This edition of MUSE is a collection of writing from across the years—essays, poems, reflections, and creative work that didn’t quite fit into any one theme, but still deserved a home. It’s a mix of old and new, serious and light, personal and political. Together, these pieces tell a story of growth, identity, and the […]
Read more...Author Archive: Chrissy
Ridiculously Easy Roasted Chicken & Veggies Sheet Pan Meal
This is one of my favorite meals because it’s incredibly easy, but it’s also super healthy and can be made with whatever seasonal produce you have around. We eat this at least once a week because it’s so easy. It’s also easy to dress up – top the chicken with some tzatziki or pesto – […]
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5 Powerhouse Herbs that Might Be Growing as Weeds in Your Yard
Last year, I had a bunch of wasp’s nests in my yard. I kept getting bitten and stung. One time, I got stung in my eyebrow. The toxins almost immediately started flowing down into my eye, and it became completely swollen. It was incredibly painful. Everytime I got stung, I immediately ran to my garden […]
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How to Build and Fill Free or Super Cheap Raised Beds
I have tried all the different types of growing. In the ground, hugelkultur, raised beds – as long as it’s free or super cheap, I’ve tried it all. And I’ve found that different types of beds are better for different types of growing. For me, it makes sense to put annuals in a raised bed […]
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Book Review: Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver et al.
(This was originally an essay that I wrote for my Urban Farming class in Undergrad in Fall 2024. It’s been updated to make it relevant here! P.S. I got an A!) Sprinkled with essays, recipes, and short stories, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is the true story of a family who vowed to eat and live off […]
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Food Words Matter: Understanding the Language of Health, Justice, and Home Cooking
There are some pretty severe limitations with using any one word to define your eating style. From leaving out whole categories of nutritious foods, to judging others for their food choices, the definitions of food terms can be very harmful or just reductive. However, it’s also important to have a basic understanding of terms when […]
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Kale Yeah! Easy Ways to Eat More Greens (Without Hating It)
Okay, let’s be real here. Eating more greens isn’t exactly an exciting idea for most people. Greens are the side dish we skip the sad pile on our plate, or something that we only reach for when we’re trying to “be good.” But greens deserve better treatment than that. These amazing leafy powerhouses are packed […]
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Urban Homestead Tour – Spring 2025
Almost 14 years ago, I moved into this house with my little family. We’ve had lots of changes over the years and a major re-start 3 years ago, when I was able to buy the house from my ex-husband. I thought it was about time to show you all the work I’ve done!
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The Ten Commandments of Frugal Living
I am extremely frugal. Sometimes to a fault, I’ll admit that. I grew up on a farm where everything was used and reused until it was literally not able to be anymore. But then, someone might fix it up and give it even more life. I actually grew up next to a landfill and my […]
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25 random acts of kindness that don’t cost money
Today, a person ahead of me in line paid for my purchase. The cashier was so cute, they handed me my goodies with a mischievous smile and just said “have a nice day!” I said, “am I going to be paying for this?” And they told me the person ahead of me already did. I […]
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