At BDirty Co. we are excited to share our Fall wellness tips! Ways to stay healthy with our organic kale salad recipe and our favourite essential oils to keep you uplifted during the short days of Fall. After all, Fall is the season to connect with yourself, tend to your roots and enjoy the abundance of the season.

The World of Wellness – Essential Oils

Essential oils have been an integral part of wellness for centuries and as our culture is becoming more attuned with the Earth, we find ourselves looking to regain connection from the ground up.

Here are our favourite oils to have on hand during the cold and wet days of Fall:

Peppermint
Invigorating for the mind and body, peppermint oil is one oil not to live without, that’s why we are growing it on the Farmstead! We’ve made it a staple in our BDirty Co. Organic Deodorant for a fresh fight against underarm odor with an uplifting cooling sensation. Check out our Raw Honey & Cool Peppermint Deodorant here.

Clove
This is the quintessential aroma of fall. Place 10 drops in a pot of simmering water on the stove with a cinnamon stick to create your own aromatic blend without the synthetic scents and chemicals found in many mainstream potpourris. You’ll become more at ease and feel comforted by the aroma of clove and fresh cinnamon.

Cedarwood
This amazing essential oil is great to add to your skincare routine combined with a carrier oil like almond oil. It’s been said to have anti-aging benefits.   It’s also a masculine scent, so rub a few drops on the tip of your yoga mat if you would like to invite in a more masculine energy during your practice.

Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Choices Made Easy

It’s difficult to make eco-food choices when you’re on the go, and don’t know what’s-what. That’s why we stand behind brands that are completely transparent and not just using the eco-buzzwords in their marketing ads. Making healthy choices that also stem from eco conscious practices is why we admire these two local companies:

Kits Kitchen
From dirt to digestion, Kits Kitchen ensures that health-conscious soup lovers are getting an unadulterated delicious soup loaded with organic ingredients in a reusable glass jar. Understanding that conventional farming depletes soil by using chemicals in their growing methods, Kits Kitchen chooses to only work with local farmers and small businesses that provide organic ingredients without stripping the land of it’s nutrients for years to come.

Nectar Juicery
Nectar knows their stuff when it comes to organic and pesticide-free juices. Being committed to 100% organic fruits, vegetables, and spices, Nectar Juicery does not skimp on ingredients. By sourcing produce from local organic farmers, they keep our local ecosystem thriving.  We also love that they encourage customers to reuse their glass bottles, rather than always recycling them. Time to get our creative juices flowing!

Farmstead Plant of the Month: Organic Kale

The abundance of hearty fall vegetables around the Farmstead makes for delicious and quick meals at our fingertips, quite literally.

Organic kale has become our favourite wellness-powerhouse to incorporate onto our plates this season. Due to its iron and calcium rich properties and antioxidant benefits, kale is a staple in the leafy greens realm. If you don’t have access to your own organic and garden-fresh kale, check out SPUD. We love that they make local and organic produce accessible.

Whether it is from the garden or your local market, pick-up some organic kale and try out this yummy salad:

Massaged Organic Kale & Apple Salad

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch organic kale – remove leaves from stalks with a small paring knife, and tear leaves into bite size pieces
  • 1 lemon squeezed for juice
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
  • sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons raw honey
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 apple, diced small (about 1 cup)
  • Small handful of toasted pumpkin seeds, about 2 rounded tablespoons

Directions

In a frying pan over medium heat toast the pumpkin seeds. No additional oil required. Simply heat and toast. Do not leave the pan unattended or you will burn these little tasty treats! Put aside to cool.

In large salad bowl, add the kale, half of the lemon juice, a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt. With your hands, massage the kale until starts to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.

For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk remaining lemon juice with the honey and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle in the 1/4 cup of oil while whisking.

Pour the dressing over the kale, and add the apple and pumpkin seeds.

Toss and enjoy!

Share this post with your friends looking for wellness tips and healthy recipes and let us know if you make our Organic Kale and Apple Salad recipe!