From Dirt to Jars: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What We’re Doing Again
Last year we grew things in two places: the townhouse and the farm. Between the two, my dad grew enough tomatoes to feed an entire town, and I’m not being dramatic. We canned a ridiculous amount, made soup starter, froze even more, and were still picking into October like it was our job. At home,…
Small-Space Gardening Hacks: Growing More in Less Space
You don’t need acres of land to grow your own food. Whether you’ve got a small yard, a balcony, or just a few sunny windows, you can make the most of whatever space you have. Small-scale gardening is all about being smart with what you’ve got. Here’s how to maximize your growing space and still…
The Reality of Self-Sufficiency: It’s Not Always Pretty
Self-sufficiency gets romanticized a lot. You see the Instagram-worthy gardens, the fresh-baked bread, the stocked pantries—but what you don’t always see is the exhaustion, the failures, and the never-ending to-do list. I love growing food, preserving what I can, and making my own herbal remedies. But let’s be real—self-sufficiency is work. And sometimes? It’s just…
Canning Safety 101: Myths, Mistakes, and What You Actually Need to Know
Canning is one of the best ways to keep food shelf-stable, but if you’ve spent any time in canning groups or reading horror stories online, you might think it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Let’s clear up the confusion and focus on safe, effective canning—without the myths and fear-mongering. 🔴 Myth #1: “You Can Water…
How to Preserve Food Without a Root Cellar
Not everyone has a root cellar—or a big storage space—but that doesn’t mean you can’t store food long-term and build a solid pantry. Whether you’re working with a small kitchen, a townhouse, or just limited space, there are plenty of ways to keep food fresh and shelf-stable without a traditional root cellar. Here’s how to…
What I’m Growing This Year (And Why It Matters)
Every year, I take a little time to plan out what I’m growing, what’s worth the effort, and what actually fits into my life. This year, I’m focusing on a mix of practical, resilient, and useful plants—things that nourish, heal, and actually get used instead of just looking pretty. Here’s what’s going in the ground…
Canning for Beginners: What You Actually Need to Get Started
If you’ve ever thought about canning but felt overwhelmed by all the equipment, rules, and horror stories about botulism—breathe. Canning doesn’t have to be complicated or scary. It’s one of the best ways to preserve food, save money, and build a pantry that actually works for you. This guide will walk you through exactly what…
If You’re New Here—Welcome! Here’s What I’m Doing Now.
It looks like a lot of new faces have been checking out my About and Welcome pages lately—so if that’s you, hey there! Let’s get straight to it: Fern & Fog is shifting, and here’s what that means. I’ve always been about real self-care—not the fluffy kind, but the kind that actually helps you survive.…
Garden Fever
You know, for someone who grew up on a farm, planting a garden every year, raising animals to eat (don’t come at me damn it, a girl’s gotta eat) and milk and all that….I always get nervous about starting a garden. Yeah, I don’t know why either. It seems stupid, but man if that garden…
In the Beginning, There Were Cows
Writing for me is hard. I have so many thoughts in my head and I can put them in complete sentences there, but getting them out in the world is hard. I used to be really good at it, but brains work in weird ways. I was born. No, really. Contrary to what some people…
Fern and Fog 