Do you have a shady garden? I do. While it’s not full shade, the lovely Japanese maple tree in my yard gives us dappled sunshine for most of the day. Combine that with the big cedar tree behind our house, and we have a fair bit of shade. While we love the location of […]
Grow a Licorice Garden: Black Licorice Flavored Plants
Who loves licorice? I do! I do! Ever since I was a child, chewing on my parents’ fennel bushes, I’ve been enchanted by the sweet flavor of black licorice. It seems that this flavor is very much a matter of personal taste: some love it, others can’t stand it. I’m in the first club. Cilantro, […]
Seed Saving: Plant a Seedy Garden This Year
What’s all of this talk about gardening? Didn’t it just turn into winter? Well, a gardener’s work is never done. When we’re not out in the garden, we’re inside the house plotting and planning. At this time of the year, our thoughts turn to seeds and plans for the new year’s garden. If you’re […]
Growing Up: A Review of Vertical Vegetable Gardening
I have a tiny garden. While I’m rather proud that it contains 57 plant species, mostly edible (yes, I’ve counted), it’s still really small. It’s somewhat shady, too. All of this means that I need to be very creative when I’m gardening, and Chris McLaughlin’s latest book on vertical gardening will help me do just […]
The World’s Best Chocolate Fudge Cake in a Jar
I like cake. Who doesn’t? And this is the most delicious cake ever. I got this recipe from my great aunt, and it’s in the part of my homemade cookbook that is stained and covered with flour. Funny how it’s mostly the cookie and cake section that looks like that. For Christmas, for birthdays, or […]
Crafting Animals From Toilet Paper Rolls
We all probably know a crafty sort of person who can make something from nothing. Give them a piece of paper and half an hour, and they’ll build an authentic replica of a castle. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. That’s why I look for simple crafts that use everyday objects. These toilet […]
Growing Raspberries in Your Garden: The Delicious Jam Berry
Slip them into a smoothie or make them into jam: raspberries are one of the delights of summer. My favorite way to eat raspberries is to pick them and eat them straight from the bush on a warm summer’s day. Why Eat Raspberries? Raspberries are a lower-carbohydrate fruit. They’re also high in fiber. All of […]
The Boisterous Blueberry: Growing Blueberries in the Home Garden
Blueberries are sometimes a quiet fruit. These little gems can be packed full of gentle sweetness, or they can feature a boisterous sweet-tart taste that makes you pucker your lips and smile. If you love blueberries, you’re not alone. They rank up there with my all time favorite fruits. Why Eat Blueberries Blueberries are a […]
Mint: A Delicious, Refreshing Herb That’s Easy to Grow
You may know it as the toothpaste herb, but mint is a lot more than a flavor for your mouthwash, lozenge, or toothpaste. Its fresh smell and taste add a lovely flavor to salads, smoothies, meat, and tea. Mint is very easy to grow. In fact, it grows so well that you may soon […]
Craft a Sweet Hand-Dyed Silk Crown
Fairies and princesses, silk and glorious color: what could be a better choice for a child’s birthday gift or loot bag goodie? These hand-dyed crowns are so easy to make, and the kids can help too! Get a spool of silk ribbon. The ribbon should be pure white if at all possible. I like Habotai […]
Homemade Fairy Party – Loot Bag Favors
Have the fairies been visiting your house lately? If you’re expecting a visit from the wee winged creatures, you might want to stock up on some fairy supplies. After all, you wouldn’t want to make a fairy cry, would you? In all seriousness, if you’re going to host a birthday party and […]
The Fairy Garden: A Magical Birthday Gift
Fairies, fairies: everywhere you look, you see fairy wings and fairy crowns and books and more books about the wee creatures. Children are fascinated with the idea of fairyland. If you’re looking for the perfect birthday gift for a special child who’s entranced by the fairy realm, why not make them their very own miniature […]
