By Dr. Heather Stein - Dr. Wallace S. Broecker, an eminent geologist at Columbia's Earth Science Institute, may challenge the oft-cited claim that the world's rainforests are responsible for 20% of the global oxygen supply, but there is no doubt that the loss of our rainforests to deforestation threatens all of us. Broecker points out that the "extra oxygen" produced by these ecosystems with year-round humid and warm conditions is offset by the other life forms in the environment -- animals, insects, fungi, and of course bacteria. The biodiversity of...

By -Georgia Lund- Everyone is familiar with round, orange pumpkins used to make Jack-O-Lanterns and pumpkin pies in the fall, but not all pumpkins look like that. Some types are white, some have bumps, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some of the more distinct types of pumpkins and their characteristics so you’ll be able to choose the right type for your fall usage needs.Pumpkin Terms Carvability: Refers to how easy the skin is to carve with a knife or other sharp tool. The tougher the...

By Laura Linne - Living easy is a hard thing to do at times. In this fast-paced digital society that we live in, success is measured with how many things can be accomplished in a day. We work into the night and try to cut down on sleep to get even more tasks completed. The name of the game is trying to shove two days into one and to multi-task our lives away. But that is no way to live. Our overall health demands that we take life at a slower...

By - Jennifer Raskin- 5 Little-Known Facts About the Benefits of Coffee for Reawakening Your BodyAre you the kind of person that refuses to start your day without a nice hot cup of coffee? You’re not alone. Millions of people around the world feel the same way. And while this habit was once the subject of criticism, more and more research is proving what coffee lovers the world over have been saying for years – coffee is good for you.Well, in appropriate doses that is. And without cream or sugar...

By -Georgia Lund- It’s fun and easy to take the kids outdoors and forage for tasty treats to eat for dinner. Edible wildflowers grow all across the country, and as long as you know what to look for, they are safe and healthy to eat. All wildflowers have different flavor profiles and can add a punch of spice or dash of sweet to salads or main dishes. Give some of these edible wildflowers a try on your dinner table soon. Black Locust Black locust blooms are only around for two...

By -Georgia Lund-  At the end of the growing season, every gardener dreams of ways to improve their garden next year. The time to start the improvement process is in the fall, and these fall garden chore tips can get you well on the way to having bigger and better vegetables and flowers next growing season. Clean Up Fall cleanup is necessary to prevent an infestation of pests and disease next season. Remove all flower and vegetable plants that have ceased production. If the removed plants have no bugs or...

By -Georgia Lund- Drying vegetables is one of the oldest methods of preserving fresh garden vegetables for later use. Dehydrating vegetables and fruits are safe, easy and can be done without expensive equipment. Before the invention of modern-day dehydrators, drying vegetables was done with traditional solar power. Fruits and vegetables were prepared and placed in the sun until all the moisture was gone from them, then stored in a cool, dry place until needed. How It Works When all the moisture is removed from vegetables and fruits, mold and bacteria...

By -Georgia Lund- Urban gardens are popping up everywhere across the nation. Groups and individuals are purchasing vacant city lots that were deemed as undesirable and useless and transformed them into productive plots of land that can produce enough food to feed several families. Urban farming is a trend that is gaining momentum because it’s an affordable, achievable way to solve the hunger problem in many urban areas.Community Garden UpdatedUrban gardens, or urban farming as it’s also called, is the updated version of a community garden. Community gardens have been...

By -Georgia Lund- Rock gardens are the perfect solution for those with brown thumbs, rocky slopes or for those that just don’t want the responsibility of tending to an all-green garden. Rock gardens can transform a barren terrain into an attractive and inviting outdoor space. Since rocks are the feature, with a little greenery tucked in, maintenance for these types of gardens is minimal. Use these tips for creating your unique rock garden this weekend. Pick a Spot A rock garden can be a little circle tucked into a small...

By Dr. Heather Stein - "If I couldn't, three times a day, be allowed to drink my little cup of coffee, in my anguish I will turn into a shriveled-up roast goat." -- Bach, "The Coffee Cantata" (c.1735) We've come to think of coffee as the quintessential modern drink. Fancy machinery, precise measuring, and long-distance supply chains are characteristic elements of one of today's most popular beverages. Indeed, although it may not be the “second-most traded commodity after oil” as one coffee shop chain’s CEO recently told Congress, global trade...