Ways to Preserve Fresh Basil

 

In the months of July and August when the sun is at its brightest and temperatures are at their highest, most varieties of basil grow like wildfire. For cooks who find themselves unable to use all this aromatic bounty before it goes to seed, all (your basil) is not lost. There are multiple ways to preserve basil so that you can enjoy its fragrant essence all year round.

Read More ...

Eco-Tourism: Community Baboon Sanctuary, Belize City, Belize

The Community Baboon Sanctuary, although really a black howler monkey sanctuary, is located less than an hour outside Belize City, in the Belizean rainforest. It can be a day trip for exploration by those looking for things to do in the area or a destination in and of itself.

Read More ...

Teaching Kids to Appreciate Nature

Regardless of what you believe about climate change and global warming, most people agree there is value in learning to appreciate and respect our natural surroundings. How can we instill these values in our children so that they will be good stewards of the earth for future generations? The answer lies in education and mentorship, and making the natural world a priority for your family.

Read More ...

Should You Cage Your Cucumbers?

This is my first season growing in my new small space container garden. To accommodate more cucumbers, I decided to cage them, something I've never done before. Caging did allow me to grow more, including four different varieties, but my results were mixed at best. Based on this season's outcome, I'm not sure I will cage them again in the future. Here are the pros and cons of caging cucumbers that I found through my personal gardening experience.

Read More ...

Building a Limited Space, Poor Soil, Desert Climate Vegetable Garden

Those of us with the gardening bug can't easily be deterred by challenges like limited space, poor soil or desert climate. When I purchased a home in Phoenix, I was faced with all three. My love of homegrown vegetables, coupled with my disdain for hothouse tomatoes and everything genetically-modified, made me determined to build a garden space despite these challenges. After some local research and budget development, I went to work. What I ended up with was a beautiful, 40-foot long growing space designed by me and built by my landscaper to my specifications.

Read More ...

Saying Goodbye to Single-Use Plastic Carry-Out Bags

Single-use plastic carry-out bags are well on their way to being a thing of the past. A flurry of legislation around the globe is quickly taxing or banning the bags, despite the concerted efforts and major financial investment of opposing plastic bag manufacturers like Hilex Poly. San Francisco led the charge by banning the bags back in 2007. They have been banned throughout the entire country of Italy since 2011, and Los Angeles recently became the 49th city in California alone to ban the bags.

Read More ...

Tips for a Pet-Friendly Garden for Butterflies and Hummingbirds

There may be several reasons you've chosen not to plant a garden. Maybe you don't have a yard; maybe you rent your home and don't have permission to dig; or maybe you've got pets that make gardening impractical. A patio container garden may be a good option for you, and one that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds can add natural interaction for an entirely new dimension of beauty that's safe from and for your pets.

Read More ...