The Hearty Soul Articles

Discover our latest insights, stories, and perspectives

5 min read

One wouldn’t imagine using fire to preserve wood, but the ancient Japanese technique does just that. Shou Sugi Ban is an exterior siding method; it charrs the wood, cools it, cleans it, and finishes it with oil. Traditionally, they use Sugi wood (also called Japanese cedar).  Nowadays, Shou Sugi Ban is used as an environmentally-friendly...

4 min read

As wintertime approaches, all of the furry little friends outdoors will seek warmth. However, sometimes this means finding warm places inside people’s homes. For mice, this is the perfect time to find the best hiding spot with the best food. People tend to get worried about having unwanted guests during the holiday season. It’s a...

4 min read Food and Drink

The chilly and chili season is upon us! The cold weather is the perfect excuse to start making your famous chili. Chili is probably one of the best meals you could make for winter time. The thick, savory, deliciousness that warms our insides and brightens our moods with every bite. If you’re a big fan...

6 min read

In a 2008 Ted Talk, mycologist Paul Stamets declared that mushrooms may be the solution to a number of environmental issues facing our planet today. It turns out, mushrooms can eat plastic, clean up oil spills, and re-build our forests, among many other incredible abilities. How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World Mushrooms are some...

3 min read

A woman in Quebec, Canada got more than she bargained for when she began feeding a hungry stray cat in her garden over the summer. The feline was pregnant, and soon after birthing her kittens came again to the woman for help. This is their story. Woman Unintentionally Rescues Stray Cat and Her Kittens While...

3 min read

Have you ever needed to open a can but couldn’t find the can opener anywhere? Or perhaps it broke the second you tried to use it. Either way, you have a can that needs to be open and nothing to open it with. That, however, is where you are wrong: You can open a can...