If you live in North America, every autumn you’ll soon have more pumpkins around than you know what to do with. They’ll be at every grocery store, every one of your neighbors will have them you’ll probably even have some of your own. What to do with all these pumpkins? How about feeding them to … Read more
We’ve all been there. You’re sitting there in your backyard, the middle of summer time, enjoying a cool and delicious ice cream cone. Life is good. But then you notice one of your chickens staring at you with a sorrowful expression. Perhaps, you think, your chicken would like some ice cream and you start to … Read more
If you have chickens, you know that they generally live day in and day out eating dry, hard chicken feed. They would probably appreciate a treat, but anything that you treat your chickens should still be wholesome and nutritious. How about fruit? Can chickens eat fruit? Yes, generally speaking, chickens can have all kinds of … Read more
Kale. Love it or hate it, there is no doubt you have heard of it by now. This cabbage cultivar is famed for its excellent nutritional payload, but reviled by some because of its tough, bitter and chewy texture. Whether you like it or you don’t, what we need to know is whether or not … Read more
Before you read any further, I am not nuts! You will love using this tea… for your plants! That is to say, we are talking about eggshell fertilizer tea. Eggshells are often used for the sharp edges to keep snails out of gardens, but this humble kitchen scrap is worth much more than just a … Read more
As gardeners, we all want to keep our gardens looking great for as long as possible. But for older gardeners, that task can be a little more difficult. Older adults may have difficulty bending down or reaching up, and they may tire easily. In addition, they may be susceptible to health problems such as arthritis … Read more
The question of whether or not we should use excluders in our beehives is as old as time. Many beekeepers say that using an excluder can cause honey production to come to a grinding halt, they are prone to calling them honey excluders because they believe the bees are not producing as much honey as … Read more
If you are going to grow a healthy garden, mulch is absolutely essential. Up until this year, I’ve always been hesitant to use wood chips as mulch in the garden. I use a combination of cardboard and hay or straw to keep weeds down, and help the soil retain moisture. Although this has worked well … Read more
Wheat berries are turning into a sensation here lately. People are in love with the things for their combination of excellent nutrition and low calories. But is sprouting them only good for making them more edible? If they sprout, that indicates they are ready to grow. Can you sprout and plant wheat berries to start … Read more
If you’ve been paying any attention to health food circles these past few years, you have probably noticed the next big craze in superfoods: wheat berries. Wheat berries are touted as nutritionally dense, low in calories, and most importantly tasty. But what exactly is a wheat berry? Wheat berries are the whole kernel of wheat, … Read more
Depending on who you ask, goldenrod is either a beautiful, shimmering sight growing in waves across a field, or an unholy menace that chokes out other plants and causes rampant allergies when it blooms, which is often and for a long time. This is certainly one of the more divisive wild plants out there, and … Read more
Chickens are probably the least-picky animals you can own. They eat almost anything, from fruits and veggies to meat and insects. These avian omnivores want it all, and seem especially keen to get any leftover veggies or vegetable scraps from their owners, even things you might not like! So, how about brussels sprouts? Can chickens … Read more
Every chicken owner knows that their precious birds are wide-ranging and adventurous eaters, and they seem to enjoy a very diet that includes both fresh and prepared foods. Every chicken keeper that also has a garden has likely already encountered the exasperation that occurs when chickens break in and start nibbling on your herbs and … Read more
Air fresheners are a frequent addition to our monthly groceries and, while they aren’t horribly expensive, the purchases do add up significantly. Additionally, the scents are often overdone and they never last more than a minute or so. It doesn’t help that there are apparently chemicals in these commonly bought items which affect reproductive development. … Read more
Left to their own devices, chickens will eat all sorts of things. Some of their favorite foods are plants. Veggies, fruit, leaves, seeds, roots, and more: there are very few that don’t wind up on a chicken’s menu! Naturally, caring owners like to supplement the diet of their chickens with whole, fresh inclusions from their … Read more
Even the most ornery chicken is rarely thought of as being truly dangerous. After all, these little birds are mainly just a source of meat, eggs, and occasionally entertainment. There is hardly an adult human that could be threatened by your average chicken. That being said, some breeds are anything but average. Some chickens are … Read more