Foraging
How to Forage Sweet Birch Twigs in Appalachia for Winter Tea
How to forage sweet birch twigs in Appalachia: spot the tree before leaf drop, harvest small twigs legally, then dry or cold-steep a wintergreen-scented tea.
Gardening
How to Grow Salad Greens Under a Grow Light This Winter
How to grow salad greens under a grow light on a windowsill or shelf: the tray, the mix, the light height, and the cut-and-come-again habit for…
Foraging
How to Make an Herbal Lotion Bar for Dry Winter Hands
How to make an herbal lotion bar at home: the equal-parts ratio I use, an herb-infused oil to go in it, and how to pour the…
Backyard Chickens
How to Leave Your Chickens for a Holiday Weekend Safely
Can you leave chickens for a weekend over the holidays? Yes, with the right water setup, dry bedding, and a sitter plan. Here's how I do…
Fishing
Choosing a First Fishing Rod for a Child (What I’d Buy)
Choosing a first fishing rod for a child? Here is the push-button spincast combo I'd buy, the cane pole alternative, and the small tackle that gets…
Foraging
How to Forage and Use Wintergreen in the Appalachian Mountains
How to forage wintergreen in Appalachia by smell, gather it without stripping a patch, and keep it for a winter cup or a tin of salve,…
Foraging
Best Jars and Tins for Storing Herbal Preparations
The best jars for storing herbal preparations: the pint jars and small tins I actually use, what rusts or leaks, and how I label and shelve…
Backyard Chickens
How to Get a First-Year Flock Through Their First Winter
Your first winter for new chickens does not need heat. Here is my pre-freeze checklist for pullet age, drafts, water, bedding, and frostbite, step by step.
Gardening
How to Water Container Plants in Winter (Less, Then Less)
How to water container plants in winter: how often to water indoor herbs and dormant balcony pots, when to water, and how to check the soil…
Fishing
How to Catch Bluegill in Winter From the Pond Bank
How to catch bluegill in winter from the bank: where they hold in cold water, the tiny bait and light rig that works, and when to…