Caption: Lady beetles are one of the good guys, helping to control populations of aphids and other harmful insect pests in the garden. Photo credit: MelindaMyers.com by Melinda Myers Homegrown fresh vegetables not only taste better; they are more nutritious. Plus, you can control what products are applied to the plants to control insect pests […]
Caption: Tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits, including lowering the risk of certain types of cancer. Photo credit: MelindaMyers.com by Melinda Myers Cancer prevention starts on your dinner plate; actually, it starts in the garden. Growing your own nutrient-rich cancer fighting vegetables allows you to grow pesticide-free vegetables, harvest them at […]
Caption: Edamame pods are ready to harvest when they are plump, green, rough, and hairy. Photo credit: MelindaMyers.com By Melinda Myers Add a bit of fiber to your garden and diet. Consider growing edamame (edible soybeans) in this year’s garden. Soybeans help promote overall health reducing the risk of high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and […]
Caption: Planting different types of tiny flowering plants among grass stalks is a great way to attract bees and other pollinators that help keep our farms productive and our produce aisles well-stocked. Credit: Simon, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: What is a “pollinator lawn” and how can I make one in my backyard?— Jane W., Westbrook, CT […]
Caption: This Show Off® forsythia signals early spring for many with its showy, bright yellow flowers and slight fragrance. Photo credit: Pasquesi.com by Melinda Myers Add a burst of color to the start of the garden season with spring flowering shrubs. Small or large, these beauties add color, support pollinators, and help attract birds to […]
Caption: The straw bale gardening technique begins with the conditioning process which is done to start the inside of the straw bale composting, so it can support plant growth. by Melinda Myers Add productive garden space and raise your planting bed with straw bale gardening. This technique allows you to create a raised bed garden on the […]
Caption: Deception Pass – Courtesy of DeceptionPassFoundation.org Written by Steve Froese It’s great to live in our neck of the woods! We have some of the most scenic highways and byways on the continent. For instance, here in the lower mainland of British Columbia, we can go snow skiing and water skiing on the same […]
Caption: Water or wine bottles can be combined with commercial products to help regulate the flow of water to container gardens while away on vacation. Photo credit: photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com by Melinda Myers Planning a few long weekends or a vacation may have you rethinking your garden plans. Don’t let time away from home stop you […]
Spending time outside is an important part of your physical and mental health. But, with a busy life, it can be hard to find the time or the energy to drag yourself out of the house. If you want to spend some more time outside, you could consider investing in these home improvements. These additions […]
Caption: Dr. Wolfgang Feist and family pose in front of the world’s first passive solar house, constructed in 1991 in Darmstadt, Germany. Credit: International Passive House Association. Dear EarthTalk: What is a so-called “passive solar” house and can I retrofit my existing house accordingly?— Bill C., Raleigh, NC A passive solar house is typically designed […]
