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The Greens Our Ancestors Would Have Wept Over
Sprouts, Microgreens, and Living Food in the Dark Months Winter was never meant to be abundant. As I was starting my microgreens this weekend—filling trays, misting soil, setting them under the light—it struck me how extraordinary this small act would have been to those who came before us. A handful of seeds, a warm kitchen, a bit of light, and fresh green leaves would appear in the heart of winter. For most of human history, that simply wasn’t possible. That thought stayed w
Becky Snell
2 days ago9 min read


Laundry Detox: How to Strip Away the Chemicals and Clean Naturally
“Better living through chemistry” was the promise. But what if we’ve traded true well-being for synthetic convenience?” Walk down any supermarket aisle and you’ll be hit with a wall of fragrance: spring rain, mountain breeze, tropical sunrise. These enticing names mask a cocktail of chemicals embedded in everyday products—most notably, laundry detergent, fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Marketed as essential for cleanliness, softness, static control, and long-lasting scen
Becky Snell
Jan 1810 min read


The Winter Apothecary: Essential Oil Blends for Cold Season Wellness
How to support your body naturally during winter’s challenges Winter draws us inward. The days grow shorter, the air becomes sharper, and our homes fill with the scents of pine, citrus, and slow simmering broths. Yet this is also the time of year when our bodies work harder—cold, dry air can irritate our respiratory systems, viruses circulate more easily when we spend long hours indoors, and stress levels often rise during the holiday season. This is where the winter apotheca
Becky Snell
Jan 1810 min read


Wool and Wonder: Lore, Warmth, & the Fabric of Winter
Explore the history, lore, and benefits of wool—one of humanity’s oldest and most trusted fibers. Learn about its warmth, breathability, flame resistance, and unique energetics, along with ethical sourcing, traditional uses, and tips for layering and caring for wool through autumn and winter.
Becky Snell
Nov 29, 202520 min read


Creating Your Own Fountain: A Daily Practice for Vital Living
The myths have guided us. The mountain paths, coastal kitchens, herbal stews, and sunrise walks of long-lived communities have shown us what’s possible. But now comes the most important journey of all—not to a place, but to a rhythm. The Fountain of Youth does not lie in Hunza, Ikaria, or Acciaroli. It lives in the way we wake, move, eat, rest, connect, and care for ourselves and others. It lives in you. Vitality is Ritual, Not a Recipe Longevity isn’t about copying another
Becky Snell
Nov 15, 20252 min read


The Rosemary Coast: Acciaroli & Campodimele, Italy
Nestled along the sun-drenched coastlines and quiet inland hills of southern Italy, the towns of Acciaroli and Campodimele have drawn the attention of researchers for their residents’ remarkable vitality. Here, nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and ancient olive groves, people live well into their 90s and beyond—with sharp minds, strong bodies, and a steady, unhurried joy that infuses daily life. This region—sometimes romanticized as “the land of rosemary and long life”
Becky Snell
Nov 15, 20254 min read


The High Spirits: Hunza Valley, Pakistan
In a remote Himalayan valley near the borders of Pakistan, India, China, and Afghanistan, the Hunza people live between towering peaks and crystal rivers. Their homeland, the Hunza Valley, is often described as a paradise of vitality—a place where people are said to remain strong, serene, and active well into their 90s and beyond. The Hunza do not see aging as a decline, but as a continuation. Here, joy is found in simplicity, strength is built in daily movement, and food is
Becky Snell
Nov 15, 20253 min read


The Stone Paths of the East: Bama & Rugao, China
In the soft morning light of the Guangxi mountains, elders in the village of Bama rise to walk winding paths beneath ancient trees. Farther north, in the town of Rugao, centenarians tend gardens, sip herbal teas, and greet the day with gentle movement. These quiet corners of China are far from the tourist trail, but for generations they’ve been known as havens of long life. In Bama and Rugao, aging is not feared—it is flowed with. Here, the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medi
Becky Snell
Nov 15, 20253 min read


Beyond Religion: Rediscovering the Heart of Holistic Living
When we think of ancestral wisdom and holistic living, food, herbs, and natural remedies usually come to mind. We picture kitchens filled...
Becky Snell
Aug 17, 20258 min read


The Breath of the Earth: The Ancient Art and Energy of Linen
Introduction Linen is more than just a fabric—it is a thread that weaves through the earliest chapters of human history, a cloth of earth...
Becky Snell
Aug 2, 202513 min read


Echoes from the Mountains: Longevity in Georgia and the Caucasus
High in the rugged Caucasus Mountains of Georgia, far from highways and headlines, live some of the most resilient elders on Earth. In...
Becky Snell
Aug 2, 20253 min read


The Valley of Vitality: Vilcabamba, Ecuador
Tucked deep within the Andes, embraced by mountains and mist, lies the lush and peaceful Vilcabamba Valley—a place once called “The...
Becky Snell
Jul 20, 20255 min read


The Cost of Convenience
How Leaving the Home Changed Our Health Introduction: A Tapestry Unraveled Lately, I’ve found myself doing more and more from...
Becky Snell
Jul 3, 20258 min read


In Search of the Fountain of Youth: Legends, Lands & Lifelong Vitality
Discover timeless longevity secrets from the world’s hidden wellness cultures in this apothecary-style guide. Explore ancestral foods, purposeful movement, herbal rituals, and daily rhythms inspired by regions like Hunza, Vilcabamba, and the Georgian mountains. A holistic path to aging with vitality, grace, and connection.
Becky Snell
Jun 13, 20254 min read


The Dreaded Four Letter Word
Reclaiming the Truth About Diet ID 148119172 © Oleksandra Naumenko | Dreamstime.com There’s a word we all know—short, sharp, and...
Becky Snell
May 27, 202510 min read


Spring Cleaning the Mind
Step into the season of renewal with this gentle guide to spring cleaning the mind. Discover signs of mental clutter, calming rituals, nourishing herbs, and daily practices that help restore clarity, focus, and emotional ease. Rooted in monastic tradition and supported by modern holistic insights, this post offers both reflection and ritual to help your mind bloom alongside the season.
Becky Snell
May 2, 20258 min read


The Everyday Magic of Hydrosols, Part 2: Sip the Flowers
Discover how to sip the subtle beauty of hydrosols in your kitchen.
Becky Snell
Apr 30, 20255 min read


Spring Cleaning the Body: Awakening the Lymph & Supporting Detox Organs
Awakening the lymph and supporting detox organs
Becky Snell
Apr 17, 20258 min read


Sweeping Out the Past
Spring Cleaning Traditions from History to Hearth As the earth begins to stir from its winter slumber, we too feel the urge to stretch,...
Becky Snell
Apr 6, 20256 min read


Black Raspberry? Don't You Mean Blackberries?
It's that time of year again, the black raspberries are ripening which means it is also time to start creating deliciousness. I started...
Becky Snell
Jul 13, 20244 min read
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