Best Natural Garden Sprays: Neem Oil and Baking Soda Explained

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Best Natural Garden Sprays: Neem Oil and Baking Soda Explained

If you’re a gardener, you’ve dealt with garden pests before. This is especially true if you have an edible garden. Too many gardeners aim to eliminate pests completely, but this is neither realistic nor good for your local ecosystem. Yet this doesn’t mean that you have to sit back and do nothing when herbivore pests invade your garden and seek to destroy all your hard work. In fact, there are lots of things you can do to minimize the damage from insect pests without reaching for synthetic fungicides or pesticides.

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How to Ensure Your Candles Are Vegan and Sustainable

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How to Ensure Your Candles Are Vegan and Sustainable

An ethical guide to illuminating your space with peace of mind

Candles offer more than just soft lighting. They create ambiance, evoke emotion, and add ritual to everyday moments. From quiet mornings to introspective evenings, they help us carve out space for ourselves. But for the eco-conscious and ethically minded, not all candles are created equal. Many mass-produced options contain hidden animal products or rely on environmentally harmful practices that run counter to the peace they aim to bring.

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Mid-Spring Planting: Easy Veggies, Fruits & Flowers for Beginners

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Mid-Spring Planting: Easy Veggies, Fruits & Flowers for Beginners

If you’ve ever turned to magazines, gardening shows, or even your local nursery’s stock to try and plan your spring garden, you’ll know it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the information – some of it conflicting – you can find out there. This is especially true if you’re new to gardening. As the days become warmer and longer, more people start shopping for plants and gardening supplies. It really is a perfect time to start planning a food and/or aesthetic garden, even if the weather hasn’t quite warmed up enough for you to transplant everything into beds outdoors.

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How Big Food Monopolies Threaten Food Security and Public Health

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How Big Food Monopolies Threaten Food Security and Public Health

In the fall of 2024, over 12 million pounds of meat were recalled because of a potential contamination with listeria, a bacteria that can cause stillbirth as well as serious illness in people over 65 and those with compromised immune systems. In the United States, we’ve gotten used to these kinds of recalls, but we rarely link the prevalence of food-borne illnesses to the monopolies enjoyed by a select number of food companies. Did you know that just four companies --Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef--control 85% of the beef market, and four --Pilgrim's Pride, Tyson (again), Perdue, and Sanderson Farms -- control 60% of the poultry market in the US?

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How a Plant-Based Diet Can Reduce Chronic Inflammation and Prevent Heart Disease

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How a Plant-Based Diet Can Reduce Chronic Inflammation and Prevent Heart Disease

Across the world, chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a root cause of many life-threatening diseases. Everyday foods — especially the heavily processed items that have become ubiquitous in Western diets — can trigger chronic inflammation, which in the long term can lead to conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, and stroke.

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The Science of Healthy Soil: What Your Spring Garden Needs to Thrive

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The Science of Healthy Soil: What Your Spring Garden Needs to Thrive

If you’ve ever planted a spring garden only to find that it didn’t do as well as it had the year before, chances are high that your soil is the problem. Even if you faithfully add compost to your garden beds and use no-till methods, you may still find that your garden suffers from lackluster growth, or that your vegetables are prone to diseases and pest infestations.

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How to Enjoy Your Favorite Food Without Overcomplicating the Process

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How to Enjoy Your Favorite Food Without Overcomplicating the Process

Cooking should be enjoyable, not stressful. Many people think that making their favorite meals requires too many steps, but delicious food doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, some of the best dishes come together with just a few quality ingredients and simple techniques. Overloading a recipe with too many elements or unnecessary steps makes cooking feel like a chore rather than a fun experience.

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Green Initiatives for Schools and Kindergartens: Practical Tips for Eco-Friendly Design and Operations

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Green Initiatives for Schools and Kindergartens: Practical Tips for Eco-Friendly Design and Operations

In an age where sustainability is more important than ever, schools and kindergartens have a unique opportunity to lead by example. Implementing green initiatives not only benefits the environment but also creates a healthier, more engaging space for children.

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DIY vs. Pre-Made Garden Beds: Which One Is Best for Your Garden?

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DIY vs. Pre-Made Garden Beds: Which One Is Best for Your Garden?

Raised garden beds are a fantastic way to boost your gardening game, helping you improve soil quality and drainage and ease the strain on your back. But before you start planting fresh veggies and colorful flowers, you've got a big question to answer:

Should you build your own raised bed or buy one pre-made?

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Gardening for Beginners: 15 Simple Tips to Start Your Food Garden with Confidence

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Gardening for Beginners: 15 Simple Tips to Start Your Food Garden with Confidence

Have you been thinking about starting your very first food garden? You’re in good company. More people are starting to grow at least some of their own food. There are many reasons for it, but among them is a growing realization that gardening has physical and mental health benefits, and a desire to have access to fresh, organic food without having to spend a lot for it. Growing your own fruits, vegetables and herbs is one of the most satisfying ways to eat healthier, save money, and enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and moderate exercise while you’re at it.

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How Climate and Water Hardness Affect Laundry Detergent Allergies

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How Climate and Water Hardness Affect Laundry Detergent Allergies

Laundry detergent allergies can be frustrating, causing skin irritation, rashes, and even respiratory issues. While many people focus on the list of ingredients in their detergent, or seek out “natural” alternatives, two external factors—climate and water hardness—also play a crucial role in how detergents interact with your skin.

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