Hello! I’m Jess Schreibstein, a Baltimore-based cook, herbalist, knitter and painter. I started this blog back in 2010, and it has evolved over time to become a space where I share recipes, travel, and inspiration from the wider creative community. I am a firm believer in making knowledge accessible to anyone and everyone, and hope that by sharing my experiences in the kitchen – preserving food, making herbal medicine, and cooking with whole, seasonal vegetables, fruits, grains and bones holistically and with intention – you too feel empowered to make food that sustains and nourishes you.
In 2012, I was still living in Washington, D.C. and founded the , a barter-only market for food that our local community has either made or grown themselves. If you’re interested in starting up a food swap in your own community, I wrote a blog post about how to start. My writing has also appeared in NPR, Food52, the Thrive Market blog, The Runcible Spoon, and Geeked Magazine, and this blog was featured twice in WordPress’ Freshly Pressed for my post on my solo trip to Iceland and a post on wild fermentation methods. I shared some thoughts on herbalism and holistic healing with Portland Apothecary. In 2014, I traveled to Oaxaca for a weaving residency and wrote about it for Knit Wit Magazine, the Fringe Association blog, and spoke about my trip on the Woolful podcast. My Baltimore home (along with my boyfriend and two cats) has been featured on Design*Sponge.
When I’m not cooking, I’m knitting, painting, or exploring Baltimore by bike. Photography on this blog is shot in 35mm film on a hand-me-down camera. I love hearing from you, so please say hello!
Those Iceland photos really brought back memories. In 1968 I went to England via Icelandic Airlines and took the stopover package, not really having any idea of what it would be like. I fell in love with the place and wished I could stay longer. Always meant to go back but never did.
I had a dear friend , a single woman, who lived and worked for many years in Iceland….she loved it.Great blog and I will be interested in coming back for more, and checking out your recipes.(I am also interested in your going to DC;I was born and raise in the suburbs, and am sorry I ever left.)
I love your blog and LOVE the photos of Iceland, especially the horses! So so sweet.
Okay so I’m totes double-stalking you this week, but I just wanted to let you know how much I love this blog too. I’m the one from over on instagram who holla’d love and appreciation at you yesterday…this is my supposedly secret wordpress identity. Keep up all the great work and I will keep on happily gazing on too. Love. X
Love your blog title!
First time here, and absolutely loving it!
Wow! Love what you’ve got going here — beautiful pictures and mouthwatering concoctions. I’ll definitely be making the rhubarb ginger jam this summer when I can get my hands on some fresh rhubarb!
Just saw your blog on freshly pressed. Good job and great photos. Now I’m hungry.
So much in common – I, too, make my own food and have some large cabbages in the garden just waiting to be turned into sauerkraut. But I will also try your ginger-carrot ferment. So you learned that at Sacred Plant Traditions, Kathleen Maier’s place in C’ville? I am thinking about signing up for Kathleen’s clinical herbalism class this fall/winter to deepen my studies in that area.
I lived in the DC area for almost 20 yrs and am now an “ex-pat” in the Alleghany Mtn range on the outer Western edge of VA.
I love the idea of bartering and am impressed that you were able to found such a circle. How many people participate and how does it work practically (e.g. how do you determine value of what you want to trade in for what you are looking for?).
Hello, I think this site is very wholesome and validates people who are trying to do the best with what they have. Great site.
jess- just made a magic spell salad like the one in your pic- have never been a cook- unless i do it this way:-) thanks for your unique creativity and sharing
Hi there! Just wanted to say I love your blog. Really liking the film photography and your writing is filled with personality! Keep up the great work! xx
Thanks so much!
Just wanted to let you know that we love your blog, but especially love your instagram account- it’s one of our favorites! We love it so much that we featured and promoted it in our post on “14 instagram accounts to follow now”.. check it out and feel free to share!
http://sadieraeandco.com/2013/09/18/14-instagram-accounts-to-follow-now/
Thanks so much!
You’ve inspired me to try some of your recipes! I live in Manhattan and use my oven for storage, so this is a really big deal!
*does happy dance*
Great blog you have here! Looking forward to following and reading more of your awesome posts. Best wishes!! 😀