Off The Grid News Better Ideas For Off The Grid Living

I grew up in Idaho, and while my family grew and canned a wide variety of foods, green chiles were not among them. I married an Arizonian though, and quickly became acquainted with south of the border flavors. Over the ...

If you have acidic soil, defined as soil with a pH under 7.0, you might wonder which vegetables and fruit you can grow. Blueberries come to mind, of course, but unless you have very acidic soil, you can grow most ...

You’ve probably canned peaches or made your own freezer jam, but have you ever thought about canning actual meals? Forget commercial canned stews and soups, which are usually full of sodium, MSG and other preservatives, and can your own meals ...

Most of my vegetable garden space is devoted to practical pursuits—enough tomato plants to ensure a winter’s supply of canned tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, and salsa; green beans by the freezer bag full; and a variety of squash for the summer ...

Green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are among the most common vegetables people grow in the home garden. They produce a fine crop within sixty days, making them faster than many vegetable crops, and the beans can be eaten fresh, frozen, or ...

Few summer treats compare to fresh, locally grown peaches. Sweet, juicy, and absolutely delicious, peaches appear in local markets for only a few weeks in the summer, depending on where you live. Get them while you can and be creative. ...

Gardening on the high plains of Colorado is an unpredictable effort. Last year, hail destroyed my pumpkins, flea beetles ravished my broccoli, and corn smut attacked my corn. This year, my strawberries are looking downright melancholy. Thankfully, I can always ...

Most of the time, I like my neighbors and they like me. We chat over the mailbox or sit on the back porch discussing politics, our kids, and our work. But come August, something mysterious happens. When my neighbors see ...

Since 1998, scientists, conservationists, and farmers have noticed an alarming trend. European honeybee populations are declining at rapid rates. Researchers believe several factors are at play here: viruses spread through the colonies, loss of habitat, migratory habits, and increased pesticide ...

Einstein supposedly said, “If the bees disappeared from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years left to live.” Whether Einstein really said this has never been verified, but the comment is provocative. Are we ...