Lifestyle
Posted on March 11, 2026
Grangers across the nation have a powerful opportunity to share the heart of agriculture with the next generation during the National Grange’s Agricultural Literacy Week, March 16 - 20, 2026. Organized through the National Grange Lecturer’s Department, this week-long celebration invites members to e...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on March 9, 2026
I don’t know about you, but I have a particular spot for my mixing bowls, sifter, pots, pans and measuring cups. In fact, I have specific places for almost everything in my kitchen. Unfortunately, the other people who live here don’t understand my system. Growing up, Dad taught us “If you get someth...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on March 7, 2026
Soup is a staple anytime the weather is chilly or when a person feels like they are coming down with a cold. The warm, therapeutic effects of a delicious bowl of soup are hard to dismiss, and may sometimes work as well as the best medicines available. While zucchini may be known as a summer vegetabl...
Gardening Farming, Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on March 5, 2026
Whether you call them “statement plants,” “room-fillers” or just “the family tree,” Ficus have dominated the indoor gardening world for decades. But did you know this genus includes everything from tiny creeping vines to 100-foot-tall giants? This year, the National Garden Bureau is celebrating the ...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on February 28, 2026
Brighten your table this season with a Spring Sorghum Salad, a fresh, colorful dish that puts whole grain sorghum front and center, courtesy of the sorghum checkoff. Tender sorghum is tossed with crisp seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs, then lightly dressed for a vibrant, flavor-packed salad that’...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on February 24, 2026
Mr. Tidwell was our mail carrier for over 20 years. He drove a red and white El Camino. You could set your clock by his arrival on mail days – 11:10 a.m. He never varied more than five minutes either way. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I discovered that his punctuality stemmed from devotion t...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on February 20, 2026
Protein bars are a convenient energy booster that’s easy to carry. That portability makes protein bars a go-to for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy activities like hiking that burn lots of calories. Though it’s easy to pick up a protein bar at the store, it’s also possible to make your own at home. Any...
Gardening Farming, Lifestyle
Posted on February 18, 2026
USDA’s “I Protect Pigs” photo contest is back and now accepting entries. Brought to you by USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), this contest promotes the importance of good biosecurity behaviors to protect pigs from devastating diseases like African swine fever (ASF). We’re invit...
Gardening Farming, Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on February 17, 2026
Invasive species and climate change are considered the two largest threats to biodiversity, ecosystem function and human health. These two complex issues are interrelated and form a self-reinforcing “feedback loop” where each factor accelerates the other. Climate change creates habitat for invasive ...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on February 15, 2026
A hot breakfast can be just what the doctor ordered on weekends. Weekday mornings might be too hectic to whip up a hot breakfast, but that’s often not the case come Saturday and Sunday. For those with time to cook breakfast over the weekend, this recipe for a “Peasant Omelet” from Lines+Angles is de...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on February 14, 2026
Real love can be found almost anywhere and in any era. Every February, thoughts turn to love, flowers, candy hearts and sugary sweet cards. Even though Valentine’s Day has been around for centuries, it’s only recently become the extravagant celebration it is today. You can blame ingenuity and the ir...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on February 13, 2026
Modern children are not getting enough daily physical activity. So says a 2024 report from the Physical Activity Alliance, a coalition that works to promote regular participation in physical activity. Researchers behind the report utilized data from the National Survey of Children’s Health and Natio...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on February 8, 2026
Functionality is important when designing the interior spaces in a home. Homeowners who redesign their interior spaces can emphasize functionality to help reduce clutter and create a more efficient and even calming space. Laundry rooms may not be the most glamorous rooms in a home, but they do get l...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on February 6, 2026
We ate supper every evening as a family, sometimes joined by drop-in visitors or extended family. Mama spent many hours preparing home-cooked meals and there was usually plenty to go around, but sometimes, when it looked as if we would be short a helping or two, Mama would excuse herself from the ta...
Lifestyle
Andy Haman 
Posted on February 4, 2026
Decadent treats and Valentine’s Day go hand in hand. Couples typically exchange gifts on Valentine’s Day, and those gifts are often accompanied by something sweet. A survey from Statista found that 44% of respondents intended to purchase candy and sweets for their significant other on Valentine’s Da...
Events
Courtney Llewellyn 
March 13, 2026
Though this writer brings almost 100% Old World genetics to the table, sadly, that doesn’t include any ancestors from the Emerald Isle. Still, St. Pat...
News
Courtney Llewellyn 
March 3, 2026
CCE Herkimer is proud to announce the awarding of seven $2,000 sub-awards to community and aspiring community gardens across Herkimer County. Funding ...
Events, Gardening Farming
Courtney Llewellyn 
March 1, 2026
Maple syrup is the sweet nectar of maple trees. Legend has it that maple syrup was first discovered centuries ago by Native Americans during a time wh...
Gardening Farming
Courtney Llewellyn 
February 26, 2026
Over the last several years, there’s been a big push to plant for pollinators. Homeowners are creating habitat in their landscapes – but many are unsu...