Coffee prices can make a daily habit feel like a luxury. If the grocery shelf has you rethinking your morning cup, chicory root deserves a second look. I started using chicory root as a coffee alternative a year ago and the shift away from coffee was quite easy.

Yesterday, while working in the garden, I found some unexpected mullein growing. That felt like a little gift! Especially since I was tearing out several raised beds, which is a whole different story I will share later.

The outdoor garden may be winding down, but fresh greens do not have to disappear from the kitchen. Shorter days, frosty mornings, and empty raised beds can feel like the end of growing season, but indoors, a simple hydroponic setup can keep lettuce, kale, herbs, and other greens going all winter.