Many times upon a time, there was an oak tree. This particular oak tree grew at the wood’s edge, in easy reach of the fields beyond. Each year, as autumn came to a close, the tree would throw its acorns toward the sunlit meadow. Each … Read More

In August 2021, just nine short—and also long—months ago, my mother passed away. At some point that I don’t fully remember in the weeks that followed, my father tucked a small, worn, yellowed piece of paper into my hand. It was clipped from an unknown … Read More

I can’t remember what prompted me to ask the question, but I’ll never forget the answer. Several years back, I asked my mother, “What was I like as a small child?” She could have answered in any number of ways. For example, I remember my … Read More

May your heart continue to open in ways you never imagined possible. May your love grow to expand and hold all the moments of joy and sorrow. May you learn, heal, and awaken more fully as you walk the … Read More

Ovulation! It’s the equivalent of a standing ovation (see what we did there?) when it comes to your cycle. From the moment you started to bleed, your body has been preparing for this event: the release of an egg. For many of us, this phase … Read More

The art of soapmaking, much like baking, is a creative process that relies on pure chemistry for success. At its simplest, the chemical formula is lye + oil = soap. But the lye needs a carrier in order to mix with the oil, so the formula … Read More

Why raise chickens? Because they’re the pet that makes you breakfast. They bring home good food and belly laughs. Chickens are quirky, beautiful, and oddly clever. They come in countless colors, shapes, and varieties, and there’s not a culture on the planet that doesn’t raise … Read More

When conventional gardening is not an option—if you don’t have the space, perhaps, or the right kind of soil — raised beds are often a viable, if not advantageous, alternative. Beds with conservative widths (3'–5') allow you to reach into the middle to plant or … Read More

Have you ever hunted for a four-leaf clover? It’s practically impossible to find one. Statistically speaking, there are 10,000 three-leaf clovers to every four-leaf clover. Traditionally, each leaf is believed to represent something different: The first is for faith, the second is for hope, the … Read More

Are gophers destroying your squash year after year? Do deer break into your garden daily? Having trouble protecting your precious plants from bugs and pests? We asked our Short Storey Newsletter readers for questions about all things gardening, then tapped master gardener and award-winning … Read More