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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Salt preserves food, fats included. Chances are our ancestors first salted meats — and fats — just to preserve them, then they found that salting transformed the flavor of those foods, improving them. They created the art of charcuterie or salumi, along with hundreds of … Read More