Based on principles as old as the Sanskrit literature of ancient India, the modern chakra garden provides a healing sanctuary where emotional, mental and physical relief may be contemplated. Chakra is the Sanskrit word for wheel, disc or circle. And like the spokes of a wheel, chakra has generally come to mean the radiation of […]

My goal when I wrote the Vegan Cook’s Bible many years ago was “to design recipes so good that everyone who enjoys food – non-vegan and non-vegetarian cooks included – would scramble to make and taste them.” I wanted to create new vegan recipes that celebrate the very best of organic fruits, herbs and vegetables. […]

Dig deep and you will find that from beets and burdock to turnips, turmeric and yams, plant roots are some of the most humble and unassuming – and at the same time underrated – foods we can eat. Economical, healthy, and tasty, roots have been important to humans since the dawn of time. Paleobotanists and […]

(Originally published in 2017; Updated in 2025) Relax and take cheer; Lemon Balm is here. This refreshingly humble member of the Mint family (Melissa officinalis) is often considered to be a weed. Yet it is a surprisingly hip and helpful herb. Aromatherapists use its essential oil to comfort people such as the terminally ill or […]

Herbalists and other healers have long championed the bitter taste of certain herbs and garden greens. Yet the majority of North Americans still shun these essential foods, preferring salty and sweet over the equally important sour and bitter.

Chile Pepper Medicine Turns Up the Heat

The mighty capsicum (botanical name for pepper) has been named 2016 Herb of the Year by the International Herb Association.

From the Vitality Food Feature 'SIMMERED FALL SUPPERS'. From the Vitality Food Feature 'Lemony Herbs Add Zest and Zing to Spring Meals'. (Makes about 1-1/2 cups) Ingredients 1 Tbsp coriander seeds 2 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp fenugreek seeds ½ tsp green peppercorns 1 star anise 4 cloves garlic 2 shallots or ½ cup chopped […]

Autumn rhythms bring us back into order, back into shoes, and back into the kitchen. Now is the time for hearty, bone-warming dishes and hardy herbs to season them. But wait.

Cleansing tonics are an ancient rite of spring that reflects the season’s central theme of self-renewal. By definition, a tonic is an infusion of herbs that invigorates or strengthens the system. Tonics often act as stimulants and alteratives as well. Taken either hot or cold, tonics restore tone, purify the blood, and act as nutritive […]

The dried root of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been used “as a condiment and aromatic stimulant from ancient times”2. And from the 15th century, ginger was exported from Zanzibar – a possible origin of the Latin, Zingiber – for use by healers, monks and herbalists in syrup, tincture, and other carminative simples. The tradition of […]

I’m a cook, I’m a foodie, and I’m a herb whisperer. My life is seasonal and revolves around the only two places I love to be: a kitchen and a garden. I’m in my own garden, or visiting the gardens of others, from spring through summer. I’m in my own kitchen, or the kitchens of […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'GIFTS FROM THE KITCHEN'. (Makes 4 cups) 8 organic lemons, scrubbed 2 Tbsp kosher or pickling salt 4 large cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup dried currants 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger root 1 dried cayenne […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'GIFTS FROM THE KITCHEN'. I use cinnamon as a sweet flavouring in both sweet and savoury dishes. It imparts an aromatic ‘Island’ taste to dishes. My favourite ground, or stick, cinnamon is premium Vietnamese, but Cinnamomum zeylanicum is a close second. Both are much sweeter (with a pure, never bitter, […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'GIFTS FROM THE KITCHEN'. (Makes 2 cups) Ingredients 4 large cloves garlic ½ cup pine nuts or sunflower seeds 3 oz (90 g) hard Italian cheese (Parmesan, Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino), cut into small cubes 1 cup lightly packed fresh parsley 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil 1 cup lightly […]

While many organic and natural foods could be considered superfoods, it is handy to have a short list of must-have foods that we know we can turn to for essential nutrients and maximum health benefits. The following list boasts foods that have been proven to offer vital phytonutrients for the following health benefits: lower or […]

If you work, breathe, eat and drink, you will most likely benefit from cleansing, detoxification fasts, and supportive juicing. Cleansing diets and health fasting may seem new to North American society, but they have a long history in human culture and are often part of centuries old religious rituals. Spring and summer are the ideal […]