Books are very popular gifts, no matter what the special occasion is. Genres that run the gamut from fantasy to nonfiction ensure there’s a book out there for everyone. But finding the right gift for a book-loving loved one may not be as easy as it seems. Avid readers may have personal book collecti...

School. The word triggers memories for a lot of us, stress for others. I admit I disliked school. I love learning, still do, but the confines of regimented classes aren’t for me. My favorite class periods were lunch and recess. That’s when I felt a bit of freedom and could find a few minutes to actu...

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners (MOFGA)’s upcoming Farm Training Project (FTP) workshops are designed for apprentices, Journeypeople, farmworkers and other beginning farmers. They follow an informal format including a farm tour and conversation on the topic of the day. All events are free but re...

As Americans prepare to celebrate the last days of summer this Labor Day holiday, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) would like to remind owners of some of the best ways to keep their animals healthy and safe. “When making any holiday plans, it is important not to o...

Whether one places a dollop in tea or drizzles some in a yogurt smoothie, honey is the sweet finish that can make various foods and beverages taste that much better. In fact, honey is perhaps Mother Nature’s most natural sweetener. While honey in any form can provide its share of healthy offerings, ...

Every so often I get the overwhelming urge to organize and de-clutter my house. A few months ago, however, something happened that changed my outlook on not only my annual organizing frenzy but my perception of “clutter.” I was visiting a friend who had lost her husband and she was in the process of...

Water quality is not something people think about all that much, especially in developed nations. Though it can be easy to take water quality for granted in countries with ample regulation and sophisticated filtering systems, there are times when anyone, regardless of where they live, should take st...

Just as summertime is synonymous with concerts and carnivals, autumn is a prime time for its own opportunities for seasonal entertainment, such as harvest festivals. Certain features overlap between summer carnivals and fall festivals, but the latter offers some unique offerings as well. The followi...

Just because we’re in the middle of summer, and produce is already finding its way to the table, that doesn’t mean the time for productive plantings has passed. A number of vegetables grow very well into autumn. In fact, farmers can put plants in until August and enjoy heartily growing vegetables we...