Chaotic Canning Co

One of my favorite uses for tallow has nothing to do with winter skin.

After a little too much time outside, my skin can end up feeling dry, tight, and irritated. A thin layer of tallow is one of my favorite ways to add moisture back and help my skin feel comfortable again.

Simple. Effective. A little goes a long way. ☀️💚

apothecary

One of the most common questions I get when people start fermenting:

“What does it mean to burp the jar?”

It sounds a lot more complicated than it is. 😂

Fermentation creates gases, and those gases need somewhere to go. A quick release of pressure and we’re back in business.

If you’re fermenting in swing-top jars, don’t forget to check on them and release that pressure buildup.

If you’ve struggled to grow decent-sized carrots, this might be why. 🥕

When carrots germinate well, they often come up way too crowded. As hard as it is, they need to be thinned so the remaining plants have room to grow.

And yes, I know. The urge to just grab a handful and rip them out is real. 😂

But because the carrot itself is the root, I prefer to snip seedlings at soil level rather than pull them and risk disturbing the carrots I’m trying to keep.

A little ruthless now. Bigger carrots later.

Hi, I’m Erica. 👋

I spent 20 years in business before life completely knocked me off my rocker. Instead of giving up, I decided to build a life that felt more like me.

These days you’ll find me gardening, preserving food, baking bread, making herbal products, pouring resin, throwing pottery, teaching old-school skills, and occasionally turning things like banana peels and eggshells into something useful.

I don’t really fit into one category, and honestly, I don’t want to.

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this page, it’s that you’re probably capable of a lot more than you think you are.

Thanks for being here. 💚🌱

One of my biggest pet peeves is wasting food.

Fruit is expensive, and if it’s still good but running out of time, I’m going to find a way to use it.

When fruit starts getting soft and only has a few days left, I blend it up, cook it down, and turn it into fruit leather instead.

No dyes.
No preservatives.
No mystery ingredients.

Just fruit, lemon juice, honey, and a pinch of salt.

It’s one of my favorite ways to save food, save money, and turn something that was headed downhill into a snack that’ll last for months. 🍓🍎🍐

My dad always taught me that half a tank is empty. 😂

Maybe that’s why I always fill my watering cans before bed too.

There’s just something really nice about walking outside in the morning and realizing past-you already did you a favor.

Present me is always grateful.

With berry season approaching, I thought I’d answer one of the questions I keep getting lately. 🍓

If you want your berries to last longer in the fridge, don’t wash them until you’re ready to eat them.

The extra moisture helps them mold faster, so store them dry and unwashed in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.

If you’ve already washed extras and need to put them back in the fridge, dry them REALLY well first and store them with as little moisture as possible.

And if you’re freezing berries:
wash → dry completely → bag → label → freeze flat.

Future you will be very happy later. 😂

Remember those banana peels I told you not to throw away? 🍌🌱

Instead of waiting forever for them to break down in compost, I dry them completely, blend them into a powder, and add them into my garden soil.

Banana peels are loaded with potassium, which tomatoes especially love.

You can mix the powder into planting holes or sprinkle it around established plants and water it in.

And honestly? It’s way faster than waiting 7–10 business years for them to break down in compost. 😂

One of my favorite companion planting combos in the garden? 🌱🍅

Basil between tomato plants.

Not only do they grow beautifully together, but basil may help attract pollinators and help repel certain pests around your tomatoes.

And honestly… tomatoes and basil just belong together anyway. 😂