If you’re a gardener, you’ve already seen the decline in bees, and maybe even experienced a resulting decrease in crop yield.
Maybe you’ve even resorted to hand pollination, as I’ve had to on a few occasions.
So I’ve become all about the bees, as witnessed by this wasps nest.
You can learn more about why I left them alone in this post which talks about the benefits of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets.
And letting our lawn go … Read More
At a time when life’s uncertainties abound, I am reminded of the strength and healing of nature through the imagery in this poem.
… Read MoreWhen despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of
Happy days are here again! Nothing blows off the winter doldrums like getting my Bakers Creek Heirloom Seed Catalog. Because I grow organically and save my own seeds, I especially love these guys.
They offer one of the largest selections of 19th-century heirloom seeds from Europe and Asia. So if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary—and sustainable, look no further.
From their website: At Baker Creek, our mission is to provide the seeds of a sustainable food … Read More
When the temps start fluctuating, I can count on hearing the ice on my pond sing. I don’t know why, but I seem to be the only one who ever hears it. It doesn’t happen all the time. It doesn’t even happen often. But when it does, it’s magical.
To hear what my pond sounds like to me, listen at 00:40 seconds.
… Read MoreIt’s mid-September and, by the looks of it, my summer garden has been a huge success and looks to be still going strong.
In one way it has been. Just not in the way I would have wished. Because of all the rain we’ve had this summer, I got lots and lots of foliage. But not so much in the way of actual veggies.
While “lush” is pretty, you can’t eat it.… Read More
We have a live and let live policy when it comes to critters around here—and we have LOTS of every kind imaginable. I’ve found that on the whole, coexistence works best. Especially when it comes to the outdoors, which is their home.
So it was no surprise that a recent visitor was aghast that we’ve allowed this bees nest to get so big. Ok, huge. What were we thinking?! Especially since this is a hornet nest and they are considered … Read More
Longtime readers of this blog know that there has been a fair amount of animal loss over the last few years. Wink is our last man standing. And when it’s his time to join his animal family on the other side, I’m not sure I will be ready to go right back to adding more animals.
It’s been decades and decades since I’ve lived without animals. While the joy they’ve provided me is immeasurable, I think I want to have … Read More
There’s a trick to getting not-soggy, not chewy, but perfectly CRISP kale chips every time. And I’m going to share 2 of my secrets to ensure your success. But first the recipe!
1. Start with a bunch or two of kale and rinse well. (As it so happens, I have several bunches from the garden that need using.)
2. Use a salad spinner to dry well. [SECRET #1: You need to start with very dry kale pieces—moisture contributes to sogginess.]… Read More
