Ila Bonczek
Ila has a Bachelor's degree from from Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Science. She lives in the Garden State, where she has been growing produce and perennials for 25 years.
Join Ila in the exploration of exciting topics like sustainable living, holistic health, and the cultivation of not just plants, but mind and body as well.
Japanese Honeysuckle: Can This Invasive Plant Help You Beat the Summer Heat?
If you haven’t seen it trailing over fences, climbing trees, and occupying the edges and understories of forests, you’ve probably at least caught a whiff of its heavenly scent. Japanese honeysuckle is a vigorous, woody...
How, and Why, to Resist AI
In a few short years, the digital world has undergone a radical transformation. Gone are the days when you needed to put forth an ounce of effort to find something. With the recent explosion of...
Meet Hemlock Reishi, the North American Cousin of China’s ‘Lingzhi,’ or Mushroom of Immortality
Since it was first introduced to the Western wellness community in the 1970s, reishi has gained widespread respect and recognition, but its reputation as a medicinal gem among mushrooms dates back much further. Although reishi...
The Elusive Udumbara Flower Appears Backstage for Shen Yun Dancers
A tiny, white flower, often considered mystical or even mythical, is popping up all around the world, and in the most unusual places. The Udumbara flower (Youtan Poluo hua) is no ordinary plant. It is...
Unravelling the Mystery of Traditional Chinese Herbs: Lily bulb (百合 Bai He)
A lovely symbol of innocence, devotion, and renewal, the lily is widely recognized as a gentle, holistic healer. In many cultures, the beautiful flower is associated with purity and rebirth, while its uplifting fragrance relieves...
Using Frustration as a Tool – 3 Ways Frustration Can Help You
Your project didn’t come together as expected, a colleague is getting on your nerves, someone (perhaps you) failed to meet your standards, or you’re grated by a consistent deficiency that shouldn’t be there. Do you want...
Oops! Eating Chia Seeds Does More Harm Than Good If You Make These Common Mistakes
Forty years ago, chia seeds became popular as a goofy, green pet. Today, people are more interested in eating chia seeds, due to their incredible concentration of vital nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein,...
Death Valley Springs to Life With a Rare Superbloom
Death Valley, home to one of the most inhospitable environments on Earth, has sprung to life with an exceptional superbloom of wildflowers after an unusually heavy rainfall (a whopping 2.5 inches over the course of...
For Powerful Traditional Remedies, Know and Grow Medicinal Herbs (R) Rosemary
The fresh, uplifting scent and flavor of rosemary has found its place in kitchens across the globe, but did you know that this attractive and aromatic herb has many medicinal benefits as well? Since ancient...
‘Unrestricted Warfare:’ Critics Say CCP Used Long-Term Strategy to Deceive The US
In February 1972, President Richard Nixon visited a China governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), marking a historic thaw in U.S.–China relations. In the decades that followed, Washington’s mainstream foreign policy consensus held that...
According to Socrates, Creative Genius Depends on Divine Inspiration; but What Does Divine Inspiration Depend on?
Be it literature, music, or visual arts, great masterpieces have the power to transform their audience. These timeless pieces of work nourish the soul and inspire the heart with exquisite beauty. But how do the...
5 Conditions Characteristic of Modern Life That Are Quietly Killing You
It’s no news that alcohol, drugs and excess sugar are harmful to our health, but even if you don't have any of these vices, you may still be unwittingly cutting years off your lifespan just...