The Savage Feast Is Back: Why I’m Starting Over

Welcome to The Savage Feast,
A project rooted in real life, real growth, and a whole lot of love.

In the spring of 2007, Chris and I cut down a tree and tilled the soil in the center of our backyard to create our first garden here at our new home in Dexter, Michigan. We’d already spent time learning and growing food at a community garden before we moved in, so this wasn’t a whim—it was the beginning of something we knew we wanted to build with care and purpose.

That first bed was about 20 by 40 feet. Now, it’s grown into nearly a quarter acre of vegetables, fruit, herbs, compost, and love. The garden sits right in the heart of our backyard—not hidden, but fully part of our daily life. It’s where so much of our time, energy, and joy go. And over the years, it’s become a living symbol of what we value most.

That’s what The Savage Feast is about.

Why Now

It’s been over ten years since I last updated this blog. Back then, it was mostly a place to share recipes—a creative side project during a different time in our lives.

Now, at 56, I’m in a new chapter. I recently left a job I cared deeply about because it became too emotionally demanding. Chris left his 9-5 during COVID (and it's 45 minute one way commute), and together we’ve been shaping a slower, more intentional way of living—one that gives us room to breathe, create, grow, and reconnect with what matters most.

We’re not chasing trends. We’re building a life based on compassion, sustainability, and daily joy. This blog is a way to share what that looks like—not as a blueprint, but as encouragement for others who are looking for something similar.

What You’ll Find Here

• Vegan recipes made with homegrown ingredients (and lots of flavor)
• Gardening advice, from soil prep to harvest and preservation
• Stories, videos, and photos from our days in the garden and kitchen
• Reflections on aging, simplicity, purpose, and values
• Chris’s insight and presence throughout—it’s his project too
• Regular cameos from our animals: Bug, Greta, Rey, Monkey, and Boo

We didn’t start this overnight, and you don’t have to either. If you’re planting your first container garden, exploring plant-based food, or just wanting to live with more intention—this space is for you.

Start where you are. Let it resonate. And grow from there.

We’re so glad you’re here.