Ancestral Skills for a Sustainable Modern Life
DIY Cheese Making: How Our Ancestors Did It
Cheese, one of the oldest and most beloved foods worldwide, has a rich and diverse history dating back thousands of years. The art of cheese making, which began as a preservation technique in the warm climates of the Middle East, has evolved over time, influenced by geography, culture, and technology. Today, we explore the roots of this culinary marvel, delve into the reasons for its regional differences, and guide you through making your own homemade cheese.
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Life, Business, and Spoon Carving
Forgotten Skillz projects are only partially about the final outcomes. They are far more about the journey of discovery of skill, self, and community.
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January 17th – National Hot Buttered Rum Day
January 17th is National Hot Buttered Rum Day!
It’s cold outside. Good thing you thought ahead, planned for ample firewood, stocked your larders, and made sure to have a plentiful store of RUM to keep the blood invigorated. While modern science tells us that alcohol only makes us FEEL warm by causing the blood vessels in our skin to dilate, there is something primal about the heat of an adult beverage glowing in one’s belly as one sits by the fire. Here is our favorite recipe for this sweet adult beverage.
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Quotes About Being in the Wild
Pumpkins Are For Eating
A curious practice of modern American culture is to celebrate the autumnal holidays by placing out harvest-themed decorations. This callback to more pastoral times encourages us to put pumpkins, gourds, and squashes on our stoops, bails of hay and cornstalks in our front yard, and berry-laden wreaths on our doors.
The irony is that, traditionally, we celebrate like this as a way of giving thanks for a bountiful harvest season. Yet, instead of preparing, drying, and storing all of these nutritious food items as our ancestors would have, we leave them out front to decay — except for those yummy pumpkin seeds, of course.
12 Self-Sufficient Uses for Firewood
As autumn matures, the nights are growing crisper, and the smell of smoke is wafting from the neighbors’ chimneys, speaking of cuddles in front of fireplaces while sharing glasses of homemade apple cider. But beyond the romance of the season, autumn is also a season of harvest, storage, and preparation. In addition to food stores and other goods, having an ample supply of seasoned firewood is essential.