For some, March is the month of turbulent spring weather. Remember that old saying, “In like a lion, our like a lamb”? But for those who can embrace those shifting temperatures, the payoff is sweet. March is International Maple Month in the U.S. and Canada. Maple sugaring season usually begins in th...

Spring is coming and homeowners are eager to get outside and spruce up their yards. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing outdoor power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and supplier...

There’s nothing quite like the satisfying crunch of biting into the hearty crust of a slice of homemade bread. As a certified “foodie” and amateur cook, I’m all about trying new things – new recipes. Everyone’s experience with bread varies: perhaps you are an experienced bread maker, with hands that...

Spring is just around the corner. With its arrival, bluebirds will be returning north from their winter migration to the southeastern U.S. and Mexico. If you’re lucky, they’ll pay a visit to your yard. While bluebirds likely won’t be dining at your bird feeder (they prefer insects and berries), one ...

Years ago, my sisters and I took Dad to see the New England fall foliage, something he had always wanted to do. Dad did great on the trip, even though he was 90 years old at the time. During the 10-day adventure, we stayed at several delightful bed & breakfast venues, but our hands-down favorite was...

Those in New Orleans like to boast that when it comes to Mardi Gras, “everywhere else, it’s just Tuesday.” And that is true for a vast majority of the United States. Chickens still need to be fed; children still need to go to school. But that doesn’t mean you can’t laissez les bon temps roulez in yo...

“Adopt don’t shop” is a mantra utilized by many organizations devoted to finding loving homes for shelter animals. With thousands of dogs, cats and other companion animals residing in shelters or being fostered until they can find their forever homes, rescue organizations urge the pet-loving public ...

“I just want good products for my homestead that will last. I am tired of cheaply built products that are built to be cheap but only last for a year or so, and sometimes not even that long. I wish I could connect with some small family shop who makes products like they used to.” If that sounds like ...

When the time came to replace the friendly neighborhood traffic cop, the go-to design in 1926 was the dummy light. Standing sentinel in the intersection of town square, this small-town traffic light took center stage during the industrial revolution leading up to World War II and was the go-to desig...

American Heart Month is in February – as is National Barley Month – and Ground Up is on a mission to share the heart-healthy qualities of barley flour with bakers and diners everywhere. Barley, an often-overlooked grain for bakers, is officially recognized by the FDA for its high soluble fiber conte...

When working in their sugarbush this winter, maple producers are encouraged to be on the lookout for signs of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). This wood-boring insect, native to southeast Asia, will kill many hardwood trees. However, its preferred host is the beloved maple. This highly destructive...

If asked to describe the favored foods of Valentine’s Day in a single word, “decadent” might prove the most apt descriptor. Foodies and non-foodies alike recognize that Valentine’s Day and chocolate are intertwined, making the day an ideal time to indulge in something rich. This Valentine’s Day, cou...

Everyone is familiar with Valentine’s Day (and know that the go-to sweet on Feb. 14 is chocolate). But there’s another day (and another way) to show your loved ones you care. January 25 is St. Dwynwen’s Day. St. Dwynwen was a fourth century Welsh princess who was rather unlucky in love, so she becam...

For some people, hot sauce is a hard no. For others, it’s a risky adventure. Yes, the taste up front may be thrilling, but then you end up reaching for a glass of milk and a tissue to dab your leaking tear ducts. Hot sauce does more than burn (in both good and bad ways). It’s a way to use some of th...

My grandmother loved seed catalogs. She would spend hours poring over the brightly colored pages, hunched next to her big white stove with the door propped open to warm her hands. She would debate the qualities of the vegetables pictured and ask her frequent drop-in visitors their opinion of a parti...