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Goldenrod: The Weed You're Probably Blaming for Your Sneezing (It's Not Guilty)
Goldenrod volunteers in my front garden every year and I keep it — partly because it's Nebraska's state flower and partly because it's earned its spot. I also sneeze every fall. Turns out those two things probably aren't connected.
Crystal Wubbels
Jul 254 min read


The Thing About Doing Something Anyway
I don't start at best. I start at good — and build from there. Here's the real process behind every RNR product, and why "failure" isn't a word I use much anymore.
Crystal Wubbels
May 234 min read


Licorice Root and I Had Words
Five failed batches, four recipes, and one friend worth figuring it out for. The real story of making a licorice root salve from scratch — and what finally worked.
Crystal Wubbels
Apr 123 min read


Why Does Handmade Soap Feel Slimy When Wet? (It's Not What You Think)
That slippery feeling from handmade soap isn't residue — it's glycerin doing exactly what it's supposed to do. Here's the real science behind it.
Crystal Wubbels
Mar 102 min read


Medicinal Marvels of Mint Leaves: What This Garden Takeover Is Actually Good For
Mint took over my Nebraska garden and I let it. Here's what I actually use it for — tea, sunburn baths, tinctures, and yes, mojitos — and the science behind why it works.
Crystal Wubbels
Oct 3, 20234 min read


Unlocking the Secrets of Tarragon: The Herb That Won't Commit and Why I Keep Planting It Anyway
French tarragon is fussy, frost-sensitive, and absolutely worth it. Here's why it goes sparse in year two, what actually helps (heavy mulch, south bed), and how it ends up in my Garden Glow cold process soap every fall.
Crystal Carlson-Wubbels
Sep 26, 20234 min read
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