about

Hey, I'm Jessica!

I'm the blogger behind Rooted in Nature. My recipes are tested to perfection and easy to make - with minimal time and equipment. I put a lot of experimentation and care into the creation of each unique recipe to make sure that you'll never be disappointed with a recipe you make from me. Let's be friends!

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What You'll Find on Rooted in Nature

Natural Food: Simple recipes that are flavorful, healthy, and easy to make - all with only natural ingredients.

Natural Movement: Functional fitness, exercise and wellness tips and resources to keep you moving well and often.

Natural Life: Gardening and homesteading posts and information - from growing your own food to raising chickens and bees.

Natural Food

I'm a self-taught cook, recipe developer, food photographer and home gardener. I’ve spent the past 11 years creating, testing, refining and sharing recipes that not only taste good but also make you feel good (yes, you can have both!)

We've been growing our own food in some way since 2015, and I incorporate the ingredients I grow into my recipes. Through the spring and summer, I try to make sure there's at least one thing I grew on my plate at every meal.

The majority of my recipes are gluten free, grain free, and dairy free, and almost always allergen friendly. While not every recipe excludes these, you will find a focus on proteins, veggies, and minimal processed ingredients in every recipe. Here are a few reader favorites!

Woman doing single arm devils press with dumbbell overhead

Natural Movement

As a fitness coach, personal trainer, and former gym owner, I know what it takes to help you succeed on your fitness journey. I know what things you need to focus on (it’s not what you think), what you need to let go of, and what will get you the long lasting results. I’ve spent over a decade coaching, guiding, and helping others, and I share fitness and movement related content here to help you along the way.

You'll also find information about how to move your body the way it was meant to move. Our natural movements include pushing, pulling, standing, sitting, running, jumping, gripping, carrying, lifting. These are the things your body needs to be able to do well into old age. I share tips on how to keep your body moving, and how to do it correctly and avoid injury.

Natural Life

From starting your first herb or vegetable plant in a pot on your porch to raising a flock of chickens, there are hundreds of ways to live closer to nature and take control over what you consume and how.

As our homestead has grown to include chickens, a marsh front property where we fish, crab and shrimp, and an excessive blueberry crop, I share tips and tricks we've learned along the way.

From There to Here...

I used to hate vegetables.

Growing up, my family had a joke that the only green thing I would eat was mushy canned peas (except it wasn’t really a joke, because it was true). In college, I expanded my horizons to include sliced tomatoes drowned in ranch dressing at the cafeteria. Cereal was my favorite food, which I would consume in serving bowl sized portions.

In 2015, we had a huge house fire and had to move out for 11 months. I started exercising and experimenting in the kitchen as a way to de-stress and occupy my brain, and it continued to evolve into the blog you find here today. It made me healthier, but also happier and more confident in myself and my body.

Now, on most days, you can find me homeschooling our son, making a complete mess in the kitchen, lifting something heavy, or tending to my chickens.

I don't believe in strict diets, or drastic overnight changes. I believe in small, incremental adjustments towards a healthier lifestyle, that eventually become habits. Trust me - I've been there. And if I can do it, anyone can. If you're not sure where to start, reach out - I would love to help you take the first step!

Fun Facts About Me

I'm a lefty!
I got my first tattoo at the age of 42.
Im a bit of what you might call a "serial entrepreneur" - since 2009, the list includes a wedding planning business, this blog, a functional fitness gym, a short term rental property, and a lemonade stand. My focus always has been and always will be on the customer, and providing the best experience I possibly can.
I make almost all my own condiments - everything from ketchup to mayo to ranch.

FAQ

Rooted In Nature is about living a life closer to the ways that people lived a hundred years ago. Eating foods as they exist in nature. Moving functionally. Digging in the dirt, growing food, and taking control of where your food comes from, in a world where we control so little.

Don't get me wrong, I love modern conveniences, and I use them daily. But there's also something to be said for slicing a ripe tomato that you just picked or cracking an egg from your hens. I've found therapy and solace in lifting heavy things and digging in the dirt, and there's a reason for that.

We've gotten away from our roots. From being close to nature and the world around us, and my focus is on finding my way back to that.

Hi, I'm so glad you're here and giving it a try! It can be intimidating at first. Try something simple like these Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas or Sheet Pan Sausage Peppers and Onions. They're hard to mess up and pack a punch of flavor!

You came to the right place! I'm all about balance, and my balance includes dessert. 😉 My easiest dessert is definitely the Chocolate Avocado Pudding, and my favorites that take a bit more time are the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie and the Lemon Lavender Cupcakes.

That's a tough question, and definitely depends on where you live - your climate, weather, and rainfall will play a big part in what will thrive and what won't. Tomatoes, peppers and herbs are always good starter plants, and can be done in pots or in the ground. Check your growing zone to see what will work best for you!

Find something you enjoy, and find people to share it with. No one keeps going back to do a thing that makes them miserable, and certainly not alone. If you can find a supportive community of people, you will thrive. Even if it's just 2 or 3 friends that meet up at a park - the commitment will keep you going, and eventually the habit will stick. Reach out to me if you want to chat more!