • first remove as much of the old coating as possible. You can use copper scouring pad to remove gunk and even rust. Some people will spray their pans down with oven cleaner and put in a plastic garbage bag overnight to help facilitate this. I personally just scrub them.
  • Place the cast iron pan in a 200 degree oven to warm them up and open the pores.
  • Squirt about a Tablespoon of flaxseed oil on the warm pan
  • Tilt the pan around to allow the oil to run all over
  • Using a cloth rag, gently wipe the oil to spread it evenly.
  • Bake the pans, right side up, in a 500 degrees oven for 30 minutes.
  • After 30 minutes, turn the oven to 250 degrees.
  • CAREFULLY add a bit more flax oil to the hot pan, then allow it to spread around the cast iron pan by itself.
  • Return the pan to the oven.
  • Continue to bake at the lower temp for an additional 30 minutes.
  • Turn off the oven, leave the pan in the oven and allow it to fully cool.

This gives it an awesome non stick coating that will last a long time, with proper care.

To use your cast iron, here are some quick tips:

  • Heat the pan as much as you can BEFORE adding food. This will help with the non stick factor.
  • Use the pans on as low of heat as needed to cook the food properly, but not burn the pan.
  • Add a bit of butter or other fat as needed to cook the food.
  • Clean your pans as quickly as possibly after use.

Cleaning your seasoned cast iron is fairly simple.

  • Once you are finished cooking, wipe out the pan as quickly as possible.
  • If you need to wait to clean the pan, reheat it first.
  • Most of the time, a well seasoned pan will only require cloth or paper towels to wipe it clean.
  • For stuck on food, try a plastic scraper (such as this one) to help remove stuck on food.
  • Pour about ¼ cup of kosher salt on the warm pan, then scrub around to help loosen food bits.
  • Rinse completely, the heat the pan again.
  • After every use, when the pan is clean, apply a thin layer of oil on the hot pan and allow to cool. This will help maintain the seasoning.

Some tips on how to care for cast iron:

  • Don’t use soap on your pans. If you need to remove hard gunk, simply add some water and boil for 10 minutes to loosen any stuck on food.
  • Don’t allow water to just “sit” in your pan. This can cause it to rust.
  • After cooking, clean the pan as quickly as possible. This will help remove food bits.
  • Once pan is warm, wipe a thin layer of oil, such as coconut, or flax oil on the pan again and allow to cool. Wipe off excess oil, if desired.
  • Only use soapy water if absolutely necessary, as soap can destroy the seasoning.
  • Don’t stack the pans directly on top of one another for storage, as this can scratch the seasoning. Add a paper towel, cloth, or coffee filter in between each one to protect it.

What’s your favorite cast iron piece? How do you prefer to season it? Need some recipe ideas? Get over 45 delicious recipes to use on your seasoned cast iron here!

The post The Ultimate Way To Season Cast Iron (with flaxseed oil) appeared first on The Homesteading Hippy.

the post first appeared on thehomesteadinghippy.com See it here

19 Unique Uses for Shipping Containers

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Shipping container bridge project from Yoav Messer Architects

by Cory Levins

When you think of shipping containers, you probably imagine large steel boxes that are used to haul large hazardous materials and other cargo from one place to another. While that was their sole use in the past, that is no longer the case. Shipping containers are used for a variety of structures nowadays.

About a decade ago, people started using shipping containers for their homes as a way to save money and live a low-maintenance lifestyle. In addition, shipping containers are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional houses, so everybody wins.

But the uses for shipping containers don’t stop there. Countries all over the world are joining the movement and using these versatile rectangular boxes for buildings ranging from hotels, to movie theaters, to malls.

When a company no longer needs a shipping container, why just let it sit there? There are many ways to put it to good use. Here is a sampling of ideas:

19 unique uses for shipping containers

1. School. Building a school costs a lot of money, but education is still needed for the world’s children. So, what do you do? Third world countries and other poor areas around the world have gone about using shipping containers as classrooms, which are great for tight budgets. In addition, many of these classrooms are outfitted with solar panels, so they save money on electricity as well.

Shipping container school in Malawi
Solar powered shipping container school in Malawi

2. Hotel. Many people use shipping containers as homes, so it’s only logical that they can be used as hotels as well. These containers have been converted into hotels in many countries across the globe. Some are permanent, while others can be made to be transported to various locations.

3. Bridge. In Israel, a proposed project will turn retired shipping containers into a 525-foot long bridge. The space was once a landfill, but it is now a green space that leads to Ariel Sharon National Park.

Shipping container bridge
Shipping container bridge project from Yoav Messer Architects

4. Hospital or clinic. Can’t get to the hospital? Let it come to you. Containers can be used to create portable clinics so more people can get medical treatment. These clinics can also be made stationary and affixed to permanent locations.

5. Furniture. Shipping containers can make durable furniture for schools and homeowners. Whether you’re looking to create chairs, tables or desks, you can’t get much sturdier than shipping container material.

6. Portable toilet. Containers make great toilets for construction sites. These are seen in many countries, and their portability makes it so they can be used from one project to another with ease.

7. Movie theater. Shipping containers can provide only a temporary solution as a movie theater, but they offer a lot of recreational value in a short time.

8. Stores. In countries outside of the United States, it’s not uncommon to see stores – even entire malls – made from shipping containers.

9. Food truck. Instead of having to travel from place to place, you can keep your food truck in one location thanks to shipping containers. You can modify a shipping container to allow the roof and sides to “pop out” and create an innovative work of art that shows off your creativity. This idea also works well for small shops.

Shipping container food truck
Hobo Food’s shipping container food truck

10. Coffee bars and cafes. Save money on commercial space by creating your own café and coffee bar from a shipping container.

11. Student housing. Shipping containers are often used as student housing in other countries. Many colleges and universities stack these containers and use them as dorms.

12. Barn. Shipping containers are a natural choice for barns because of their many useful properties. They are fire resistant, so they can contain a fire. They are also water and wind-tight, so if you live in an area that has these weather conditions, shipping containers are a must-have.

13. Playhouse. Keep your kids entertained with a shipping container playhouse. You can configure it however you please. You can make it small or large and paint it any color you’d like. Add games and a TV, and the playhouse will be a perfect location for sleepovers with neighborhood friends.

14. Playground. Shipping containers are made to be stacked, so, by making some adjustments and adding some pipes as slides, you can create a unique playground for the kids.

15. Workshop or office. With limited space at home, you may not have the room to work on projects. Containers make great cubicles and workshops. With just a few adjustments, you can add windows and doors and create a private area so you can focus on work.

Shipping container turned into a whimsical workshop
Shipping container turned into a whimsical workshop by Jeremy Thompson

16. Deck or patio. While wood is typically used for decks, bees and other critters tend to ruin decks. By using a container, instead, you eliminate this problem. For a patio, create some open space or add some windows, and you’ll have a unique space.

17. Garden. A shipping container garden is the perfect place to grow plants and food that deer and other critters tend to eat. Put windows on all sides so the sunlight can get in and allow for optimal growth. This type of garden is easy to maintain, plus the extra protection will ensure your hard work and time won’t go to waste.

18. Pool. By placing a container underground, you can create your own pool. Just make a few adjustments, and you’ll have something to keep you cool this summer. Container sizes range from 10-53 feet in length, so you can add more containers as needed and create the size you desire. Creating your own shipping container pool also allows you to get creative and add wood, paint, and other elements to suit your preferences.

19. Sauna. As if a pool isn’t relaxing enough, what about your own sauna? Containers make great saunas.

Shipping container home with living roof by Poteet Architects

Shipping containers are perfect for a variety of buildings and work well in impoverished neighborhoods where building something from scratch would not be financially feasible. These are just some of the examples where containers have worked well. By using your imagination, you can likely find many more ways in which you could use these sturdy steel boxes.

***

Cory Levins serves as the Director of Business Development for Air Sea Containers. Cory oversees the development and implementation of ASC’s internal and external marketing program, driving revenue and profits from the Miami FL headquarters. Before joining Air Sea Containers, Cory Levins was the Director of Business Development for Marketing and Real Estate Lending Companies. Cory enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, sports, and the ocean.

This article first appeared on offgridworld.com Check it out here

Wild Coffee Substitute- Foraging For Cleavers

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Most of us can’t grow our own coffee, but we can easily find this wild coffee substitute!

Cleavers, Galium aparine, is a fast growing weed that can be found in damp areas and along fence lines. The plant has narrow lance shaped leaves that are very sticky. Cleavers is also sometimes referred to as “nature’s velcro” due to the sticky leaves and stems.

Also known as Goosegrass, Barweed, Catchweed, Cleavers, Stickywilly, Zhu Yang Yang, it is commonly found blooming from April through September, but July is said to be the most ideal time for harvesting.

The blossoms on the cleavers plant are tiny, white flowers less than ⅛ inch in diameter. They will appear star like and be arranged in clusters or whorls. Most often, there will be 6-8 blossoms together, but they can bloom separately. Flowers and seeds can be present in each cluster at the same time.

Cleavers herb health benefits include a historical herbal medicine use for cleansing and purifying the blood, kidneys and to stimulate the lymphatic system. It has also been use to help treat edema, or swelling of the extremities. It has also been used to help with urinary tract infections. ¹

There are currently no known contradications to using this, but as always, check with your herbal practitioner before using this, or any herbal remedy medicinally.

Cleavers seed is said to be one of the best foraged plants for a wild coffee substitute.

It is great, roasted on it’s own, but you can also mix it with dandelion root or chicory root for a deeper coffee flavor. While cleavers seeds do not have the taste of coffee on their own, the roasted seeds will have the smell of regular coffee. Cleavers is an edible plant, but many find the taste to astringent on it’s own and prefer to use it as a seasoning type herb in soups and salads.

To make the coffee substitute, you just need to collect and dry the seeds.

  1. Carefully cut the top of the plant into a paper bag.
  2. Shake gently to remove spines and leaves.
  3. Separate the seeds out, and allow to dry for 2-3 hours before roasting.
  4. Roast them gently in a medium hot, dry skillet to get the essence which is very similar to coffee.

You can also make an herbal tea from fresh cleavers. Simply collect the leaves, wash gently to remove dirt or bugs and steep 1 cup of leaves in ½ gallon hot water for 10 minutes. Strain to remove spines. Sweeten to taste, and enjoy throughout the day.

Some tips to remember when harvesting:

  • The leaves may cause contact dermatitis in some, so wear gloves when you harvest.
  • Cleavers is a very sticky plant and may stick to your shoes, pants, or even your shirt. Be careful to remove all parts of the plant to avoid possible irritation.
  • Be mindful of a look-a-like plant, Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum), which can get poisonous in large doses. Always double check with a field guide before you consume any wild plant!

Are you ready to go foraging for cleavers? To see what else you need when foraging, read the post here.

¹ (Temizer A. and Sayin F, Ergun F et al. Determination of total flavonoid in various Galium species by differential pulse polarography. J Fac Pharm 1996;13:97-104)

Imagine stocking your natural medicine cabinet without spending any money online or at the health food stores. If you are traveling, you can have natural helps for bumps, bruises, scrapes and more just by taking a relaxing walk. There's no need to get complicated, either. These 10 herbs will get you started and can do a lot of work for you. Best of all, many are right in your backyard, just waiting for you to find them! I'll show you how to find these herbs, from plantain to comfrey and how to USE them as well. You won't be left alone, wondering what to do. You'll learn more about infusing oils, and how to choose an oil for your needs as well.

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the post first appeared on thehomesteadinghippy.com See it here