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.
Starting a Garden, Step by Step
With food prices plus a host of world crises on the rise, many are exploring a more self-sufficient and sustainable way of life, and considering starting a garden for the first time ever. While it...
Time Management for Teens – 7 Steps to Juggling a Tight Schedule
With greater responsibilities and growing interests, teens struggle to juggle their time just as adults do. Time management for teens is not a subject taught in school, and many of us fumble along for years...
What Went Wrong With Wheat – Is This Staple Grain Making Us Sick?
With a whopping one in seven adults suffering some degree of sensitivity to wheat, many have explored the factors behind this dietary dilemma and what went wrong with wheat. While some believe it is the...
Understanding the Spiritual Symbolism of Lent
Lent is a 40 day period observed by Catholics in preparation for Easter. Rich with symbolic customs imbued with spiritual significance, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, when observant Catholics embark on a journey of sacrifice...
Birdwatching – Family Fun For All Seasons
According to a 2016 survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, about 20 percent of the U.S. population over the age of 16 partakes in birdwatching - that’s over 45 million people in one...
Start Your Garden Now With Gallon Jug Greenhouses
Most home gardeners lack the luxury of a greenhouse, and resort to purchasing plants that could otherwise have been started at home. You can save a ton of money, and have a ton of fun...
You Don’t Need to Travel to Make Every Day an Adventure
While many of us may fantasize about high adventure, and admire those who are daring and bold, various limiting factors may keep us from pursuing an adventurous lifestyle. In actuality, adventure has much more to...
The Traditional Chinese Garden – A Miniature of Nature, in Harmony With Man
The traditional Chinese Garden has a recorded history of over three thousand years. Still treasured today, the enduring garden style includes specific design traits and meaningful features. Large or small, the garden focuses on conveying...
Self-Compassion – To Nurture Empathy, Start With Yourself
Ancient wisdom and spiritual practices from every culture advocate compassion, or the expression of empathy towards others in their suffering; but for some of us, compassion doesn’t seem to come naturally. Whether it be a...
Patchouli Plant- A Therapeutic Herb You Can Grow at Home
Patchouli, Pogostemon cablin, is a perennial member of the mint family. The plant has a complex musky-earthy scent that has been treasured as a fragrance since the time of ancient Egyptians, around 4,500 BC. It...
Happy Chinese New Year – Year of the Tiger!
As the Chinese, or Lunar New Year begins, we enter a new zodiac. This year, 2022, is the year of the tiger, based on the Chinese 12-year cycle. Over a billion people around the world...
Musical Mushrooms
The world of mushrooms is vast and mysterious. Some are delicious and others are murderous, but did you know that some were melodious? Various experiments have shown that mushrooms emit sound when connected to the...