Shoe hanger garden

This is my first year as an active winter gardener. My assumptions up until now were that winter was a time you just didn't garden. I've learned differently and now I'm trying a number of ways to keep production of homegrown foods and herbs going throughout the year. I came across a discarded shoe hanger, and after seeing a number of projects displaying herbs grown in vertical indoor containers, I thought I'd try my hand at a version with a bit of "sole". My intention was to overwinter herbs... Continue reading

Desk work can be a pain in the neck. Literally!

If you sit at a desk hunched over a computer all day as I do, you have likely experienced what most do from time to time. The neck aches, the shoulders try to sneak into the ears, and the upper middle back cries out for relief. There are a few simple things anyone can do to help alleviate this discomfort. First and foremost, get up and move around. Sitting in one position for extended periods without moving is a recipe for disaster. Our spines are cleansed and nourished through movement... Continue reading

Oh, yes — you CAN have a garden in winter!

How I managed to reach age 50 and never get the memo that garden-time runs all year long is beyond me. I've gardened for at least half of my life; mostly herbs and flower beds, and my M.O. has been to give up on gardening in late summer. As the days grew shorter, I would lose interest in the garden and let it run riot. My assumption about gardening and the onset of winter was, "game over, dude", so I'd store the tools with great plans for the next coming spring. A couple of years ago I began... Continue reading

Making my New Year’s Resolutions Plan

I gave up making New Year's resolutions about 10 years ago. I mean, really. What are the statistics on the success of these well-intended promises we make to ourselves? Not high. And not only that, but we tend to overindulge before the big event, making them even detrimental. One year I vowed to give up sweets on the first day of the year. So on December 31st, I consumed a bag of cookies and several pieces of Key Lime pie someone brought to the New Year's Eve party. This is more than I would... Continue reading