What is it? Wednesday
Tobacco Hornworm and Braconid Wasps Fast Fact Cotesia congregata are important biological control agents of about a dozen moth species in two families (Sphingidae and Noctuidae). Life Cycle An adult...
Category: In the Garden
Cover Crops for the Fall
Planning to leave the vegetable garden fallow this fall? If you take the time to plant a cover crop instead, you will reap the benefits later. In general, cover crops protect the soil from erosion,...
Tired of eating squash? Consider donating to a local food ministry
If you are anything like me, this is the time of year when you never want to eat another squash or zucchini again. I feel like Bubba from Forrest Gump when describing the many ways I have eaten...
What’s this stuff in my stream!?
“There’s orange water coming up through the ground!” said the homeowner who called me last week, wondering what kind of contaminant had made its way into her yard. If you’ve ever come across this...
Monarda (Bee balm)
Our family now has a new favorite garden perennial plant. Ever since our ‘Jacob Cline’ Monarda (Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’) came into bloom, it has been the most gorgeous flower we have tried in...
Toad Lily
Toad lilies (Tricyrtis hirta) bloom from September to October and have small, lily-like white to pale lilac flowers with heavy purple to maroon spots. They prefer evenly moist, well-drained,...
Somewhere Down in the Pawpaw Patch
When I was growing up in S.C., we kids played outdoors, most days. The weather didn’t matter; I was all about being outside – running, biking, swimming, climbing trees, and exploring. I’ve...
Jumpstart Healthy Behavior Change
If healthy behavior changes were easy, you would not have clicked this post in hopes of finding a quick solution to becoming a better version of yourself. The truth is, making healthy behavior...
Food Insecurity and Food Deserts
Food Insecurity and Food Deserts are terms used in the news to describe society’s status with food. What is Food Insecurity? Food Insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to adequate...
Be Septic Safe
Septic systems harness the power of microbes and soils to treat wastewater. A well-maintained septic system can last up to 30 years and keep you, your family, and your community healthy! A failing...
Burnout
Burnout is often mentioned, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Burnout comes from prolonged stress over time, whether the stressors are mental, physical, or emotional. You have reached...
Be Water-Wise: Washing Paint from Paint Equipment
Painting is a lot of work. Once you finish, you must clean up. How do you wash your paintbrushes? Many people wash their paintbrushes in the sink with running water or clean them outside with a...