More Articles

• Ten Tips for Making the Most of Your Peppers

  

  It is possible for anyone to grow their own food, at least some of it; you don’t have to live in a small town or picturesque landscape. I’ve done it — at my third-floor urban apartment, where I planted tomatoes in pots in the parking … Read More

  Gardening

  by Kelly Smith Trimble

• Make Your Own Hypertufa Containers

  

  You can grow a garden in pots and planters even if you don’t have a yard. If you make your own planters, you can be creative! Pretty much anything that holds soil but allows water to drain from the bottom could work. Hypertufa looks like … Read More

  For Kids

  by Emma Biggs and Steven Biggs

• Make Your Own Cheese: 30-Minute Mozzarella

  

  Fresh cheeses like mozzarella require little equipment and are excellent choices for beginning cheese makers, as they are quick, delicious, and easy to make — no fermenting or aging required. Many of these high-moisture cheeses are called bag cheeses because the curds are drained in … Read More

  Food

  by Ricki Carroll

• Foraging for Spring: Three Edible Plants to Try

  

  The first rule of foraging for edible plants is never, ever, eat anything you’re not 100 percent sure of. This applies whether you’re picking in the wild or in your own backyard. “Foraging in your own backyard!” you say. “I thought you had to wander … Read More

  Gardening

  by Ellen Zachos

• Buying Tomato Seedlings: The Pros and Cons

  

  There are many reasons to start with seedlings, rather than starting your own seed. If you didn’t plan ahead, don’t have the desired seeds in hand, have germination issues with the seed, or don’t have space or time, you’ll want to purchase tomato seedlings for … Read More

  Gardening

  by Craig LeHoullier

• Beekeeping 101: Where Should I Put My Hives?

  

  The question of where to site your hives has a different answer for every yard or home, but here are some basic guidelines: Set the hives on a surface that is level side to side. A slight tilt forward is okay and can even help … Read More

  Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

  by Alethea Morrison

• Building the Best Nest Box for Your Chicken Coop

  

  Many chicken-keepers mount nest boxes inside the coop, either set on the floor or attached to an inside wall. This is one valid option, with at least three downsides. The top of the nest box offers a surface on which chickens can roost and deposit … Read More

  Farm Animals, Horses & Pets

  by Frank Hyman

• Mini Meadows for Your Yard’s Toughest Spots

  

  What do you think of when you hear the word “meadow”? A wild, grassy expanse where birds nest and prairie dogs scurry? A hayfield? The dictionary defines a meadow as “land that is covered or mostly covered with grass.” Maybe, in your vision, there are … Read More

  Gardening

  by Mike Lizotte

• Relaxing Recipes for a Spa Sleepover Party

  

  Taking time to nurture your mind, body, and spirit is key to your overall well-being. Ultimately, self-care leads to wellness, and wellness leads to beauty. Making healthy choices about what you put in and on your body translates into a clear message that you matter … Read More

  For Kids

  by Maya Pagán

• Winter Wellness: Forest Bathing on Skis

  

  The shhhh shhhh shhhh of my skis, the click of my poles, the wind, and my own breathing are all I hear. When I stop, it’s just the soft ticking of snow on my jacket. Everything is white and gray and sepia, blurred by the … Read More

  Health & Well-being

  by Hannah Fries