While you don’t need a lot of experience or land to successfully raise a backyard chicken flock, you do need one key ingredient. “You’ve got to really love the process,” emphasized Lori Clark, a Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H youth development agent in Stafford County who cares for 12 egg-laying...

If attracting more deer, turkey and quail – or even just watching a healthier variety of wildlife – is on your radar this season, now’s the time to get started. Autumn isn’t just harvest season; it’s a golden window to enhance your land’s habitat so it supports the wildlife you love for years to com...

There are few things as refreshing on a hot summer day as a slice of watermelon. At over 90% water, watermelons are a tasty way to keep hydrated with an added bonus of vitamins and minerals. If you’d like to try your hand at growing your own watermelon, you’ll need a location with rich, well-drainin...

There are a couple of famous Mulberry Streets. There’s Mulberry Street in New York City, famous for its historical significance as the heart of Little Italy and its connection to Italian-American culture. There’s a Mulberry Street that’s known as the inspiration for Dr. Seuss’s first book, “And To T...

Are you looking for a low-labor, chemical-free method to help eradicate weeds and soil-residing pests in the garden? Solarization and occultation, often referred to as “tarping,” may be just what you’re looking for. Simply put, tarping covers the soil with plastic, clear or opaque, depending on whic...

b C by Courtney Llewellyn Ll ll The same way humans need vegetables to survive, growers need bees for their operations to thrive. In light of that, a team from Michigan State University Extension put together a Pollinator Stewardship Guide to help us help our six-legged friends. Ana Heck, Ron Goldy,...

Fresh air and sunshine can do wonders for the body and even the soul. People realize this, which is why outdoor activity is encouraged. Staying indoors all the time can quickly sap energy levels and diminish mood. What is good for human beings also may be good for pets – within reason, of course. Do...

by Enrico Villamaino Take heed, farmers and ag workers: May marks National Melanoma/ Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month. Farmers are among the most sun-exposed professionals, often working outdoors during peak sunlight hours. According to Dr. Vingh Chung, a dermatologist specializing in the di...

Father’s Day celebrations began on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. However, it wasn’t until 1972 that a day honoring fathers became a national holiday. Since then, children have been trying to cgure out how they can show their dads and other father cgures in their lives just how much they...