Photo by Audrey Pavia It’s time to give one of my new roosters, Henryfonda, away. When one of my hens hatched three chicks several months ago, despite the odds, I had fingers crossed they’d all be hens. I ended up with two roosters and only one hen. When I first got chickens, I wanted just […]

Porcini mushrooms are fairly easy to cultivate and harvest.
Photo by Judith Hausman Homemade chicken broth, combined with the sweet flavors of cabbages and potatoes, makes this easy soup perfect for a chilly fall evening. I’m back from my travels this week, and part of settling into home routines is returning to the stove. The season turned definitively to autumn while I was gone: […]
Photo by Audrey Pavia My little, hurt hen (Lola) wasn’t too mangled when re-introduced to the flock after recuperating. One morning, about a month ago, Lola, one of my young hens, came out of the coop hopping on one leg. She was easy to catch, and I put her in a crate and took her […]
Photo courtesy StockbyteThinkstock Recyclebank rewards Long Beach, Calif., residents for their recycling efforts. The City of Long Beach, Calif., recently became the largest city in the state to reward its residents for their recycling efforts. Through the city’s new partnership with Recyclebank, local business and brands throughout the city are offering discounts and deals to green-minded residents. […]
Photo by Judith Hausman The tartness of the plums pairs nicely with the richness of the pastry. A simple butter cake or tart topped with glistening, blue plum slices may be the dessert I like best; well, maybe it’s a tie with an apple pie. While I’ve also made great jam and liqueur from Italian plums, […]

Husk tomatoes are basically a wild species -- and they're easy to grow.