11 Natural Living Tips You’ll Love

In an era of ultra-processed convenience and synthetic shortcuts, the movement toward “natural living” isn’t just a trend; it is a profound return to our roots. It is about reclaiming the kitchen as a place of healing, the home as a sanctuary from toxins, and the daily routine as a series of intentional, nourishing acts. Natural living means understanding where your ingredients come from, how they interact with your biology, and how to craft the essentials of life with your own two hands.

This comprehensive guide explores 11 foundational natural living tips. These aren’t just suggestions—they are complete, artisanal projects ranging from fermented tonics to non-toxic skincare. Whether you are a seasoned homesteader or a curious beginner, these detailed recipes and instructions will help you cultivate a life that is vibrant, sustainable, and deeply connected to the natural world.

1. Boost Your Immunity with Homemade Elderberry Syrup

The elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has been a staple of folk medicine for centuries. Rich in anthocyanins and antioxidants, elderberry syrup is a powerhouse for supporting the immune system, especially during the colder months. Unlike store-bought versions that are often loaded with glucose syrup and preservatives, making your own allows you to control the quality of the honey and the potency of the herbs.

The Ingredients

  • Dried Elderberries: 1 cup (organic is preferred to ensure no pesticide residue).
  • Filtered Water: 4 cups.
  • Raw Honey: 1 cup (preferably local, as it contains local pollens that can help with seasonal allergies).
  • Fresh Ginger: 2 tablespoons, grated or finely sliced (anti-inflammatory).
  • Cinnamon Sticks: 2 whole sticks (antimicrobial and adds warmth).
  • Whole Cloves: 1 teaspoon (powerful antioxidant and preservative qualities).

Detailed Preparation Instructions

  1. The Decoction: In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the dried elderberries, water, ginger, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
  2. Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, immediately reduce the heat to low. Let the mixture simmer uncovered for about 45 to 60 minutes. You are looking for the liquid to reduce by approximately half. This concentrates the medicinal properties of the berries.
  3. Mash and Strain: Remove the pot from the heat. Use a potato masher or the back of a large spoon to carefully mash the berries against the side of the pot to release any remaining juice. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or a piece of cheesecloth into a glass bowl. Squeeze the berries tightly to get every last drop of “purple gold.”
  4. Cooling: This is the most critical step. Let the liquid cool until it is lukewarm (around 100°F or 38°C). If the liquid is too hot when you add the honey, you will kill the beneficial enzymes and probiotics present in the raw honey.
  5. Incorporate Honey: Stir in the raw honey until it is completely dissolved and the syrup is glossy.
  6. Storage: Pour the syrup into a sterilized glass jar or bottle. Store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 2 months.

Usage Tip: For general wellness, adults can take 1 tablespoon daily, and children (over age one) can take 1 teaspoon daily. If a cold strikes, the frequency can be increased to every few hours.

2. Eliminate Plastic with DIY Beeswax Food Wraps

Natural living extends to how we store our food. Plastic wrap is not only environmentally damaging but can leach phthalates into your leftovers. Beeswax wraps are the perfect natural alternative—they are breathable, antibacterial, and can be used for up to a year.

The Ingredients

  • Cotton Fabric: 100% cotton, cut into squares or circles (pinking shears help prevent fraying).
  • Beeswax Pellets: ½ cup (the foundation of the wrap).
  • Pine Rosin: 2 tablespoons, crushed into a powder (this provides the “stickiness”).
  • Jojoba Oil: 1 tablespoon (this keeps the wrap pliable so it doesn’t crack).

Detailed Preparation Instructions

  1. Prepare the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°F (95°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Mix the Coating: In a small bowl, mix the beeswax pellets, pine rosin powder, and jojoba oil.
  3. Arrange Fabric: Place your fabric pieces flat on the parchment paper.
  4. Distribute Ingredients: Sprinkle the wax mixture evenly over the fabric. You don’t need to cover every millimeter, as the wax will spread when melted.
  5. Melt: Place the baking sheet in the oven for 5–8 minutes. Watch closely. Once the wax has melted completely, remove the tray.
  6. Spread: Use a dedicated clean paintbrush to spread the melted mixture evenly across the entire piece of fabric, ensuring the edges are well-saturated.
  7. Dry: Use tongs to lift the fabric and hang it over a drying rack or a string. It will dry and harden in about 30 seconds.
  8. Maintenance: To use, simply use the warmth of your hands to mold the wrap over bowls or around produce. To clean, wash in cool water with a mild dish soap. Hot water will melt the wax.

3. Master the Golden Milk Ritual for Inflammation

Golden Milk, or Haldi Doodh, is a traditional Ayurvedic drink that has been used for millennia to combat inflammation, improve mood, and aid digestion. The secret to its efficacy lies in the synergy between turmeric, fat, and black pepper.

The Ingredients

  • Milk of Choice: 2 cups (Coconut or Almond milk works beautifully, but raw dairy is also excellent).
  • Turmeric Powder: 1 ½ teaspoons (contains curcumin).
  • Ginger Powder: ½ teaspoon.
  • Ceylon Cinnamon: ½ teaspoon.
  • Black Pepper: A pinch (essential; piperine in pepper increases curcumin absorption by 2000%).
  • Coconut Oil or Ghee: 1 teaspoon (fat is required for the turmeric to be bioavailable).
  • Maple Syrup or Raw Honey: To taste.

Detailed Cooking Instructions

  1. Whisk: In a small saucepan, whisk together the milk, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper.
  2. Heat: Set the burner to medium-low. Heat the mixture until it is steaming but not quite boiling. Constant whisking prevents the spices from clumping at the bottom.
  3. Activate: Once hot, whisk in the coconut oil or ghee. Let it simmer very gently for 3–5 minutes to “bloom” the spices.
  4. Sweeten: Remove from heat. Let it cool for a minute before adding your sweetener of choice.
  5. Froth: For a luxurious experience, use a handheld milk frother to create a thick foam on top.

Natural Living Tip: Drink this before bed. The warmth and the anti-inflammatory properties of the spices promote deep, restorative sleep.

4. Cultivate a “Ginger Bug” for Probiotic Sodas

Probiotics are essential for gut health, but many commercial probiotic drinks are pasteurized or overly sugary. A “Ginger Bug” is a wild fermentation starter that captures natural yeasts and bacteria from the air and the ginger skin, allowing you to create naturally fizzy, fermented sodas at home.

The Ingredients

  • Fresh Ginger Root: Organic is vital here, as non-organic ginger is often irradiated, which kills the natural yeast you need.
  • Sugar: Organic cane sugar or white sugar (the yeast eats the sugar; very little remains in the final drink).
  • Filtered Water: Chlorine in tap water can kill the delicate bacteria.

Detailed Preparation Instructions (The 5-Day Process)

  1. Day 1: In a quart-sized glass jar, combine 2 cups of filtered water, 2 teaspoons of minced ginger (skin on), and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon to aerate. Cover with a breathable cloth and a rubber band.
  2. Days 2–5: Every 24 hours, “feed” your bug. Add another 2 teaspoons of minced ginger and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Stir well.
  3. The Fermentation Sign: By day 4 or 5, you should see small bubbles forming at the top, and the mixture should smell slightly yeasty and sweet, like beer or cider. This is your active starter.
  4. Making Soda: To make a probiotic soda, mix ¼ cup of your strained ginger bug liquid with a quart of sweetened fruit juice or herbal tea. Bottle it in flip-top brewing bottles and leave at room temperature for 2–3 days until carbonated, then refrigerate.
  5. Maintenance: Keep your ginger bug in the fridge if not using daily. Feed it 1 tablespoon of ginger and sugar once a week to keep it alive.

5. Crafting Tallow Face Cream: The Ultimate Ancient Skincare

Our ancestors didn’t use complex chemicals; they used what was available. Tallow (rendered beef fat) is incredibly similar to human sebum. It is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, making it the most bioavailable moisturizer for human skin.

The Ingredients

  • Beef Suet: 1 lb (Get this from a grass-fed, pasture-raised source. The nutrient profile of grass-fed tallow is significantly higher).
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Jojoba Oil: 2 tablespoons (to keep the cream soft).
  • Lavender or Frankincense Essential Oil: 10–15 drops (for scent and skin-healing properties).
  • Purified Water and Sea Salt: For the rendering process.

Detailed Cooking Instructions (The Rendering and Purifying)

  1. The Render: Chop the suet into very small pieces (or pulse in a food processor). Place in a slow cooker on “low” with a cup of water and a tablespoon of salt. This “wet render” prevents the fat from burning and helps remove impurities.
  2. Strain: After 4–6 hours, the fat should be melted. Strain it through a fine-mesh sieve and then through several layers of cheesecloth into a bowl.
  3. Purify: Let the fat harden in the fridge. Pop the “puck” of fat out and scrape off the debris from the bottom. Melt it again with fresh water and salt, then let it harden again. Repeat until the tallow is white and odorless.
  4. The Cream: Melt your purified tallow gently. Once liquid, stir in the olive oil or jojoba oil.
  5. The Whip: Let the mixture cool until it starts to look opaque but is still soft. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to whip the tallow until it looks like stiff whipped cream.
  6. Scent: Add your essential oils and whip for another 30 seconds.
  7. Store: Transfer to a glass jar. A little goes a long way—just a pea-sized amount will moisturize your entire face.

6. The Art of Traditional Sourdough Bread

Sourdough is the pinnacle of natural living in the kitchen. By using wild yeast, you break down the phytic acid and gluten in wheat, making the bread much easier to digest and its nutrients more accessible.

The Ingredients

  • Active Sourdough Starter: ½ cup (bubbly and fed).
  • Filtered Water: 1 â…“ cups (warm, but not hot).
  • Bread Flour: 3 cups (unbleached, organic).
  • Sea Salt: 1 ½ teaspoons.

Detailed Cooking Instructions

  1. The Autolyse: In a large bowl, mix your starter and water. Add the flour and salt. Mix by hand until a shaggy dough forms. Cover with a damp cloth and let rest for 30 minutes.
  2. Stretch and Fold: Instead of kneading, we “stretch and fold.” Reach under one side of the dough, pull it up, and fold it over the center. Rotate the bowl and do this 4 times. Repeat every 30 minutes for 2 hours (4 sets total).
  3. Bulk Fermentation: Cover the dough and let it sit at room temperature for 6–10 hours (depending on the warmth of your kitchen) until it has doubled in size.
  4. Shaping: Gently turn the dough onto a floured surface. Fold the edges into the center to create tension, then flip it over and use your hands to tension the surface into a smooth ball.
  5. Second Rise: Place the dough in a floured proofing basket (banneton) or a bowl lined with a floured towel. Let it rise for 2 hours at room temperature or overnight in the fridge (recommended for flavor).
  6. The Bake: Preheat a Dutch oven in your oven to 450°F (230°C). Carefully transfer the dough into the hot Dutch oven. Score the top with a sharp blade (lame).
  7. Steam: Bake with the lid on for 20 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 20–25 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown.
  8. The Hardest Part: Let the bread cool completely (at least 1 hour) before slicing. If you cut it while hot, the steam escapes and the bread becomes gummy.

7. Non-Toxic Cleaning: Herbal Infused Vinegar

Many household cleaners contain endocrine disruptors. A natural living approach utilizes the acetic acid in vinegar and the antimicrobial terpenes in herbs and citrus to clean effectively without the chemicals.

The Ingredients

  • White Distilled Vinegar: 2 cups.
  • Citrus Peels: 1 cup (lemon, orange, or grapefruit).
  • Fresh Herbs: 3 sprigs of Rosemary or Thyme (natural disinfectants).
  • Glass Jar: 1 quart size.
  • Essential Oils (Optional): Tea Tree or Eucalyptus for an extra boost.

Detailed Preparation Instructions

  1. Pack the Jar: Fill your glass jar about halfway with citrus peels and herbs. Do not pack them too tightly; you want the vinegar to circulate.
  2. Pour: Fill the jar to the top with white vinegar. Ensure all plant material is fully submerged.
  3. Infuse: Close the lid (if using a metal lid, place a piece of parchment paper between the jar and the lid to prevent corrosion). Store in a dark, cool cupboard for 2–3 weeks.
  4. Strain: Strain the mixture through a sieve into a clean spray bottle.
  5. Dilute: For an all-purpose cleaner, dilute the infused vinegar with equal parts filtered water.
  6. Usage: Use on countertops, windows, and floors. Note: Avoid using vinegar on natural stone like granite or marble, as the acid can etch the surface.

8. Magnesium Whipped Body Butter for Sleep and Recovery

Most of us are deficient in magnesium, a mineral responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Since magnesium is absorbed highly efficiently through the skin, this whipped body butter is the perfect “sleep lotion.”

The Ingredients

  • Magnesium Oil: ½ cup (Note: You can make your own by dissolving 1 part magnesium chloride flakes in 1 part boiling water).
  • Shea Butter: ½ cup.
  • Coconut Oil: ½ cup.
  • Beeswax: 2 tablespoons.
  • Essential Oil: Lavender or Roman Chamomile (8 drops).

Detailed Preparation Instructions

  1. Melt the Base: Using a double boiler, melt the shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax together until completely liquid.
  2. Cool: Remove from heat and let the mixture cool until it is partially set (it should look opaque and soft, like softened butter).
  3. Emulsify: This is the tricky part. Put the semi-solid oils into a mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer on high, slowly—drop by drop—drizzle the magnesium oil into the fats while mixing. If you pour too fast, it will separate.
  4. Whip: Once all the magnesium oil is in, add your essential oils and whip for another 3–5 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and white.
  5. Store: Store in a glass jar in a cool place.
  6. Usage: Rub into the soles of your feet or your calves before bed. You might feel a slight tingling sensation; this is normal for magnesium-deficient skin and usually subsides with regular use.

9. Fire Cider: The Traditional “Master Tonic”

Fire cider is a traditional apple cider vinegar infusion that acts as a circulatory stimulant and decongestant. It is pungent, spicy, and incredibly invigorating.

The Ingredients

  • Apple Cider Vinegar: 1 quart (Raw, with “The Mother”).
  • Horseradish Root: ½ cup, freshly grated.
  • Ginger Root: ½ cup, freshly grated.
  • White Onion: 1 medium, chopped.
  • Garlic: 10 cloves, smashed.
  • Habanero Pepper: 1 or 2, split (or ½ tsp cayenne powder).
  • Lemon: Zest and juice of 1 lemon.
  • Turmeric: 1 tablespoon, grated or powder.
  • Raw Honey: To taste (added after fermentation).

Detailed Preparation Instructions

  1. Assemble: Place all the vegetables, roots, and herbs into a half-gallon glass jar.
  2. Submerge: Pour the apple cider vinegar over the ingredients until they are completely covered by at least two inches of liquid.
  3. Weighting: Use a glass fermentation weight to keep the ingredients submerged to prevent mold.
  4. Ferment: Cover with a lid (using parchment paper to protect against corrosion). Shake the jar daily for 4 weeks. Store in a dark, room-temperature spot.
  5. Strain: After a month, strain the solids through cheesecloth. Squeeze hard to get all the liquid out. Discard (or compost) the solids.
  6. Sweeten: Add raw honey to the liquid until you have a balance of hot, spicy, sour, and sweet.
  7. Usage: Take a shot daily as a tonic, or add it to salad dressings and marinades. It’s also a great way to clear the sinuses if you feel a cold coming on.

10. Liquid Gold: Slow-Simmered Bone Broth

Bone broth is a cornerstone of a natural living diet. It is exceptionally rich in collagen, glycine, and minerals that support gut lining, joint health, and skin elasticity.

The Ingredients

  • Bones: 2–3 lbs of beef, chicken, or pork bones (look for marrow bones and “knuckle” bones for the most collagen).
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: 2 tablespoons (crucial for drawing minerals out of the bones).
  • Vegetables: 2 carrots, 2 stalks of celery, 1 onion (unpeeled for color).
  • Herbs: Fresh parsley, thyme, and bay leaves.
  • Water: Enough to cover the bones.

Detailed Cooking Instructions

  1. Roast: For the best flavor, roast the bones in a 400°F (200°C) oven for 30 minutes until they are browned.
  2. The Pot: Place the roasted bones into a large stockpot or a slow cooker. Add the apple cider vinegar and cover with cold, filtered water. Let sit for 30 minutes to allow the acid to start working on the minerals.
  3. The Simmer: Add the vegetables and herbs. Bring the pot to a very low simmer. Do not let it boil vigorously, as this can damage the collagen and make the broth cloudy.
  4. Time: Simmer chicken bones for 12–24 hours; beef bones for 24–48 hours. If using a stovetop, do not leave it unattended overnight; a slow cooker is safer for long durations.
  5. Skim: Periodically skim the “scum” or foam that rises to the top during the first few hours.
  6. Strain and Cool: Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve. Let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
  7. The Gel: Once cold, the broth should have a jelly-like consistency. This is the sign of a successful, collagen-rich broth. The fat will rise to the top and create a seal; you can remove this fat (tallow) and use it for cooking.
  8. Usage: Drink a mug of warm broth with a pinch of sea salt every morning, or use it as a base for soups and stews.

11. DIY Essential Oil Laundry Detergent

The fragrances in commercial laundry detergents are often “parfum” blends that contain hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. Moving to a natural laundry routine reduces your body’s toxic load and is much gentler on the planet.

The Ingredients

  • Washing Soda: 2 cups (Sodium carbonate—more powerful than baking soda).
  • Borax: 2 cups (Sodium borate—a natural mineral).
  • Castile Soap Bar: 1 bar (approx. 5 oz), finely grated (e.g., Dr. Bronner’s).
  • Essential Oils: 20 drops of Lemon, 20 drops of Lavender, and 10 drops of Tea Tree.

Detailed Preparation Instructions

  1. Grate: Use a fine cheese grater or a food processor to turn the castile soap bar into a fine powder. The finer the powder, the better it will dissolve in cold water.
  2. Combine: In a large bowl, whisk together the grated soap, washing soda, and borax.
  3. Scent: Add the essential oils directly to the powder. Whisk thoroughly to distribute the oils and break up any clumps.
  4. Storage: Store in a large glass canister with a tight-fitting lid.
  5. Usage: Use 1 to 2 tablespoons per load. For an extra natural boost, use ½ cup of white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment to soften clothes and remove any remaining soap residue.

Embracing the Journey

Natural living is not about perfection; it is about progress. You don’t need to do all 11 of these things today. Start with one—perhaps the Golden Milk or the All-Purpose Cleaner—and feel the difference it makes in your home and body. As you slowly replace synthetic products with handmade alternatives, you will find a renewed sense of connection to the rhythm of life and a deeper appreciation for the simple, powerful ingredients the earth provides.

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