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.
Limited Lighting and Window Treatments: Tristate Area Addresses Modern-Day Threats to Migrating Birds
Municipalities in New York and New Jersey are attempting to address a growing threat to migrating birds that is compounded by the fact that they lie directly in the birds’ migratory path. Hudson Valley and...
Clever Dog “Lucky” Starts Dinner for His Chinese Owner – Video
Many animals are very intelligent and can learn human skills that not only fascinate us, but can also be extremely useful. For instance, one clever dog, a pet Husky in eastern China, understands his owner—a...
Improve Your Emotional Intelligence to Master Important Social Skills
The importance of understanding emotions became widely recognized in 1995, with the publication of journalist Daniel Goleman’s best-selling book Emotional Intelligence. Understanding emotions is an valuable social skill that is rarely taught, but can be...
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...