Mr. Tidwell was our mail carrier for over 20 years. He drove a red and white El Camino. You could set your clock by his arrival on mail days – 11:10 a.m. He never varied more than five minutes either way. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I discovered that his punctuality stemmed from devotion t...

UConn Extension is now accepting registrations for its “Fundamentals of Home Gardening” online course, designed for beginner and intermediate gardeners who want to build strong foundational skills for successful home and community gardening. The self-paced, multi-module program covers essential topi...

Protein bars are a convenient energy booster that’s easy to carry. That portability makes protein bars a go-to for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy activities like hiking that burn lots of calories. Though it’s easy to pick up a protein bar at the store, it’s also possible to make your own at home. Any...

USDA’s “I Protect Pigs” photo contest is back and now accepting entries. Brought to you by USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), this contest promotes the importance of good biosecurity behaviors to protect pigs from devastating diseases like African swine fever (ASF). We’re invit...

Invasive species and climate change are considered the two largest threats to biodiversity, ecosystem function and human health. These two complex issues are interrelated and form a self-reinforcing “feedback loop” where each factor accelerates the other. Climate change creates habitat for invasive ...

A hot breakfast can be just what the doctor ordered on weekends. Weekday mornings might be too hectic to whip up a hot breakfast, but that’s often not the case come Saturday and Sunday. For those with time to cook breakfast over the weekend, this recipe for a “Peasant Omelet” from Lines+Angles is de...

Real love can be found almost anywhere and in any era. Every February, thoughts turn to love, flowers, candy hearts and sugary sweet cards. Even though Valentine’s Day has been around for centuries, it’s only recently become the extravagant celebration it is today. You can blame ingenuity and the ir...

Modern children are not getting enough daily physical activity. So says a 2024 report from the Physical Activity Alliance, a coalition that works to promote regular participation in physical activity. Researchers behind the report utilized data from the National Survey of Children’s Health and Natio...

Starting garden plants from seeds indoors can be an enjoyable project for any gardener. It’s a relatively inexpensive way to grow a wide variety of plants. Many garden favorites are found in a greater variety of colors, sizes and growth habits as seeds rather than as started plants. Sowing Seeds Sow...