Have you ever wondered why some organic things aren’t supposed to be composted? Like kitchen scraps, meat, bones, spoiled dairy products, and bread?
It doesn’t seem to make sense. It’s all organic matter, right?
Have you ever been to a tulip festival? Have you ever looked over a sea of bright, bobbing heads in blocks of colors drenched in spring sunshine?
Tulips are one of the most popular flowers in America and other northern countries – where they are among the first flowers to hale the welcome signs of warmer weather coming. Ever since the Dutch made an art form out of tulip plantings, tulips have been popular wherever there are strong Dutch roots.
But do you know tulips actually come from the Middle East?
With all the talk about prairie grasses and planting to attract pollinators to your yard, you might be wondering if turfgrass, or lawn is ecologically responsible to have at all in your yard.
You also might be wondering how, if not, every suburban lawn, every green public space in the city, and every berm is covered with the stuff and why we just think of it as normal. It has an interesting history, actually.
You may have heard about turmeric as a tea, a spice to add to curry dishes or even a natural dye for Easter eggs or fabric. You might also have heard of turmeric’s active ingredient curcumin, which has been successfully used to treat all kinds of illnesses including cancer. I’m here to tell you, turmeric has been used to do all of these things and much more.
Have you ever been to a cherry blossom festival?
Have you ever wandered around an orchard in early spring when the trees were blossoming?
Just one bright pink and delicately fragrant tree on a property is enough to entice even the most industrious worker to stop and laze around under the veil of pink or white blooms. This is especially true when you know how fleeting it is.
More and more Americans want their food to be free of synthetic chemicals. Pesticides have been linked to cancer, decreased cognitive function, and behavior problems in children. In addition, children and infants are more vulnerable to the impact of pesticides.
Thankfully, the EWG’s Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce conducts a study each year to help parents make informed choices for themselves and children’s food. This study helps parents make informed, researched based, decisions when it comes to their produce shopping.
I remember, as a kid, reading about how pioneers and farmers in North America from hundreds of years ago would tap maple trees for sap. They used it for maple syrup and they also evaporated it and used it for maple sugar instead of white sugar – which in those days was not bought in such large quantities as it had to be imported.
Are you concerned by how many chemicals you’re exposed to every day in your food, your environment, and cleaning supplies?
Maybe you’ve made a commitment to getting rid of pesticides and chemicals in your life – at least the ones you can control. Or maybe you’re not sure where to start. You know it would be better for the environment not to use bleach, but you’re not sure if anything else will get the job done.
In that case, let me tell you about the amazing uses of vinegar for your home and garden.
One question we hear most often is, “When is the best time to plant trees?” The answer might surprise you.
The short answer is: it depends. A majority of people will say spring is the best season. This tends to be the popular time of year because it is when people begin to focus on their yard and landscape after the winter time. However, many people will argue that the fall is actually the best time to plant trees. Let’s take closer look at the optimal time to plant your trees and what you should know.
Did you know there are summer blooming bulbs? Of course you do! Did you know they are actually called tubers?
There are two plants I would like to talk about today: dahlias and tuberous begonias. Both of these flowers start from tubers that can be planted just like bulbs. They originate in tropical climates, so they can’t be planted before the last frost hits. However, if you’re looking for easy show-stoppers in your yard, this is it.