Did you know April 7th is the World Health Day? Let’s celebrate it as a way of life. We hear a lot about health and healthy lifestyle nowadays. I remember when my husband visited me in Russia in our first year of knowing each other, he said: You guys live so healthy! I remember being …
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April 7th – the World Health Day
Christmas Tree for dinner?
Cut or not to cut? This year I had a dilemma. We had a chance to cut a nice fir from our own woods to serve as holiday decoration and inspiration. But I was hesitant. If million of people cut their trees every December, we have million trees less on our planet. The other choice was …
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Nettle – spring tonic and a useful sting.
Nettle. Stinging nettle. Why does it sting? Is it to protect itself from herbivores, or may be to serve humans? Here in Northern Wisconsin May, early June (before blooming actually) is a perfect time to collect nettles. When I pick them barehanded, I don’t mind an occasional sting, it feels good, it feels medicinal. In …
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Black garlic is a super vegetable
While black garlic is still a novelty for most of the world, it has an ancient history that goes back to the 1000s years old preserving traditions of Korea and Thailand. It has been in use and respect there for a long time. According to their mythology it prolongs life, and people add it to …
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Cork purse future – it is better then leather
I would like to transport you to sunny dry Portugal. That is where the evergreen cork oaks grow, and constitute 28 percent of their forest. Portugal and Spain are two major producers of this natural material. It is endemic to Southwest Europe and northwest Africa. If we think about it, cork is used a lot: …
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Natural ecological wool felted footwear from Russia – Valenki
Russia is mostly a northern country. It is hard to imagine it without its national symbol – felted Valenki. Every person there remembers them from childhood. Amazing footwear for northerners – like walking on a warm soft cloud These felted boots are super helpful for outdoor work in northern climates – forestry, construction, expeditions, oil …
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Honey – the food of the gods
Most of us have a jar of honey at home. But do we know how beneficial it actually is? People used it since ancient times in Egypt, Rome, Greece, Slavic region, India and China. It was called the food of gods, bringing health and longevity and it was the only sweet food known to people …
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Pomegranate – ancient royal fruit to brighten your season
I love every month of the year. The special thing about November is a pomegranate fruit. This red royal berry (the size of an orange:-) comes from Persia, and is well known, appreciated and enjoyed in the Middle East, and South Asia from Mediterranean to Himalayas including India. I remember eating juicy red seeds as …
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Fireweed – Russian ancient traditions in your tea cup.
Fireweed – what is in the name… I love when I start seeing beautiful pinkish-purple flower tops of blooming fireweed in August. Fireweed is a narrow alternate leaf plant from Evening primrose family, Epilobium Angustifolium. It loves to grow in burnt or logged areas in slightly acidic soil in full sun. Sometimes you see it …
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Harvest Doll Class
Keepsake Charm Doll Yulia loves making dolls. They are so inspiring. This time she is inviting you to her local class in Cable, WI. We are going to create a Harvest Doll – a keepsake for the next year that will bring health and prosperity to your home. We are going to use natural cotton …
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