Depending on where you live, your fall fairs may take place before school starts or after school starts. For me, the annual family visit to the Herkimer County Fair always signified one more week of freedom before another school year. But fairs are far more important than simply being a way for chil...

The magic of secondhand treasures, the practicality of thrifting your wardrobe and the importance of sustainable fashion When I write, I tend to veer into nostalgia quite a lot. While that can easily become weary and overdrawn, I just can’t help it. I didn’t have a perfect childhood (who does? and m...

August. Summer is in full tilt, while simultaneously slowly fading into the early parts of autumn. This time of year can produce some good days of fishing, and for those willing to bear the heat, produce exceptional results. Bass fishing is an art as much as a skill, but knowing where to target is b...

The U.S. has one of the safest water supplies in the world. Over 90% of Americans get their tap water from community water systems, which are subject to safe drinking water standards. The other 10% includes water from private wells, which a lot of rural homeowners depend on for their water needs. Dr...

August may induce a little anxiety for the kids who live for summer vacation, but that can be eased by taking advantage of what has been designated Family Fun Month. There are still lots of fun summer activities to take advantage of until the school buses show up again. Hiking is always a good optio...

Hobbies can bring people together, which makes them an ideal outlet for families who want to spend more time with one another. Families on the lookout for hobbies they can enjoy together can consider the following activities. Hiking : Hiking is a family-friendly activity that’s free and ideal for in...

Farming and hunting often go hand in hand. Agricultural land that offers food, water and shelter for wildlife is considered prime real estate for hunting. Farmers and other rural landowners routinely grant hunters access to portions of their land through lease agreements. Creating hunting lease agre...

After a good night’s sleep and breakfast we left Newark only to have another flat. The old tube my son had in his pack suffered from age and storage. Fortunately, experience and the right tools made it a quick job and we were back on the bikes. The lock at Lyons caught my eye. This was not just a lo...

Ogden Nash’s book “The Animal Garden,” published in 1965, is a chuckle to read. The rhyming verse and amusing illustrations tell an upbeat story about a family living in a home where no pets are allowed because the parents suffer from allergies. Roy and Joy try to convince their parents to let them ...

As our intrepid team member Dan made his way across New York State on the Erie Canalway path by bike, we thought about other ways people can explore their beautiful natural surroundings. Viewing the landscape by water is also a great way to explore, especially with the rivers, creeks and lakes that ...

I am a rider. Learning to ride a bike was a big step in growing my childhood boundaries and adventures. Once I proved myself to be road ready, the doors to freedom opened and I rode. To friends, to the store, to a job, anywhere I wanted to go.From my first wobbly ride down the driveway to my current...

Pickles! If you’re a word nerd like me, occasionally you find yourself over at the Online Etymology Dictionary , where you can you look up the origins of words. Since we’re talking pickles today, I thought I’d share with you the history of “pickle”: “c. 1400, ‘spiced sauce served with meat or fowl’ ...

With higher temperatures and more frequent droughts occurring, rainwater harvesting is something nearly everyone can do to make the most of the moisture they get. Many homeowners erroneously think that if they live in an area with little rainfall, it’s not worth trying to catch for use later. “Infre...

June is National Pollinator Month, making it the perfect time for kids to learn about pollinators, the key role they play in ecosystem and garden health and why we should care about their well-being. KidsGardening.org , a national nonprofit and leader in the youth gardening movement in conjunction w...

Q: I’ve got a fridge full of food and our power went out for several hours due to severe storms. Is there any food that can be saved, or do I have to throw everything out of our fridge due to spoilage? A: It’s that time of year when severe weather can leave consumers without power for a few minutes ...