Spring is the busiest time of year for bees and their beekeepers. Queens begin laying their eggs, scouts head out of the hive to find food to replenish diminished stocks, and the rest of the workers shoulder the load in raising more brood. For beekeepers, late summer and autumn are the primary harvest periods for […]

THETFORD, Vt. Was your tomato grown in dirt or water? Organic shoppers might notice additional labels this summer that will give them the answer — and tell them whether their choices align with what a rebellious group of farmers and scientists deem the true spirit of the organic movement. About 15 farmers and scientists from […]

For most things — especially things my husband has done wrong since we married 20 years ago — I have a reliable and detailed memory. When it comes to movies, however, I seem to have very little retention. I usually remember the overall theme of a movie, though not correctly most of the time, but […]

Given how quickly strawberries begin to bear fruit and how easily they are grown, it’s a wonder that strawberry beds aren’t as common in backyards as lawns are in front yards. The most compelling reason to grow strawberries is, of course, flavor. Variety selection and premature harvest make grocers’ berries large and firm, but usually […]

SALT LAKE CITY A fter Utah passed the country’s first law legalizing so-called free-range parenting, groups in states from New York to Texas are pushing for similar steps to bolster the idea that supporters say is an antidote for anxiety-plagued parents and overs-cheduled kids. Free-range parenting is the concept that giving kids the freedom to […]

A great pasta salad is a beautiful thing. It anchors a picnic, potluck or buffet with aplomb. It’s portable, flexible, and easily and often vegetarian. One of the first things I made for my then-boyfriend’s (now husband’s) parents was a pasta salad, and for whatever reason, it won them over and became a most-requested dish. […]

Motherhood brings many surprises and “firsts.” It seems like just as soon as we get a handle on the job, something new pops up, and we ask, “Why didn’t anyone warn me about this?,” a phrase you’ve undoubtedly heard mothers say before. By now, most of what to expect in the infant and toddler years […]

As herb and vegetable gardens, composting and other aspects of green living become more popular, many people with limited outdoor space are looking for ways to squeeze the most out of it. “A client in a modern high-rise in downtown Chicago did not have a typical garden per se, but did have a large outdoor […]

Modern gardening isn’t just about growing plants — it’s part of a movement toward personal and family wellness that includes everything from diet and exercise to a clean and livable environment. “A lot of things are going on with wellness as it applies to our food culture,” said Helen Lundell, a senior consultant with The […]