There is a running joke in pop culture about the average American (outside of certain immigrant and minority communities) not knowing how to properly to utilize spices and seasonings. Take an app like TikTok – there are pages and pages of videos with Black and Hispanic moms, grandmothers and aunts r...

Rest is a fundamental human need. Sleep, sure. But sometimes that just looks like needing a break from our daily routine and an opportunity for relaxation and fun away from our normal schedule and surroundings. The farming and homesteading crowd are no different. The demand of a busy schedule someti...

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...

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...

A brief history of the gingerbread house and finding a holiday’s sense of home in a Christmas tradition Gingerbread houses are a holiday staple in my house. We didn’t quite get the memo the first year we tried it – you know, to use actual gingerbread? There were five of us kids, early elementary to ...

There was a saying back in the ‘80s – “real men don’t eat quiche” – that was provoked by American screenwriter and humorist Bruce Feirstein, who questioned one’s masculinity if you ate the French tart. Political incorrectness aside, my morning “pie” is a staple for a busy grab-and-go farmer while be...

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...

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...

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...