Have you ever thought about where your food comes from, or how it's prepared? Perhaps you're looking for something that truly nourishes your body, going beyond just filling you up. In Berkeley, California, there's a special place, a real gem, that has been doing just that for quite some time now, offering deeply nourishing prepared foods, groceries, and body care products. This spot, known as Three Stone Hearth, has, in a way, carved out a unique space in the food world, focusing on health and community connection.
This remarkable establishment, you know, isn't just another food store. It's a place built on a powerful idea: that food prepared with care, inspired by traditional wisdom, can genuinely support your well-being. They've taken inspiration from the groundbreaking work of Dr. Weston Price, whose research showed the incredible health benefits of ancestral diets from around the world. So, when you pick something up from them, you're getting food that has a rich history of promoting vitality and strength, which is pretty cool.
Three Stone Hearth, founded way back in 2006, was actually the nation's very first community-supported kitchen. This means they developed a truly unique way of preparing and distributing food, making it easier for folks to get their hands on high-quality, traditionally made items. It’s a model that, in some respects, puts community and health right at the center, ensuring everyone has access to food that truly feeds the body and soul.
Table of Contents
- What is Three Stone Hearth?
- The Heart of Nourishment: Traditional Diets & Weston A. Price
- A Bounty of Goodness: What You'll Find
- Your Food, Your Way: Ordering & Accessibility
- More Than Food: A Community Hub
- Why Choose Three Stone Hearth?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Three Stone Hearth
What is Three Stone Hearth?
Three Stone Hearth, located in Berkeley, California, is, you know, a pioneering food business that started with a big idea. Back in 2006, it became the very first community-supported kitchen in the country. This means they created a brand new way for people to get food, focusing on prepared meals and groceries that are truly good for you. They developed, in a way, a special business model for how food is made and processed, making it easier for everyone to eat well.
Their main goal is to offer the most deeply nourishing prepared foods, groceries, and body care products. They really focus on local, organic, and traditionally prepared items. This isn't just about selling food; it's about providing things that genuinely contribute to your health and vitality. It's, basically, a place where food is seen as medicine, a concept that has been around for centuries, and they bring it to life every day.
The name itself, "Three Stone Hearth," brings to mind a very old way of cooking, a central gathering place. A fireplace assembly, you know, usually has a hearth, which is the floor inside the fireplace and the part that sticks out in front. This idea of a hearth as a warm, central spot for food preparation and community gathering is, perhaps, a perfect symbol for what they do. Larry Wisch, Jessica Prentice, Porsche Combash, and Catherine were key in bringing this vision to life, creating a place that, you know, truly embodies this spirit.
The Heart of Nourishment: Traditional Diets & Weston A. Price
At the core of everything Three Stone Hearth does is a deep respect for traditional diets and the work of Dr. Weston A. Price. Dr. Price, as a matter of fact, was a dentist who traveled the world in the early 20th century, studying the diets and health of isolated indigenous groups. He found that people eating their native, unprocessed foods had incredible health, strong teeth, and very little chronic illness. His research really showed the importance of nutrient-dense, whole foods, prepared in traditional ways, for human health.
Three Stone Hearth is, you know, a strong supporter of the Weston A. Price Foundation. They take Dr. Price's findings and put them into practice every single day. This means they focus on things like healthy fats, fermented foods, organ meats, and raw dairy, all sourced and prepared with the utmost care. They believe that these traditional methods not only make food taste better but also significantly enhance its digestibility and nutrient content. It's a philosophy that, in some respects, goes against a lot of modern food trends, focusing instead on time-tested wisdom.
They truly understand the importance of healthy carbohydrates, too. They are always learning more about how to best prepare grains and flours to make them as nourishing as possible, often through soaking, sprouting, or fermenting. This careful approach helps to preserve enzymes and nutrients, ensuring that the food retains its full vitality. This commitment to traditional preparation is, basically, what sets them apart and makes their food so deeply nourishing.
A Bounty of Goodness: What You'll Find
When you explore what Three Stone Hearth offers, you'll discover a wonderful selection of items, all made with their guiding principles in mind. They have a truly impressive array of prepared foods and groceries, each one chosen or made for its quality and nutritional value. It's, you know, a bit like stepping into a pantry filled with the best ingredients and lovingly prepared meals, ready to make your life easier and healthier.
Dairy and Fermented Drinks
For those looking for high-quality dairy, they offer Claravale raw cow milk and cream. They also carry Evergreen Acres raw goat milk and goat cheeses, which are, you know, incredibly fresh and pure. These raw dairy products are highly valued by those following traditional diets for their enzymes and beneficial bacteria. They also make a cultured beet tonic, a traditional drink that Sally Fallon Morell, a leading figure in the traditional diets movement, describes as being valuable for its medicinal qualities. It's, quite simply, a powerhouse of good stuff.
Breads and Grains
They carry a wonderful variety of sourdough breads, made with traditional methods that make the grains easier to digest. Sourdough fermentation, you see, helps to break down gluten and phytic acid, which means more nutrients are available for your body to use. They also offer stone-ground raw certified organic almonds, processed at low speed and low temperature to preserve enzymes, nutrients, and vitality. This attention to detail in preparing grains and nuts is, in fact, a hallmark of their commitment to nourishing food.
Prepared Meals and Frozen Favorites
If you missed your favorite house-made dish last week, or just can't get enough of it, you might find it in their frozen foods section. They offer a selection of frozen offerings, though quantities can be extremely limited on some items, so it's always good to check. They also have delicious prepared meals, like a tasty dish inspired by a traditional recipe from northeastern Thailand and Laos called Larb Moo. This dish brings together ground pork with galangal, a root similar to ginger but less spicy and more aromatic, which is, quite honestly, a flavor experience you won't forget.
Cultured Foods and Condiments
Lactofermented foods and beverages are a big part of what they do, and you can find them in traditional diets around the world. These foods are cultured for at least five weeks in German ceramic harsch crocks, which is a rather long and careful process. This fermentation preserves foods while enhancing their digestibility, making them, you know, incredibly beneficial for gut health. They also offer Cowan's dandelion powder, made from the wild and medicinal plant Taraxacum officinale, a mix of dandelion leaves and roots, which is, you know, a very potent herbal supplement.
Body Care and Other Essentials
Beyond food, Three Stone Hearth also offers body care products. They carry Summer Solace Tallow, which is an artisan line of ethical and organic tallow balms, soaps, and candles handcrafted in Oakland. The original balm, for example, is pure, unscented, and made from the rendered fat of animals raised ethically. This shows their commitment to using whole, natural ingredients not just for food but for personal care too, which is, you know, pretty comprehensive. They also have unique bases made of just one ingredient, like a nut butter that uses the entire nut (minus the skin), so you benefit from all the natural protein, fat, and fiber of the whole food. These products are, in some respects, a natural extension of their food philosophy.
Your Food, Your Way: Ordering & Accessibility
Getting your hands on Three Stone Hearth's nourishing products is, you know, really convenient. They have made it super easy with their online ordering system. You can simply sign up for a free account, and then you can order from their weekly menu. This means you can plan your meals and groceries from the comfort of your home, which is, quite frankly, a huge help for busy schedules.
Once you've placed your order, you have several options for getting your food. You can choose convenient online ordering with pickup right at their Berkeley location. Or, if you prefer, they also offer delivery options, bringing the goodness straight to your door. For those further away, they even have mail order for some items, which is, you know, pretty thoughtful. This flexibility makes their unique offerings accessible to a wider community, ensuring more people can benefit from their traditional foods.
When you sign up for an account, you will also receive weekly email newsletters. These newsletters keep you updated on their latest food offerings, any new products, and perhaps, even some insights into traditional diets. It's a great way to stay connected and make sure you don't miss out on your favorite items or discover something new and wonderful, which is, you know, a nice touch.
More Than Food: A Community Hub
Three Stone Hearth is, honestly, more than just a place to buy food; it's a community hub. The fact that it was the nation's first community-supported kitchen speaks volumes about its foundational values. It's a place where people connect over a shared interest in health, traditional wisdom, and supporting local, ethical food systems. This focus on community is, you know, a big part of their identity.
The numbers themselves tell a story: 2,916 likes and 5 people talking about them on social media, with 348 people having "been here." These figures, you know, suggest a lively and engaged group of supporters who appreciate what Three Stone Hearth offers. It shows that they've built a loyal following of neighbors in Berkeley and beyond who value their unique approach to food preparation and community building. It's, basically, a testament to the strong bonds they've created.
They foster a sense of belonging, a place where people can feel good about what they're eating and where it comes from. This feeling of connection, you know, extends beyond just picking up your order; it's about being part of a movement that prioritizes real, nourishing food. It's, arguably, a model for how food businesses can truly serve their communities, going beyond just commerce to build something meaningful and lasting.
Why Choose Three Stone Hearth?
Choosing Three Stone Hearth for your food and body care needs means, you know, making a conscious decision for health and quality. They specialize in local, organic, and traditionally prepared foods, which is a rare combination to find in one place. This commitment means you're getting items that are not only delicious but also packed with the nutrients your body craves. It's, honestly, a way to support your well-being from the inside out.
Their dedication to the principles of Dr. Weston Price and traditional diets sets them apart. They don't just follow trends; they adhere to time-tested methods that have nourished people for generations. This includes careful preparation techniques, like long fermentation for krauts and low-temperature stone grinding for nuts, which preserve the natural goodness of the ingredients. You know, this attention to detail is something you can truly taste and feel.
Furthermore, their unique business model as a community-supported kitchen means you're supporting a local enterprise that puts people and health first. It's a way to invest in a food system that is ethical, sustainable, and transparent. You can learn more about their story and mission on their site, and see how they are making a difference. This makes every purchase feel, you know, like a positive contribution to a better food future. And if you're curious about the specific methods they use, you can always check out this page on their site for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions About Three Stone Hearth
Here are some common questions people often have about Three Stone Hearth:
What is a community supported kitchen?
A community supported kitchen, like Three Stone Hearth, is a unique business model where a kitchen prepares food for a community of members, often through a subscription or pre-order system. It's, basically, a way for people to get access to high-quality, prepared meals and groceries directly from the source, building a closer relationship between the food producers and those who eat the food. This model, you know, helps to ensure a steady demand for the kitchen's products and a reliable supply of nourishing food for the community members.
What is the Weston A. Price diet approach?
The Weston A. Price diet approach is, you know, based on the research of Dr. Weston A. Price, who studied the traditional diets of healthy indigenous populations. It emphasizes nutrient-dense, whole, unprocessed foods, including healthy fats, fermented foods, organ meats, and raw dairy. It also highlights traditional preparation methods like soaking, sprouting, and fermenting grains and legumes to enhance digestibility and nutrient absorption. Three Stone Hearth, as a matter of fact, incorporates these principles into all their food preparation, aiming to provide truly nourishing meals. You can learn more about Dr. Weston Price's travels and research here.
How can I order food from Three Stone Hearth?
You can order food from Three Stone Hearth very conveniently online. Step one is to sign up for a free account on their website. Once you have an account, you can order from their weekly menu. They offer various options for getting your food, including pickup at their Berkeley location, local delivery, and even mail order for certain items. You'll also receive weekly email newsletters with updates on their food offerings, which is, you know, pretty helpful for planning your meals.
