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...

With the nice weather approaching us, not only do we humans want to be outside more but so do our pets. Along with that comes some dangers that can affect our pets while being outside – some more obvious dangers than others. First and foremost, make sure they always have plenty of fresh and clean wa...

By now, even if you don’t practice composting, you know what it is and how it works. Compost itself is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. Food scraps and yard waste together currently make up more than 30% of what we throw away, and could be composted instead, according ...

As April focuses on gardening with kids, it makes me think about the fun my sisters and I have with houseplants and perennials. I come from a long line of gardeners, some from necessity, some for the beauty and healing qualities of gardening. My maternal grandmother was an avid gardener and had a sp...

Individualized coaching coupled with an app for tracking could help families greatly reduce some types of food waste, in turn helping combat climate change. That’s a finding from a recent study co-led by Brian Roe, holder of the Fred N. VanBuren Professorship in Farm Management at the Ohio State Uni...

April is Kids Garden Month and what better time to share your love of gardening with a child? From learning what it takes to grow your food to spending time with family to encouraging a child’s curiosity, gardening has many benefits. Starting with small projects based on your child’s age, ability an...

Not sure of Mother Nature’s motive in delivering some spring snow during “March Madness,” but I appreciate opening the door and getting a delectable whiff of onions simmering. It can only mean one thing – French onion soup is in my future. In a seemingly daily ritual of asking the computer random fa...

I’ve been around sewing since I was a child. I come from working class and farm stock – being able to sew was a part of life for my grandmothers, great-aunts and beyond, as it was for so many others of a bygone era. My great-aunt was a product of the Depression, a time where resources were tight and...

With more than 98% of Americans having little to no direct connection to farming or ranching, now, more than ever, there’s a need and opportunity for the agriculture community to tell its story. In honor of National Ag Day, the New York Beef Council is sharing one story of a New York beef producer w...

In the north, we have a few options for natural sweeteners. We have maple products that we can make in spring; we have sugar beets; and we have honey. Harvesting honey is about more than just the sweet, sticky gold stuff, though. It’s about properly taking care of some of the most important organism...