As the holidays approach, many people mull over gift selection. Giving someone food is a thoughtful and kind gesture. Giving someone food poisoning? Not so much. To help gift-givers spread holiday cheer rather than foodborne illness, Martin Bucknavage, senior food safety Extension associate in Penn ...

With the holidays right around the corner, all the holiday festivities, parties, decorations, visitors and deliveries, we don’t realize that there can be unforeseen dangers lurking in the shadows for our pets. This time of year I become a more avid online shopper, which means more deliveries to my h...

My father and grandfather were some of the hardest-working, Bible-believing people I knew. My grandfather raised a family of four kids, and together with his wife they ran a small farm (110 acres), with some help from my grandmother working at Beech Nut Foods in Canajoharie, NY, when the kids became...

In addition to all of the photos being shared of happy families reuniting for Thanksgiving this year, my social media feeds were full of another kind of image. Across much of the Northeast, many of my friends received their first few inches of the white stuff. Some were filled with wintry glee at th...

Are you always hoping for that perfect holiday meal, be it the golden-brown turkey, moist and tender, or the rolls hot from the oven ready just as everyone is sitting down, or the table set just so? In my many years of hosting holiday dinners I confess it’s never happened. My potatoes are mashed and...

November 18 is National Rural Health Day. Here, new mom Christina shares her thoughts on the subject. Like many who grew up on a farm, I am passionate about agriculture and have a strong desire to share it with the next generation. I spent my childhood frolicking around the farm with my sisters, cud...

Little did I know the tradition of raising a “one-day” dairy barn is what I needed right now, as it speaks to that beautiful process of humans actually working equally together to build community. For a country boy, especially this one, getting another invitation to an old-fashioned barn raising is ...

From pumpkin spice lattes to harvest-themed front porches, pumpkins are an iconic staple for autumn. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Serviceexperts have some tips on how to use these popular gourds in and around your home. Odessa Keenan, AgriLife Extension program coordinator for the agency’s Dinner To...

Growing up, my grandmother’s upstairs sewing room was a source of fascination. The room was bursting at the seams with vivid colors of fabrics, the mesmerizing patterns and miles of thread that would hold my attention – until Grandma would lift me up on her lap and we would begin to design and creat...

I have five dogs that are my world. They range in age from 13 years old to six months old. With all the recalls on dog food, I decided a few years ago to either cook my dogs their own food or feed them a raw food diet. This way I know what’s in their food and the grade of ingredients used. I feel it...

For the most part, we’ve had a relatively warm October. Don’t let that lull you into a false sense of cozy security. Much colder temperatures are on the way, and with that comes the yearly game of chicken many of us play – how long can we realistically go before we have to turn on the furnace? If yo...

Today is National Mushroom Day, and with that in mind, we share this intriguing news from Penn State. Mushrooms have been making headlines due to their many health advantages. Not only do they lower one’s risk of cancer and premature deathbut new research led by Penn State College of Medicine also r...

Every year on Oct. 12, the U.S. celebrates those who keep this country fed and running: its farmers. Formerly known as Old Farmers Day, the day is now National Farmers Day. Editor Courtney’s great-grandfather Irving Pett Farmers set an example with their endless hard work. They provide the food we e...

The importance of farm chore traditions and food preparation for kids Including your kids in the process of homesteading, farming and growing food for your family leaves an indelible mark on them. If you had asked me at age of 7 or 8 my thoughts on the matter, I probably couldn’t be bothered. They w...

If you don’t grow your own, you can find an orchard near you through your county or region’s tourism site. September is known for a lot of things, with “back-to-school” generally getting most of the attention, but it’s also a great harvest month for a lot of tasty produce. The first harvest we’ll be...