About Folk Calm

Old habits from a Sichuan kitchen, written down so I don't forget.

Why I Started This

I started this site because my grandmother's habits were fading. Not the big things — the small ones. The ginger tea she made after dinner without thinking. The way she'd soak her feet before bed, every night, whether she was tired or not. The walk she took around the courtyard after every meal, one hand behind her back, no destination in mind.

She never wrote anything down. Nobody in my family did. These were just things you did, the way you'd breathe, the way you'd sleep. But after she passed away in 2017, I started worrying that I'd forget them too. So I began writing.

This site isn't medical advice. It isn't a lifestyle guide. It's just what I remember, cross-checked against what other people's grandparents remembered too.

What this isn't

I'm not a doctor, a nutritionist, or a health professional of any kind. I don't make claims about what any practice will do for your body. I describe what people have traditionally done in Chinese households — nothing more. If you're thinking about trying anything on this site, talk to someone qualified who knows your situation first.

Who I Am

I'm someone who grew up in a Chinese household where habits outnumbered explanations. I now live in Chengdu, and I write about the domestic traditions I grew up around — the quiet ones, the kitchen ones, the ones that don't make it into textbooks.

This site is a personal project. I write it, I maintain it, and I stand behind it. If you have corrections, suggestions, or family stories you'd like to share, I'd genuinely love to hear from you — just drop a note to [email protected].