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.
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...
Cycad Plant Poaching: Ancient Species Hunted to Extinction
Cycads (Order Cycadales) are a non-flowering dioecious plant with fossil records reaching back 300 million years. These gymnosperms thrived during the Jurassic Period, along with the dinosaurs. While many species survive today, Most of those...
How To Recognize and Break an Amazon Addiction
Does Amazon shopping consume a significant portion of your week? Do you hide unnecessary Amazon purchases from your family members? Are you spending more than you can afford in Amazon purchases? Chances are you have an Amazon...
Hand-Holding Benefits: 6 Reasons to Hold Hands With Someone Today
People need love and validation. Hand-holding benefits us in that it satisfies this basic need. On top of that, our hands communicate accurate and unambiguous information with others through touch, owing to their extensive sensory...
Martin Luther King Jr.–The Makings of a Hero
As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday this Monday, let us reflect and remember what it was that made him one of the greatest inspirational heroes of our nation. King himself was inspired by...