The Independent
Community supported journalism for Newfoundland and Labrador
The Good Life
Food security for urban homesteaders
Self-sufficiency can seem daunting at first. Here are some tips on foraging, community gardening and guerilla gardening to get you started on the path to food security for you and your family.
December 19, 2015

# foraging

The Good Life
The apples of my eye
Fall is a forager’s delight, with apples ripe for the picking throughout the province — scattered near trails, alongside rivers, in schoolyards and parking lots.…
October 2, 2015
The Good Life
How to become self-sufficient
Gradual steps you can follow on your way to reducing your dependency on others while developing a sustainable and healthy life.
September 18, 2015
Mum's the Word
Enjoying the bounties
Even children can appreciate the bounties of harvest.
September 10, 2015
The Good Life
Blueberries: the best of nature’s candy
Whether it be by taste, smell, touch or memory, the blueberry holds a special place in local Island cultures past and present and is at…
August 21, 2015
The Good Life
Lovin’ the lovage
Lovage, sometimes known as sea parsley, is so obscure nowadays that it can’t be bought at your typical grocery store --- but it once enjoyed…
July 11, 2015
The Good Life
The Dandelion: Nature’s most useful “weed”
Dandelion is not the kind of plant that needs an introduction --- it grows all around and is considered by many to be a nuisance…
May 2, 2015
The Good Life
Where the Wild things are
Come and let me take you on a journey into nature’s grocery store. You don’t have to be in the woods to forage for artisanal…
April 4, 2015
The Good Life
How to make your own sea salt
Salt making has a long history, both globally and locally, and has, at times, been worth more than gold. Yet, today, we import a majority…
March 20, 2015
The Good Life
Why we chose ducks
Ducks can be a wonderful addition to your backyard homestead, providing you with a source of delicious eggs, hilarious entertainment and garden insect pest control
March 7, 2015
The Good Life
Harvesting your own Newfoundland maple syrup
Maple syrup --- the first harvest of Spring. With a few simple tools and a little bit of know-how, you too can enjoy the nectar…
February 21, 2015
Potato Potato
Farming failures, foraging fortunes
No matter how successful your garden, there's always something wild growing right around the corner.
September 16, 2013
Potato Potato
Raspberry cascade
Jam, pie, preserves, tea, wine, or just fresh – however you want to consume them, the sweet seasonal treat is abundant and ripe for the…
August 5, 2013