ABOUT ME

I’m Blake Kooi, the bearded counselor behind The Plaid Beard, where I write about nervous systems, soil health, and everything in between for people who want lives that feel more rooted and less rushed. I started this space after realizing most conversations about health ignore the simple truth that how we live—what we eat, how we move, and where we put our hands in the dirt—matters as much as any prescription.

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By training, I’m a licensed professional counselor, which means I think a lot about stress, burnout, anxiety, and the stories we tell ourselves. By choice, I’m also a homesteader-in-progress: tapping Maple trees, growing food, and experimenting  with functional herbalism, real‑food recipes, and foraging.

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On this blog you’ll find field notes from my own journey into healthier, more sustainable living: gardening ideas, foraging and tree‑tapping adventures, natural wellness experiments, and reflections on how homesteading can support mental health, not just physical resilience. I care about practical, doable steps—starting where you are, with what you have—not perfection.

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When I’m not in the garden or woods, I’m in the therapy room or at my desk, turning what I’m learning into writings and content so others can build a more resilient, connected life wherever they live. If you’re curious about growing more of your own food, reducing toxins, tending your mind as much as your soil, and crafting a life that feels truly yours, you’re in the right place—welcome to The Plaid Beard.