For a lot of us, our pets are members of the family. Our plans would not be complete without thinking about their needs as well as our own. Most pets have few requirements for remaining happy and healthy. They need food and water, a place … Read More

Can we just go head and call June “peony season”? These big-headed blooms, with buds beloved by ants and with tissue paper-like petals, may have a short lifespan. When they’re happening, though, I have a hard time resisting a stop in each yard I pass … Read More

On May 5, 2015, a tornado hit my hometown and wrought terrible destruction. It destroyed the home of a dear neighbor and dumped up to 7 inches of rain in just a few minutes, causing massive flooding in the area. My creek-bottom pasture was under … Read More

Humans have been successfully drying food around the fire, in the sun, or on hot rocks for centuries. Dried food is portable, flavorful, and ripped with a toothsome, chewy texture. Flavor combinations and permutations abound, as do the cuts of protein that can be dried, … Read More

Don’t let the name throw you. While bitters may taste truly bitter on their own, in a cocktail they don’t take center stage. That doesn’t mean they’re not essential. You wouldn’t serve most food without a little salt, and bitters work a similar magic, pulling … Read More

When you become interested in dehydrating foods, your first decision will involve the method and equipment you’ll use. Many people do their first “real” dehydrating in their home oven. This allows you to try a batch or two of food with little or no initial … Read More

To meet your needs, a home vermicomposting system will have to measure up to your expectations, provide a convenient method for converting organic waste to a usable end product, and satisfy your idea of suitable aesthetics. Potential end products are a supply of worms for … Read More

I first ate Pesto Genovese while in France and Switzerland 45 years ago and have been making it ever since. Over the years, I graduated from growing a few pots of herbs on a city balcony to a country herb garden. When … Read More

Last month, we were still digging out from a punishing winter. (It actually snowed here on April 30). In May, we’re making up for lost time. To stroll down the street in the center of town here in North Adams today is … Read More

 The earliest cheese makers had to do everything themselves, even make their own equipment from whatever materials they had on hand. Some cheese makers … Read More