Photo Credit: Looking back by Mystuart used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

This year I have decided to add to my donation list.

I always donate my time at a local food bank during our local Scouting for Food event.

But this year, I have decided to try something different and that is to offer not only food baskets but also seeds that can, in turn, be planted back into the basket.

I know that just placing a few packs of Bibb lettuce seed in between the sweet potatoes, canned cranberries, and packaged dressing will not be enough.

I will need to provide soil and guidance if the project is going to work.

So I closed my eyes, and stuck my hand in a hat full of needy families. I had decided to only try this with four families. If it worked, I would expand upon it next year.

As we filled the bushel baskets with Read the rest of this entry »

Photo Credit: Christmas Tree 2004 by Scott Feldstein used under CC BY 2.0

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

The other day, I was looking through a book that specialized in Christmas ornaments that showcased a certain profession.

Teachers and nurses were some of the common occupations that were represented.

There was even an auto mechanic inspired ornament, which I jumped on for my son.

But there was not one for one of the oldest occupations and that is …………………..not what you are thinking.

Instead, the occupation I am referring to is farming.

The term “farming” can mean several things. The use of plants, animals, and a combination of both can be used to describe a person who is a farmer. But those Read the rest of this entry »

Photo Credit: Coffee beans by datenhamster.org used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

The myth of coffee is interesting and whimsical.

It is a timeless story of a boy, his animals, nature and human curiosity.

Imagine first, the setting.

Ethiopia is the father land of the coffee plant (Coffea arabica).

In this culture, men and boys spend time herding their livestock, which in this story are goats. The hilly nature of the environment makes watching the animals difficult sometimes and when it comes to goats this can be a very dangerous situation.

As the young herder Kaldi watched his goats, he noticed that some of them had gathered around a certain plant. It was well known that some plants were poisonous to beast and Man.

So out of curiosity and concern, Kaldi went over to the plant. To his surprise Read the rest of this entry »

Photo Credit: Chicken wire by Cyberslayer used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Chicken wire is one of those useful items that you can never have too much.

It can be used for numerous purposes in the garden.

Below are the top 3 uses I have found for this fence staple.

1. Chicken wire makes a great container for compost. Its open nature allows for air exchange that is so important for decomposition. It is also very portable and can easily be setup in the bed where you want to use the compost. Creating a composting bin is easy to do.

The first step in this process requires one to simply make a ring the diameter that you want your composting bin to be. Secure the ends of the wire with garden ties or with the wires themselves. Then, begin to fill with garden and kitchen scraps.

2. Chicken wire tube. This structure is great for Read the rest of this entry »

Photo Credit: Giant Avacados by Bill Couch used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Stories told around the campfire are not limited to horror stories but can also entail the legends that describe love and hate.

The story of the avocado is one of a timeless theme of scorned love and the consequences of this betrayal.

The simple avocado’s (Persea Americana) story is one between a man, his faithful avocado, his wife, and a tapir.

This story starts out with a man (Seriokai) out searching for his favorite vegetable, the avocado, in a Guiana forest.

While he is out on his search, a tapir is visiting his wife and encouraging her to fall in love with him.

When the husband returns home, Read the rest of this entry »