There’s no shortage of ways to impart flavor to foods when cooking at home. Smoking food is one method that has grown increasingly popular in recent years. Smoking imparts unique flavor to a wide variety of foods. Like other approaches to cooking, smoking involves a learning curve that may include s...

Whether you venture outdoors on a clear day or a cloudy one, it’s always important to protect your skin against dangerous sun rays. Skin cancer is on the rise. The National Cancer Institute estimates there were 100,640 new cases of skin melanomas and 8,290 related deaths in the U.S. last year. In 20...

The National Bison Association announced on July 1 the annual kickoff to July Bison Month, encouraging consumers to add this uniquely American, delicious, humanely raised, supremely healthy protein to their regular diets. The population of American bison once exceeded 30 million animals across North...

The decision to move is a very personal choice that is typically reached after considering a number of variables. Career opportunities, a better climate, superior schools or a desire to be closer to family compel millions of people to move each year, and those factors underscore how unique each indi...

One of the Grange’s core values is good stewardship of the earth and resources. Another is enjoying a good potluck. This summer, take the challenge to marry the two by organizing a sustainable potluck. This can be a rewarding way to promote environmentally friendly practices and potentially bring yo...

Thanks to social media and the growing popularity of self-sufficiency, canning and preserving is enjoying a renewal of interest. To me this is amusing because we’ve always been fans of this sort of activity. For over 50 years, Mom was an ambitious preserver of all things grown on our farm (and often...

June being National Dairy Month conjures up all of the delicious foods that we enjoy that fall into the dairy category: cheese, ice cream, whipped cream, cream cheese. The list is extensive – but one of the mainstays in everyone’s kitchen is butter. Butter has an interesting and varied history over ...

Homeowners have many options at their disposal if they want to improve their homes. A focus on the exterior can be a promising and rewarding way to direct renovation dollars. Curb appeal has a significant impact on how a home is viewed. Manicured landscapes, updated windows and doors and well-lit la...

Summer is the unofficial season of vacations, especially for families. School is not in session in summer, and kids’ often busy schedules may grind to a halt in summer, when sports leagues, dance classes and other activities go on hiatus. School closures and a largely empty obligation schedule makes...

On June 21, the USDA’s Forest Service took a step to advance a commitment to conserve old growth forests by publishing a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed National Old Growth Forest Plan amendment. The proposed amendment is available in the Federal Register and will be open for p...

As temperatures rise and hot, humid days are upon us, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture is reminding pet and livestock owners to take action to keep their animals safe this summer. This is also the time of year for extreme weather such as thunderstorms and hurricanes, and celebrations which ...

In an effort to cut both grass and injury rates, the Childhood Agricultural Safety Network (CASN) is launching a national lawn mower safety campaign that asks if youth are “Mow Ready.” Despite improvements in engineering and safety features, pediatric lawn mower-related injury rates have remained co...

This spring, the Seed to Supper program, organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension Madison County, blossomed into a remarkable success, transforming lives and gardens across the community. Over the course of six weeks, around 50 enthusiastic participants gathered at various host sites to learn the ...

Bees are critically important pollinators to support and protect. Along with other insects, bees are essential components of agriculture by pollinating fruits, vegetables and other crops. Pollinator habitat is declining as a result of large-scale agriculture and urbanization. This trend destroys nat...

Vienna sausages are so outdated. You want to give guests to your home something filling and flavorful? Check out the recipe below. Savory Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs Makes about 7 dozen For the meatballs: 1 lb. 80% – 85% lean ground beef 1 lb. ground pork ½ medium onion, peeled and finely minced 2 ...