To be clear: We’re not talking literal garbage. Dumpster-diving “freegans” sometimes rescue perfectly good food that’s been thrown out, but that tactic isn’t for everyone. The “garbage” we’re talking about is food scraps that get thrown away before their time. For example, simmering a rotisserie chicken carcass in a few cups of water creates soup…
Priced a pint of raspberries or a pound of asparagus lately? Fresh fruits and vegetables can seem like a luxury when skyrocketing grocery costs make it challenging to put even basic meals on the table. Here’s a novel way to stretch your food dollars: Go outdoors and forage. You’ll get fresh, delicious food for free,…
Hydrangeas are the peacocks of the flower garden. Their lush, show-stopping blooms and thick foliage naturally draw the eye. Happily, hydrangeas are fairly easy to grow: They need partial sun, slightly acidic soil, and moist but not saturated conditions. They also need the right neighbors. Put them too close to the wrong plants, and they’ll…
Way back when, spring cleaning was mandatory. Families washed windows, laundered and starched curtains, scrubbed floors, and hung rugs over clotheslines to beat the dust out of them. Sounds like a lot of work for the modern household, especially since many of us don’t have clotheslines. Here’s an alternative: Speed cleaning. It’s efficient, it’s effective,…
Who doesn’t love a rabbit? Those soulful eyes, those sleek coats, those adorable ears, those cute little white tails – and those voracious teeth. From nibbling lawns and lettuce to killing entire trees, rabbits do loads of damage to home landscapes – and not just above the ground. Rabbits dig extensive burrows that can: Undermine…
Coveting blue hydrangeas? The answer is in the soil. You can buy a beautiful blue hydrangea from the nursery, but it won’t stay that way without help. In the absence of the right soil conditions, the plant will start to flower in white or pink rather than that lovely blue hue. These stunning perennials do…
Savvy consumers know that it’s vital to have an emergency fund – some cash set aside for unexpected expenses. With food prices rising so sharply, here’s another smart personal finance move: a well-stocked pantry, aka the emergency fund you can eat. If you got laid off, you’d have plenty to eat until you find a…
Nobody wants to get sick, but just about everybody will. So why not be ready? Planning ahead is an excellent form of self-care. A few simple steps now means you’ll be fed, hydrated, and (somewhat) comfortable until the illness runs its course. The following tactics will also see you through sprains, broken bones, and maybe…
Wondering why you can’t seem to save? The answer may lie in your kitchen cabinets. Stores offer loads of ready-to-eat foods, and after a long day, it’s tempting to let someone else do the cooking. But precooked chickens and frozen entrées cost a lot, and such foods tend to be high in sodium and additives….