Heavy rainfall followed by flooding in early July had a devastating impact on communities throughout the Northeast. Not only were buildings, roadways and bridges damaged, but vegetable gardens were impacted as well, leading many home and community gardeners to ask “Are my vegetables, berries and edi...

Storms can strike at any time, so having the right outdoor power equipment on hand and keeping safety in mind is important, says the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). Home and business owners should think ahead before foul weather or a power outage occurs. “Any season can be storm season,” s...

Many gardeners may start to see spots appearing on the lower leaves of their tomato plants. The two common fungal diseases of tomatoes, early blight ( Alternaria solani ) and Septoria leaf spot ( Septoria lycopersici ), typically show up every summer in early July. Early blight symptoms appear as sm...

Camping can be one of the cheapest ways to travel. Yet a relatively new style of camping is proliferating – by some metrics – and it’s glamping. Glamping is a fusion of luxury and nature, where tents are filled with plush pillows, and some even have private bathrooms with heated, running water. Camp...

Remember that song “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65? The one you couldn’t escape in the summer of 1999? (I’m sure if you know it that it’s stuck in your head now. I apologize.) All day and all night and everything the protagonist of the song sees is blue – and that’s the color of the berries we’re ce...

It’s no accident that a person who dominates those around him is often called the “cock of the walk.” The same aggressiveness that makes roosters the effective leaders and protectors of the henhouse can also make them a pain in the butt, often intimidating not just the flock but their poultry farmer...

Drying herbs from your garden is a satisfying, fun way to enjoy the bright flavors of summer throughout the year. You can preserve your herbs by drying them with tools you already have at home. There are three go-to methods for drying herbs at home – air drying, oven drying and drying in the dehydra...

The beginning of July means that sour cherry season is almost here! Sour cherries are bright red, jeweled fruits that are exceptionally tart and acidic, yet delicious when made into jams, jellies, syrups, ice creams and baked goods. When ripe, the juicy fruit practically falls off the tree into your...

Fireflies evoke a feeling of magic and wonder; elegant blobs of light dancing and blinking in the summer night. Everything about fireflies hearkens back to a time long past. Imagine living on Earth 75 – 130 million years ago. Dinosaurs tromping and roaming. The air is hot and humid. There are no car...