I’ll start with a disclaimer: the way I identify plants is more intuitive than most experts would recommend. So don’t take my word for it—do your own research, check multiple sources, and build your own relationship with the plants. That said, here’s how it often goes for me. I’ll come across a plant and think, “That looks… minty.” Not mint exactly, but something in the mint family. There’s a certain posture, a texture, a vibe you start to recognize after enough time around t

We were doing something as ordinary as a grocery run at Meijer when this whole root beer adventure started. My family was grabbing the usual staples when I remembered that my niece—visiting from Portugal—loves root beer. She doesn’t have easy access to it over there, so I wanted to make a batch while she was here. I decided to sweeten it with maple syrup. Maple syrup digests more slowly than refined sugar and brings along trace minerals, and it also layers in a deeper flavor.

My seven-year-old son is pictured here starting our first campfire of the season—with a magnesium and flint striker. Yes, I let him do it. And yes, my son can be impulsive. So the obvious question follows: why would I hand something dangerous to a child who doesn’t always think before he acts? Shouldn’t I protect him from that? Shouldn’t I step in, control the risk, and keep him safe from himself? That instinct—to remove danger, to minimize risk, to protect at all costs—is co