Return To Our Roots
Welcome to the outdoor Apothecary
The Outdoor Apothecary inspires naturally minded people to live with the seasons, become self-reliant, connect with nature, and protect their health through herbal living. We love celebrating “the old ways” of living to bring blessings to ourselves, our families, communities and to Mother Earth. We offer articles, tips, recipes and ideas on practical self-reliance, simple herbal remedies, foraging, gardening and reconnecting ourselves to our natural world and sacred ancestral traditions.
About Me: Barbi
I’m a bookish “earth mother” who loves to read and walk in the woods. I’m a wildcrafter & herbalist, avid gardener, collector of nature specimens, and field guide enthusiast.
I spent most of my childhood exploring our natural world and I’m now devoted to reviving the ancestral wisdom of plants as medicine and healers. I love spending hours outside tending to my gardens, gathering plants and herbs, being in nature,and learning skills of self-reliance like homemade soapmaking.
I give deep thanks and gratitude to my Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck family for inspiring me to honor our Mother Earth by dedicating myself to studying and sharing ancient lifeways and reviving the wonderous arts of plant medicine and nature connectedness. I sincerely hope you’ll join me on this journey.
Rewild Your Life
Connecting with nature is more than a walk through the woods. It’s about being conscious of seasonal changes, becoming attuned with the plants around us, and relearning the nature-language we’ve forgotten through our modern lives. We believe that incorporating the “old ways” of doing things, growing and harvesting our own food, and having a do-it-yourself spirit, promotes self-sufficiency and is an important part of leading a healthier lifestyle, closer to nature.
We hope to provide you with a foundation to rewild yourself through aligning with the cycles of the seasons and to help you in discovering the energies of the seasonal cycles.
Nourish Yourself with Nature
Free 29-page Guidebook to Celebrating the Seasons
A Guided Workbook to help you celebrate nature’s seasonal cycles with mindfulness and meaningful intentions – our gift to you! Learn how to live a mindful nature-connected life.
Recent Posts
10 Delicious Chestnut Recipes You’re Going to Love
Chestnuts are unique, delicious and nutritious. Try one of these roasted chestnut recipes for a taste of the season.
Easy Chestnut Hummus: The Holiday Appetizer You’ve Been Waiting For
Chestnut hummus is the perfect appetizer for Christmas or Thanksgiving. Serve with crudités, crackers or chips as a healthy snack or starter to your holiday party.
How to Roast Chestnuts: 5 Easy Methods
When you have fresh chestnuts, there are plenty of ways to roast them. Learn how to roast chestnuts like a pro with these five easy methods.
Chocolate Chestnut Truffles: A Delicious Taste of Fall
Chestnut truffles are a special treat for the holidays. These rich, luxurious bites of pure chestnut flavor are chocolate-covered balls of chestnut puree sprinkled with ground pistachio nuts or coconut.
A Delicious Crabapple Recipe: Hand Pies For Our Ancestors
This crabapple recipe was created as an offering and a way to honor the wisdom and traditions of our ancestors. Enjoy this delicious pastry that captures the essence of crabapple’s beautiful fall fruitiness.
Magical Crabapple: The Folklore & How To Use This Underappreciated Fruit
Let’s delve into the folklore of crabapple, as well as ways to use this underappreciated fall fruit to honor our ancestors during the autumn equinox.
Gardening in the Winter: Tips for Success
Check out these tips for how to keep gardening in the winter so you can skip the produce aisle and enjoy fresh ingredients all winter long.
Pumpkin Spice Moon Milk Recipe – The Perfect Drink for Fall
You’ll love this velvety, rich and flavorsome pumpkin spice Moon Milk Recipe. If you love pumpkins then I think you’ll really enjoy this latte full of anti inflammatory spices.
Spiced Pickled Crabapple Recipe: A Delicious Taste of Autumn
This autumn-spiced pickled crabapple recipe is an excellent and delicious way to use a surplus of crabapples in the fall.
10 Powerful Rituals For Autumn Equinox: Celebrating The End Of Summer
Here’s a list of some of our favorite rituals for autumn equinox to help you celebrate the end of summer.
The Benefits of Boneset Tincture & 6 Easy Steps To Create It
Boneset tincture is a simple and effective way to use the medicinal herb boneset. Its many benefits include acting as an immune tonic, soothing inflammation and easing cold and flu symptoms. Learn how to make a great tincture with this easy guide.
The Amazing Benefits Of Boneset Tea & How To Make It At Home
One traditional folk remedy for cold and flu is boneset tea, which has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for many ailments. Here’s how you can make boneset tea at home and its benefits.
Learning the Herb Boneset: A Useful Native Medicinal Plant
While you might have never heard of the herb boneset, it has been used for centuries for its medicinal uses. It is best known as a fever reducer, digestive aid, pain reliever and to stop coughs. On this page, you will learn all about the herb boneset and its traditional and medicinal uses.
Make Your Own Herbal Incense Bundles in 6 Easy Steps
6 Steps to making your own herbal incense bundles to honor the changing seasons and welcome good energy into your home.
Autumn Season: 8 Tips for Hosting a Magical Fall Gathering
It’s time to celebrate the autumn season! Get ready to host a magical outdoor gathering with these tips on decorating and hosting.
20 Hardiest Cold Weather Crops to Grow in Fall and Winter
This ultimate guide to cold weather crops for fall and winter gardening in Connecticut discusses the vegetables and fruits that you can grow there in the winters and discusses ways to extend the growing season.
31 Inspiring Books About Nature Connection That Will Change Your Life
This list of books about nature in several categories is an excellent resource for those interested in learning how to better connect with nature.
Seasonal Living: 13 Best Ways to Connect With Nature.
13 ideas for seasonal living to help you connect with nature and change you life.
Surprising Joe Pye Weed Uses & How To Make A Tea From It
The medicinal Joe Pye Weed uses and benefits.
6 Excellent Reasons Why You Need Joe Pye Weed In Your Garden
A native plant that provides many benefits to your garden, joe pye weed is a versatile addition. This native plant attracts pollinators while being low maintenance and beautiful.
5 Best Garden Cover Crops for Fall
The fall season is the ideal time to plant garden cover crops. If you’re looking for an easy way to improve soil structure and fertility, these are the best garden cover crops for fall.
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