Using a Wood-Fired Sauna: 10 Health Benefits + How to Get the Most From It

Nootka Sauna

Introduction Living off-grid has taught me to appreciate simple, powerful ways to take care of my health—and one of my favorites is our wood-fired sauna. There’s something about stepping into that warm cedar space after a long day that seems to reset everything. It’s not just relaxing—it actually does a lot for your body. If … Read more

Tapped Birch Water

birch water being tapped from a tree

Every spring, when the snow starts to melt and the days begin to warm up, something incredible happens—birch trees start running with sap. Not far from our property, we have a grove of birch trees, and this year we decided to tap them for fresh birch water and try making birch syrup. For my husband, … Read more

Oregon Grape: A Powerful Wild Medicinal Plant (Uses, Benefits & How to Harvest)

🌿 What Is Oregon Grape? Oregon grape is one of the most useful wild plants you’ll find along the west coast of North America. Around our off-grid property, it grows naturally and is something I’ve come to appreciate more every year. Despite the name, it’s not actually a grape—but once you see the deep purple … Read more

Wild Chaga Mushroom

Wild chaga mushroom growing on a living birch tree in a northern forest

A guide to identifying, harvesting, preparing, and brewing Chaga from the forest If you’ve ever walked through a stand of birch trees in a cold northern climate, you may have noticed a dark, cracked growth that looks almost burnt into the bark. That unusual growth is wild Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus), one of the most … Read more