Kitchen gardens have been around since people first decided to grow plants for their use rather than simply gathering them from the wild. It’s the ultimate in practical gardening—growing fruits, veggies, herbs, and edible flowers right outside the kitchen door. Step outside, harvest the freshest and most flavorful produce, then cook and serve. What could be easier…
Go hiking, then come home and write the Great American Novel? Spending two days hiking in the Tetons might not turn you into William Faulkner, but research published in PLoS One suggests that a few days in a national park may make you more creative in other ways. The study followed 56 hikers on a…
I come from a long line of thrifty Yankees. One of our holiday traditions was the “brown ribbon.” Some decades earlier, an uncle had received a package trimmed with the most hideous ribbon anyone in the family had ever seen, made of dark brown gauze with gold threads running through it. The following year the…
Photo calendars and picture mugs were exciting ways to personalize gifts…about twenty years ago. But as the world becomes more digital, most of us put off printing even a handful of the thousands of photos stockpiled on our phones and digital cameras. That’s where your thoughtful present comes in, you skilled gift-giver. Meaningful photo art…
Just being outside, whether you’re gardening, exercising, or simply taking a stroll, is a great mood booster. But getting your hands dirty in a garden is so effective at combating depression that it’s often used in “horticultural therapy” at psychiatric hospitals. If you feel like your energy levels are dropping or you’re just too stressed…
Although the world in winter is mostly devoid of flowers there is still all sorts of color to be found: berries are bright in shades of orange and red, cones and seed heads turn rich browns as they ripen, and evergreens display the kaleidoscopic possibilities of green. Find, forage, and bring these plants inside for…
If opting for a fresh Christmas tree over a fake one is a no-brainer in your mind, you’re at odds with a majority of the public: According to the American Christmas Tree Association, which conducts a yearly survey in conjunction with Neilson, 81% of Christmas trees Americans decorated in 2016 were artificial. (The survey also notes…
Researchers at the Rodale Institute have learned that organic soils trap atmospheric carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, and convert it to carbon, a key component of healthy soil. In the longest-running study of its kind, the Rodale Institute’s Farming Systems Trial (FST) has compared organic and conventional farming side by side since starting in…
The cause of most coughs is easy to pinpoint: colds, flu, allergies, dry air. How to get rid of them? Not so much. Most people reach for over-the-counter meds, yet studies have shown that cough medicines don’t really do any good. According to guidelines released by the American College of Chest Physicians, many popular remedies…
So you have a new wood stove or outdoor fire pit you’re planning to put to use. Or maybe you’d like to toast marshmallows on that camping trip you’ve been planning? Either way, if you’re building a wood fire, it’s important to remember that not every piece of timber makes good fuel. To learn more, click here.