Self-compassion and belonging
Real food, health, and regeneration
In a world where everything is connected
Tend Yourself
self-compassion and self-leadership
so you can ditch the shoulds, perfectionism, and eco-guilt
how we treat our innermost selves is a vote (conscious or not) for the world we're calling into being
Real Food and Real Health
building health sustainably and ethically
growing food with permaculture/regenerative principles
whole food preparation for optimum nutrition
home based healthcare instead of "quick fix" medicine
Everything is Connected
understanding our inter-connectedness, in a way that empowers us to make a difference
insights and perspectives about reconnecting with each other, ourselves, and nature
Let your life be an offering to the kind of world you want your kids and grandkids to grow up in.
Hi, I'm Kate.
I write about self-compassion, belonging and self-leadership; and real food, natural health, and regeneration.
I believe everything is connected, so it doesn't matter where you start - caring for any part of the living Whole is caring for all of it. Whether you need to focus on sleeping better, becoming a calmer parent, homegrown food, health, or any other aspect of ethical/sustainable living, no action or choice is too small to make a difference.
My goal is to help you feel the difference inside yourself. Everything else ripples out from there.
Learn more about me here.
Read 9 ways to know if you're the kind of person who might enjoy my work.
Read what I mean by "a real green life," including how to dodge the eco-guilt.
Or keep scrolling for reader comments and recent posts 🙂
Readers say ...
Well researched, honest and inspiring
"Kate is a regular contributing author to Permaculture News and I always look forward to receiving her articles. They are always thought provoking, well researched, honest and inspiring.
Kate's articles present different perspectives on the world (Everything is Connected), and our place in it (Tend Yourself) or share valuable knowledge, hints and tips (Real Food, Real Health). I know the wider Permaculture community also appreciate Kate's contributions; many comments are shared on her posts.
Thanks Kate."
Anna
Your posts aid me in reviewing where I'm at in my life and how I can best contribute in my waning years
I do love your posts and am often re-inspired by them. At the moment I'm recovering from an accident that has made me pause and review where I'm at in my life and how I can best contribute in my waning years. I appreciate that your posts aid me in pondering all this.
Warmly,
Karen Sherwood
Karen Sherwood
No fluff
"So much interesting and important info, neatly packaged, no fluff. "
Gunter
Lucid insights
"Thank you Kate. You express your insights and understandings lucidly. I appreciate the broad perspective you share on subjects that are meaningful to you—social, spiritual, environmental, economical—and the research and reading you do to inform your writing."
Meg
Realizing how numb we are
"Dear Kate, Thank you for posting such deep and thought provoking blog posts. ... I think you are doing a great service to make us all aware of the consequences of our actions. It makes me realize how numb we are, and how comfortable it is to be numb, just doing what everyone else does and not questioning the real impacts of our lives."
Anonymous
Insightful ideas and concepts
"I love your stuff - you come up with very insightful ideas and concepts. For example, I never realized that Essential Oils had become such a big industry that it was impacting on the environment."
Cathy
Honest, genuine, thought provoking
"As a homeschooling Mum pursuing a more meaningful life for my family, ARealGreenLife supports me in questioning and expanding my existing world view."
Melita
Wisdom I can sit with
"Kate, I really like "When Nothing You Can Do Makes a Difference." It's wisdom I can sit with -- wisdom I've been looking for as I think about how to prioritize things going forward. I have it right next to my journal as a reminder."
Lorraine
Food for thought
"I subscribe to quite a few homestead/green lifestyle newsletters. Yours is so relatable, informative, and gives excellent food for thought; Get Off the Bus is a great example. Thanks so much for your work. Cheers from a Nova Scotia!"
Jessica
Posts on "Tending Yourself"
November 29, 2023
“REAL” – genuine, authentic, true (as opposed to performed, artificial, imitated, or virtual).
“GREEN” – regenerative/doing as little harm as possible.
“SELF-COMPASSION” – so we can ditch the shoulds, perfectionism, and eco-guilt while we’re being real and green.
Updated July 2026.
October 2, 2021
The moon influences the ocean and its tides, the flow of sap and the life force in our gardens, and the behavior of many different birds, animals, and crustaceans. If we choose to pay attention, it can also indicate ways that we humans can align ourselves with the rhythms and cycles of life in our efforts to bring ourselves back into harmony with nature.
March 8, 2026
Anxiety and overwhelm feel horrible. And a scattered, dis-regulated nervous system affects EVERYTHING, especially our relationships. Breathing can help. In this post I share how paying attention to your breath can help you calm your nervous system, bring you back to yourself, and even help ease the sense that there is never enough time.
Posts on "Real Food" (including homegrown) and "Real Health"
April 15, 2025
I used to put off the task of rendering fat for cooking, soap making, and skin care – because it was time consuming, messy, and intimidating. After making every imaginable (and some un-imaginable) mistake, here’s the simple method I use now. Clean, odour-free rendered fat without the mess and stress.
Posts on "Healthier Supermarket Habits"
November 14, 2022
Our physical and social environments have huge influence on our habits and behaviors. People who design supermarkets and sell products know this and take full advantage of it. This post will help you examine what’s shaping your shopping routines and your buying decisions, and learn how to change them.
January 31, 2023
Whole foods require more planning and organization than processed convenience foods, but the pay-off is worth it. The benefits include: better nutrition, a feeling of empowerment and reconnection as you learn to engage with your food closer to its source, and the satisfaction in knowing you’re taking better care of the Earth just by how you eat.