The ancient Mayans knew of Cacao’s nourishing qualities and held it sacred, and Aztec warriors prized it for its energy and nutrition. It’s time we reacquainted ourselves with the ancient wisdom regarding this amazing food. Here are some of raw cacao’s health benefits: Continue reading
“Wild Man” Steve Brills was a professional chef before he took to the wilds of New York to teach people about wild edibles. During my recent interview with him, he passed me this recipe by memory.
Walking into the field with a shovel. Cold hands on the smooth wooden handle. You are warmed by the smell of earth as you dig. Hands plunge into chill earth, searching with strong fingers. Finally, you clutch the wise burdock root, and you feel somehow compelled to bow.
There is something to be said for taking one’s time with plants. They offer so much more to our psyches than most of us living a modern lifestyle can comprehend. Watching a plant through all of its seasons, befriending the little star lady Chickweed and allying yourself with Burdock’s ancient wisdom. There is nothing to describe the joy. It is something like coming home.
But not everyone is up for harvesting burdock, or even devoting much of their busy lives to foraging. Continue reading
We awoke as the sun began draping light over the jungle hills. It was our day of challenge: to kayak the other side of Lake Arenal and back. We wanted to carry as little as possible and loaded up on energy before we left. We also chose to pack a few high-energy foods so that we could sustain our energy to meet the challenge.
We also didn’t want to consume popular “energy” products that are loaded with preservatives and refined sugar. Continue reading
Drive past the willow tree, deeper into the valley. There is a tiny bridge where one valley meets the other and the landscape opens like a story. Pull over here. Continue reading
We cut through the grass with our bodies, merging with the field. The calls of birds alert the other creatures to our presence as we swish and crackle our way through grass that’s taller than we are. At last, we come upon a clearing.
By Nicholas Tippins
Three jars of superfoods sit on my shelf. Dark bottles, carrying ancient medicine. I dip my spoon into the jar of Spirulina, and draw out a green so dark it I could be looking at it in the bottom of the ocean. The next one is brighter, like grass sprinkled with emeralds. The third is brown, the color of root and bark. They contain nearly all the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and adaptogens that my body needs.
I can see my ancestors harvesting these sacred foods, making medicinal meals from them. Continue reading