My name is Kristen and I am a 32 year old woman living in Sacramento, CA. I work at a nature center and love anything outside. I have two dogs and a snake, I enjoy live music, and playing ukulele is one of my favorite hobbies.

I’m a stay-at-home mom to two small boys with a background in coffee. I enjoy crocheting and being outdoors, going on hikes and spending time at the beach. I really became interested in food and cooking when I was 11 or 12 after discovering Rachael Ray on the Food Network. My mom was a great cook and I’d spend a lot of time in the kitchen watching her and trying to help her. She’d show me how to cook something and I’d write down the steps in a notebook. My dad was a baker his entire life but unfortunately that skill skipped my generation.

I’m a wife and mother of 3 beautiful children. We homeschool and enjoy being out in nature as much as possible. Whole, real, pesticide free food is very important to our family. I would say our style of cooking is ancestral, with bone broth, fermented foods and healthy fats being a top priority.

This interview is by my mom, Kerstin, who lives in Florida and loves to travel. My mom has impeccable style, is a wonderful grandma, and we enjoyed annual mother-daughter trips before I became a mom (but we hope to get back to it!).

Eating local foods has so many benefits. It often leads to eating seasonally, since local farms generally only offer items that are currently in season. It also often means that you’re eating grass-fed, pasture-raised protein as well as organic produce (check with your local farmer – even if they can’t claim that they’re organic as it’s an expensive certification that not all choose to go through, their products may still be pesticide free). You’re also supporting your local community! What’s not to love?