Ila Bonczek
Ila lives in the Garden State with her family and four chickens. She has been growing produce and perennials for 20 years, and recommends gardening for food and fun, but not for fortune.
Breaking the Barrier of Frustration – 4 Tips for Learning Difficult Things
Learning is an essential life skill that brings great inner satisfaction. Mastering a new skill or finally understanding some complicated concept can boost our self esteem and give a great sense of achievement, pride, and...
Crispy, Crunchy, Savory Seed Crackers – Low-carb, Vegan, Gluten-Free Recipe
Cracker-like foods have long served travelers of all sorts as a virtually non-perishable form of sustenance that was easy to carry. Unlike these scrumptious seed crackers, the original crackers were very basic and bland: water...
Jasmine – The Flower That Makes Ordinary Tea Extraordinary
You may have wondered what gives a good jasmine tea that intoxicating fragrance and heavenly flavor. Simply put, it is the lovely jasmine flower, a fragrant blossom produced by the viney, perennial jasmine plant, a...
4 Animals With Superhuman Powers
Man has always been inspired by animals with superhuman powers; so much so that we have invented various ways to mimic them—soaring through the air on man-made wings, and penetrating the depths of the ocean...
Let’s Get Growing – Living Soil for Vibrant Plants
A healthy soil is teeming with life; including bacteria, fungi, tiny arthropods, arachnids and countless microorganisms that help break down organic matter and make nutrients readily available to plants. Living soil supports a host of...
Pigeons and People – A Complex and Enduring Relationship
Pigeons and people have known each other since ancient times. Over the course of history these birds have served as pets, messengers, sources of food and entertainment, and even heroes. What is it that makes...
Can I Plant My Tomatoes Yet? – Spring Planting Guide for Tender Crops
Tomatoes and other warm-weather plants always pose a quandary for those of us in cool climates. If you plant them too soon, you run the risk of subjecting them to a killing frost; yet everyone...
The Ins and Outs of Oat Milk – The Rising Star in Alt-Milk
While dairy-free dairy has been gaining consumers for decades, one (not)milk has recently become an especially hot commodity in a few short years. Oat milk—in particular, Oatly—seems to have everything going for it. What makes...
Mother’s Day – An Annual Opportunity to Show You Care
Mother’s Day, the second Sunday of May, is upon us—and you know what that means. For the US and much of the rest of the world, it means flowers and cards and billions of dollars...
Can Fungi Fix Our Plastic Problem? Polymer-Eating Mushrooms Show Potential in a Variety of Applications
Since the revolutionary discovery of the first synthetic polymers in 1869, plastics have become an indispensable part of everyday life. They were, in their own way, an eco-friendly solution for replacing natural materials like ivory,...
Joint Decision Making – Made Easy
Making decisions on your own can be difficult enough. When it comes to choices that affect both you and your spouse, decision making becomes an art. Conflicting ideas, stubborn notions, and heightened emotions can all...
Traditional Chinese Architecture – The Siheyuan
The traditional Chinese architecture of siheyuan ( 四合院), refers to a collection of residences centered on a courtyard. While they are commonly found in Beijing, which has its own signature style, China has seen many...