During spring migration, millions of wild birds make their way north – hundreds to thousands of miles in a short span of days – to feed, nest and raise their chicks throughout the Western Hemisphere. There are many actions people can take to create healthier communities for both people and birds. Bi...

Few images capture the spirit of a season as well as a family gathered around a fireplace in winter. Winter is a time when families spend more time together indoors, and there’s no better gathering spot than around a warm fireplace. Heartwarming scenes around a fireplace are even more enjoyable when...

Do you know what the largest commodity grown in the USA is? It’s one of the most plentiful and well-known crops out there. If you guessed corn, you would be correct! The reason corn is such a primary crop for the American farmer and U.S. agriculture is because it can be taken from a tiny seed, plant...

Long before plug-in air fresheners and scented candles, people used plants to make their homes more livable by masking unpleasant odors. Herbs served that purpose very well and frequently were strewn over floors, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Walking on herbs’...

Next time you’re packing lunch for your kid or reaching for a healthy afternoon bite, consider this: only three types of fruit snacks – dried fruit, fruit puree and canned fruit with juice – meet the latest recommendations for high-nutrition snacks set by federal dietary guidelines, according to res...

Camping can be one of the cheapest ways to travel. Yet a relatively new style of camping is proliferating – by some metrics – and it’s glamping. Glamping is a fusion of luxury and nature, where tents are filled with plush pillows, and some even have private bathrooms with heated, running water. Camp...

The first week of May is recognized as Wildflower Week, and with good reason. The snow has finally started to disappear for good in northern regions and these colorful signs of spring are popping up everywhere. To help you and your family celebrate this floral festival, check out these 20 ways to ob...

You’ve probably seen African violets with their neat rosettes of fuzzy leaves and clusters of purple flowers. Native to Africa, the species were discovered in 1892 by Baron von Saint Paul-Illaire in the mountainous rainforests of Tanzania. Today, there are over 16,000 registered hybridized varieties...

Something about taking down the old calendar and hanging up a new one fills us with so much hope. Moving from 2022 into 2023 is really just Saturday turning into Sunday, but 2023 is new and therefore full of promise. However, many of us tend to bite off more than we can chew with New Year’s resoluti...

We’re nearing the end of January, and that means that tax season is quickly approaching. Whether you’re a hobby farmer or a full-time farmer, tax prep can be a headache. To help out, we’re listing some assistance options below: Free tax help is available & can help you get your refund faster The IRS...

The village of Richfield Springs in Otsego County, NY, has a population of about a 1,000 people. The borough of Brooklyn has about 2.6 million. Even though Dan Sullivan grew up in New York City, he discovered his heart’s home was the country. Dan said he grew up playing on the streets of Brooklyn, j...

Nothing beats real maple syrup when it comes to flavor. It’s a natural sweetener that’s sustainable and (potentially) profitable. As we get closer and closer to maple syrup season, you may be contemplating harvesting sap and making your own syrup this year. And that’s awesome. But if you’ve never do...

Another viewpoint: The mailbox is filled with flower seed, bulb and plant catalogs. Joan spends hours poring through them, comparing descriptions, colors and prices to plan out her dream garden. She then gets on the phone with her sisters and daughters-in-law to see who wants in on the high count/lo...

The arrival of the seed and plant catalogs is like a glimpse of spring in the midst of winter. While it’s easy enough to go online and find all the latest and greatest varieties, there’s nothing more warming on a cold, wintry day than grabbing a hot cup of coffee, paper and pen and poring through th...

Traditions are a funny thing. You grow up in a world full of traditions – at home, in school, at church and in your community. Some people enjoy their traditions, and others want to change them up a bit. My father was a minister so Christmas Eve we would go to church see the nativity scene, sing Chr...