Plants & Fungi

Other Garden-Friendly Livestock

Other Garden-Friendly Livestock

View the February 2023 Nature Friend Study Guide While the chickens we wrote about last month are by far the most common, they are not the only garden-friendly animals available for our use. This...

Chickens in the Garden

Chickens in the Garden

View the January Nature Friend Study Guide Photo © Natalie Board/Dreamstime.com. In previous articles, we have looked at the importance of underground livestock such as earthworms, nematodes,...

The Greatest Houseplant Ever?

The Greatest Houseplant Ever?

View the December Nature Friend Study Guide The poinsettia is probably the most popular potted flower in U.S. history—at least in terms of pots sold. Last year around thirty-five million pots of...

Tree Fruits, Part 2

Tree Fruits, Part 2

View the November 2022 Nature Friend Study Guide Apples. Photo © Gyuszko/Dreamstime.com. Once we have the site picked out for our home orchard, we need to prepare for planting trees. Ideally, we...

Favorite Focus, November 2022

Favorite Focus, November 2022

View the November 2022 Nature Friend Study Guide Male Spruce Grouse. Photo © Lois Tschetter. I got my second lightning shot while we were visiting in Haiti. I was really hoping I could at least get...

Tree Fruits, Part 1

Tree Fruits, Part 1

Apple orchard. Photo © Dreamstime.com. When are the two best times to plant a fruit tree? The best time was ten years ago! The second best time is this spring or fall, depending on your climate.If...

We Like Water Wildlife

We Like Water Wildlife

Marsh with wild phlox. Photo © Dogwood Ridge. The twists and turns of the Big Spring are a water-life paradise. Flowing, rippling watercress and waving mosses grow in the waters. The clear...