The majority of Americans don’t think about how water reaches their faucet. Water comes from the tap, right? A surprising number of Americans seem to think so, according to the results of a new poll conducted by The Nature Conservancy. In March, independent researchers polled 961 Americans over the age of 18 and reported that […]
Photo by Rick Gush This week, I got to try out my new curved surform—a tool to create pieces for my Adirondack chairs. I’ve got several projects going at the moment: building a pair of Adirondack chairs, starting spring garden work and prepping my next art project. All of these activities require excessive and repeated tool […]
Residents in Polk County, Iowa, traded in their gas-powered lawn mowers for a more eco-friendly option.
Courtesy Karen Spirer Try this yummy Sweet-and-Savory Spring Salad (recipe below) from Chef Karen Spirer, who teaches workshops with Skills Off the Grid. Have you ever wanted to learn to make kombucha or kefir at home? Do you need to know a little more about beekeeping before you commit to your own hives? Do you […]
I remember the first time I saw her. She was a little gray ball of fuzz, no bigger than a mouse.
Courtesy Hemera/Thinkstock The solar industry aims to power 2 million U.S. homes by 2015. Solar was a bright spot in the U.S. economy in 2010 as the fastest-growing energy sector.The U.S. solar-energy industry’s total market value grew 67 percent from $3.6 billion in 2009 to $6 billion in 2010, according to the U.S. Solar Market […]
I have neighbors whose garden adjoins ours at the top of the cliff in a narrow area that was a neighborhood refuse pile before I converted it into part of our garden.
The rooftop growing efforts of young urban farmers and their communities are impressive.
Courtesy Hemera/Thinkstock By planting more native plants in their home gardens, residents can help mitigate stormwater runoff that pollutes the Chesapeake Bay. From their backyards to the Bay, homeowners in Richmond, Va., Baltimore, the D.C. Metro area and the Hampton Roads region are joining an environmental-awareness campaign that aims to grow some good. The Plant More […]
Courtesy Hemera/Thinkstock Use wire mesh to keep wild rabbits from enjoying a lunch from your garden. As you begin to salivate over the luscious tomatoes and crispy peppers you’ll soon have growing in your garden, think about how you can get the fruits of your labor to the dinner table unblemished. While starting plants from seed […]
Finally! I put the first tomato plants in the ground yesterday. By my calculations, I’m about a month behind my usual planting schedule.
