Winter is here, and if your electricity goes out due to snow and ice, a generator can keep power flowing to your home or business. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) , an international trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of outdoor power equipment, small engines, bat...

Much is said about self-sufficiency when it comes to growing your own food, whether that’s fruits and vegetables or livestock for meat. But there’s another important part of our diet that can’t be overlooked: beverages (and specifically, alcoholic ones). If you imbibe, you know there’s nothing sweet...

Phlox is a wide-ranging North American native perennial and a common fixture in woodland, prairie and meadow landscapes. Phlox are an easy-to-find wildflower stretching from Florida and Quebec to Alaska. One of the classic American perennials, this was one of the earliest North American natives to e...

There’s nothing quite like the “silence” of nature. If you can find the right spot, you won’t hear any cars, any trains, any planes … or any cell phones chirping at you. You will hear babbling brooks and birds chirping and squirrels chittering. You will hopefully feel a little peace. June is Great O...

Peperomias have been sold as houseplants since the 1930s.For decades, there were only a handful of varieties to choose from, but with their new popularity and ease of growth, many additional varieties have come to market. The many types of peperomia can range from bushy to trailing, upright or casca...

One of the more interesting aspects of living in the country is discovering old cemeteries. Places where religious groups used to gather, family plots on land that has long since passed to others, spaces in centuries-old communities that have both crumbling granite and shiny new marble – these can b...

Today, we are fortunate enough to have quality cameras just sitting in our pockets (or, let’s be honest, never leaving our hands). That makes May, National Photography Month, even more exciting, since we can snap pretty pictures basically all the time. Officially recognized by Congress in 1987, Nati...

In 2005, United Poultry Concerns launched International Respect for Chickens Day to “celebrate chickens throughout the world and protest the bleakness of their lives in farming operations.” The thought was to do an action for chickens. Ideas they suggest include letter writing, handing out leaflets,...

Do you want to get in some good cardio exercise without going nowhere fast on a treadmill or hurting your aching knees? Do you want to see more of your region in the fresh air, not from behind the window in a car? Get on your bikes and ride! May is National Bike Month, and this week, May 16 – 22, is...

May is National Beef Month, and it almost seems like the month was made to celebrate this protein. Between taking Mom out for a fancy steak dinner, finally firing up the grills as spring warms up and graduation parties for certain regions, May is made for beef. The good news is, as a homesteader or ...

Growing flowers, vegetables and berries for eating is fun and nourishing, but what about growing them to make colorful dyes? Natural pigments in these can be harnessed to dye fiber or fabric. Indigenous people throughout history and across the globe have made pigments out of plants and minerals, add...

Oneida County, NY, Sheriff Robert Maciol, who was joined by numerous officials, held an on-the-farm press conference to urge motorists to watch for slow-moving agriculture vehicles and to remind farmers of their responsibilities when operating farm equipment on the public roads. The event was gracio...

Spring is for the birds! This is the time of year when migratory birds who have been vacationing in their tropical homes fly north to their annual breeding grounds. They are busy building nests, finding mates, and populating our bird feeders. It is prime bird-watching season. There are many ways to ...

In late 2020, Canadian doctors made headlines for “ prescribing nature ,” or recommended time outdoors based on research that suggests people who spent two or more hours in nature per week improved their health and wellbeing. Knowing this, transdisciplinary researchers from Drexel University investi...

I live for a wide, open view of the world. That’s why I love the ocean so much – and deep valleys, and high mountaintops (my fear of heights would make me falter, but the majesty of it all takes your breath away). It’s a beautiful thing to stand, your feet planted firmly and connected and grounded w...