Natural living begins in the hearth where the magic of a natural living kitchen can thrive. As a homemaker, the kitchen can become a sacred space, a place of spiritual energy. Crafting a kitchen that honors nature is an important way to ground yourself.
The kitchen is more than a place to cook. It’s a hearth, a spiritual space where seasonal cooking weaves together the rhythm of the seasons and the love of wholesome, intentional living. Our ancestors crafted food with ingredients and tools they had on hand. A natural kitchen honors those traditions.
In this blog, I want to show you how you can transform your kitchen into a haven of natural living. This is for homemakers, young and old, who crave a more traditional life though they live in the modern world. We’ll explore healthy pantry staples that you should have on hand, as well as ideas for natural kitchen decor that reflects summer’s vibrant energy.
And as a bonus, I’m including a delicious summer recipe: flank steak and fresh asparagus. A simple meal that honors the season and fuels you and your family with healthy, natural ingredients at the same time.
So grab a cup of your preferred beverage and let’s get started!
Creating a Natural Living Kitchen with Intentional Decor
Transforming your kitchen into a haven of natural living begins with mindset and intention. By choosing natural materials, you’re not only creating a healthier kitchen but also honoring the ancestors who cooked with similar tools. And it shouldn’t break the bank. Start gradually replacing and adding items. Don’t run out and spend hundreds of dollars. But when you do shop, look for intentional decor that honors the earth and your spiritual roots. Start by shopping at fairs and venues where you can find homemade items made by local artisans. Your local county fair, renaissance fair, and farmer’s markets are perfect places to find natural kitchen decor. When local avenues are exhausted, shop online. Etsy is a great place to start.
Using Natural Materials in your Earthy Kitchen
The foundation of a natural kitchen lies in natural materials that evoke the earth’s warmth and durability. Swap out plastic, Teflon, or aluminum for materials that come naturally from the earth. Wooden, silver, or stainless steel utensils are great. Choose stoneware pottery, such as mugs or bowls glazed in earthy tones. It adds rustic charm and supports local artisans. Look for woven baskets to store things like kitchen rags, sponges, or cleaning goods.
For cookware, stick to stainless steel, ceramic, or glass to avoid the health risks of nonstick coatings or aluminum. Cast iron is great too, it enhances the flavor of foods, especially meat. Discover more essential cooking tools to equip your natural kitchen.
My stainless steel tea kettle whistles cheerfully on the stove, and my stove top coffee percolator brews a rich, old-fashioned cup of coffee that feels like a ritual in itself. While I embrace modern conveniences like my trusty Crock Pot for summer recipes, I steer clear of smart devices in the kitchen. They feel too disconnected from the hands-on, intentional energy I cultivate in this sacred space. By choosing natural materials, you’re not only creating a healthier kitchen but also honoring the ancestors who cooked with similar tools.
Summer Decor Ideas for your Seasonal Kitchen
June is the perfect time to add some summer decor to your natural kitchen decor. Litha, or Midsummer in June, honors the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Explore Druidic Summer Solstice rituals to deepen your seasonal connection. And later in August, Lughnasadh honors the abundance of the first harvest. Bring the season indoors with summer florals in vases or mason jars. Flowers blooming in June, like vibrant zinnias, cheerful sunflowers, delicate lavender, or classic roses, add pops of color and fragrance. If you grow your own garden, going out to collect flowers for the kitchen can be a daily morning ritual. Arrange them in clay pots or glass vases for a touch of earthy elegance.
Embrace summer colors inspired by tropical or ocean themes—think coral pinks, turquoise blues, or sunny yellows in dish towels, tablecloths, or ceramic coasters. Add a celestial touch with zodiac-inspired summer decor for your home.
To deepen the seasonal vibe, hang dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, or sage in bundles from a wooden rack, their earthy scent infusing the air with holistic calm. Braided garlic, strung above a countertop, can be a rustic touch.
Honoring your ancestors with heirlooms in your Kitchen
A natural living kitchen is a place to honor your heritage, and heirloom kitchen tools are a powerful way to do so. I cherish an old molcajete inherited from my great-grandmother, its worn basalt surface a testament to generations of grinding spices and making salsa. Display your own heirlooms—a vintage rolling pin, a copper kettle, or a handwritten recipe card framed on the wall—to weave your ancestors’ stories into your daily rituals. These pieces ground your kitchen in tradition, reminding you of the hands that came before as you prepare healthy pantry staples or craft summer recipes.
Keeping your Kitchen Clutter-Free
A serene cooking space is essential for a natural living kitchen. Keep clutter to a minimum. Store appliances like blenders or toasters in cabinets to maintain clean countertops. Use woven baskets or glass jars to organize healthy pantry staples, creating a tidy, intentional aesthetic. A clutter-free kitchen not only promotes calm but also allows the beauty of your natural materials and summer florals to shine.
Stocking Your Pantry for Natural Cooking
A natural living kitchen thrives on a pantry stocked with wholesome, earth-honoring ingredients that fuel both body and soul. I believe that healthy pantry staples are the heartbeat of seasonal cooking, connecting us to the land, our ancestors, and the divine. By choosing local ingredients, home-grown herbs, and unprocessed foods, you can create meals that reflect your values.
Home-Grown Herbs and Spices for your Natural Living Kitchen
Nothing embodies seasonal cooking like home-grown herbs and spices. They can infuse your dishes with fresh flavor and holistic benefits. You don’t need a lot of space to grow rosemary, thyme, sage, and lavender. A balcony or windowsill will do. Dry and hang them and use them all year around for anything from teas to meat dishes. You could even learn to grow your own spices and blend your own seasonings.
Sourcing Natural Ingredients for a Natural Kitchen
Sourcing local ingredients is a cornerstone of a natural living kitchen. Visit nearby farms for grass-fed beef, pasture-raised poultry, and seasonal produce like asparagus or berries. Many farms may have pick-your-own opportunities. Source out local eggs, raw milk dairy products, or foraged mushrooms. If you can, learn how to do these things yourself. Backyard chickens are becoming increasingly popular, and you can join local foraging groups. Never try to forage without proper education about poisonous plants and mushrooms in your local area.
Healthy Sweeteners for Natural Living Cooking
Ditch refined sugars for natural sweeteners that add depth and nutrition to your cooking. Honey is my favorite for drizzling over sourdough or glazing grilled meats. Maple syrup, with its rich, woody notes, elevates pancakes or marinades. Cane sugar, minimally processed and organic, works beautifully in baking, while date syrup or molasses brings a caramel-like intensity to sauces or desserts. These sweeteners, stored in glass jars, support your commitment to whole foods and add a touch of sweetness to your healthy pantry staples.
Best Cooking Oils for a Natural Living Kitchen
Healthy cooking oils are essential for a natural living kitchen, providing flavor and nourishment without processed additives. Tallow, rendered from grass-fed beef, is my go-to for frying or roasting, imparting a rich beef taste. Duck fat adds decadence to potatoes, while ghee, with its nutty clarity, is perfect for high-heat cooking. Coconut oil shines in baking, avocado oil is ideal for dressings, and olive oil—extra virgin, cold-pressed—elevates salads or dips. Avoid processed vegetable oils, canola, soy-based oils, and seed oils. Make sure your oils are stored in dark glass bottles, ensure your meals are both delicious and health-conscious.
Ancient Grains for Natural Kitchen Recipes
For baking and cooking, I rely on ancient grains like einkorn flour. It’s a nutrient-dense staple I use as breading for fried chicken or as a thickener for gravies. Its nutty flavor and low gluten content make it a game-changer for seasonal cooking. You could also begin a sourdough starter. It’s very easy, although it requires a commitment. You’ll think of it as your pet, which you must feed every day. Other starches include semolina pastas and jasmine rice.
Crafting Fermented Foods for your Natural Living Pantry
Elevate your pantry by crafting your own ferments, getting into canning, and making your own dairy. I haven’t embarked on any of these skills yet, but they are on my to-do list, especially after my husband and I move acr next year.
Homemade vinegars, like apple cider or red wine, add tang to dressings and marinades—try infusing them with home-grown herbs. With fermenting, you can make sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha. These are great for gut health. Canning fruits while they are in season can keep them for use all year round and they make great emergency storage food options.
Churning your own butter is a fun activity you could share with your children.
Avoiding Processed Foods in your Natural Living Kitchen
A natural living kitchen has no room for processed, artificial ingredients. Skip boxed mixes, artificial sweeteners, or chemical-laden seasonings. Instead, rely on whole foods that come sourced from your own land, or the land of local farmers.
Cooking in a Natural Living Kitchen: A Simple Summer Recipe
Now that you have your natural kitchen put together, and you have gathered your natural pantry essentials, it’s time to test out your new seasonal kitchen with a summer recipe!
This is a simple summer recipe for pan-seared grass-fed flank steak, sauteed asparagus, and homemade rice pilaf embodies seasonal cooking at its finest. It’ll emphasize local ingredients and healthy pantry staples to create a dish that’s both flavorful and soul-warming.
Pan-Seared Flank Steak with Sautéed Asparagus and Rice Pilaf
Serves: 4 Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- For the Flank Steak:
- 1.5 lbs grass-fed flank steak
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp honey
- Juice of 1 lemon
- For the Asparagus:
- 1 lb asparagus, trimmed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- For the Rice Pilaf:
- ¾ cup jasmine rice, rinsed
- ¼ cup organic orzo pasta
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1¾ cups beef bone broth
- 1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
Instructions
- Marinate the Flank Steak: In a small bowl, mix 1 tbsp ghee, minced garlic, rosemary, sea salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. Rub the marinade over the steak and let it sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Start the Rice Pilaf: In a medium saucepan, melt 1 tbsp ghee over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the organic orzo and toast for 1-2 minutes until golden. Add the jasmine rice, homemade bone broth, thyme, and sea salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15-18 minutes until the liquid is absorbed, and the rice is tender. Fluff with a fork and stir in slivered almonds, if using. Keep warm.
- Cook the steak: Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp ghee and sear the steak for 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare (135°F internal temperature). At the last minute, drizzle honey over the steak for a caramelized glaze. Remove from the skillet, tent with foil, and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Sauté the Asparagus: In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the asparagus, sea salt, black pepper, and lemon zest. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender and vibrant green.
- Serve: Slice the steak thinly against the grain. Plate with a generous portion of rice pilaf and a side of asparagus. Garnish the pilaf with a sprinkle of fresh thyme for an aromatic touch.
- Serving Suggestions: Pair with a glass of lemon water and serve on your stoneware dishes and set out your stainless steel utensils.
Ritual Before Cooking
Before cooking, it’s important to set the intentions. Set out a citrine crystal to honor the sun, light a candle, and say a soft meditation to honor your ancestors. Extend this energy outdoors with Midsummer camping rituals. Then, put on your favorite music and begin the prep. Begin by cleaning the kitchen, ensuring your space is well put together. Then gather all the equipment you’ll need. Then, do all the prep work. Washing and cutting the vegetables and herbs, and rinsing the rice. I like to keep a collection of ceramic ramekins for this task.
Beginning and Building your Natural Living Kitchen
Crafting a natural living kitchen is a journey of heart and hearth, blending seasonal cooking with intentional decor to nourish your family and soul.
Start slowly, adding natural materials like wood and pottery, and embrace wholesome ingredients like honey and einkorn at your own pace.
For more summer inspiration, explore our guide to Druidic Summer Solstice rituals to deepen your Litha celebrations or discover zodiac-inspired summer decor to extend the seasonal vibe throughout your home. New to natural cooking? Check out our cooking essentials for beginners.
Next, join us on June 21 for our Midsummer camping ritual guide, perfect for taking your spiritual practice outdoors.
I’d love to hear your progress! What natural materials or heirlooms are in your kitchen? Did you try the flank steak recipe? Share in the comments!
