It's tempting, when drumming up content for a website like Food52, to assume that your readers have a basic working knowledge of... well. Everything. Nobody balks if we speak casually about laminating dough, for example. Further: Our comments sections, even on design and culture stories, can be as insightful as the articles themselves, and we write about community recipes, tips, and suggestions all the time (that's how Food52 got started, you know).
But as we've grown, we've seen our readers gravitate just as frequently to practical, basic life skills—how to hand-wash delicate clothes, care for stainless steel cookware, buy quality furniture, or refinish a cutting board to name a few.
Our editorial team has long referred to articles under this umbrella as "Home Ec" amongst ourselves ("family and consumer sciences" just does not have the same ring to it). So we're formalizing the topic, scouting out experts, and planning to bring lots more of it to you. Heavy on useful, timely, or otherwise interesting skills and tips (budgeting, yes); low on fussy, outdated, or otherwise useless tutorials (how to follow a poodle skirt pattern, no). Full disclosure: There might be some sewing.
Below, some topics and articles we're going to be sharing more of (just the beginning):
Keeping your pipes safe, your plants alive, your countertops quenched—and more.
Guides on everything from cleaning all kinds of cookware to mastering the art of laundry.
Safe canning, happy (sharp!) knives, and chicken carving 101.
An intro to hand sewing, candle-making, working with lye, dye, and more.
What would you like to see from Home Ec on Food52? Tell us in the comments.
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