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.
For Powerful Traditional Remedies, Know and Grow Medicinal Herbs (P) Pine
Whether it’s from the potent cleaning products made with pine oil, or the annual Christmas tradition of bringing a tree indoors, most of us are familiar with the fresh scent of pine. Alpha-pinene, a terpene...
Best Practice for Overwintering Plants
As winter approaches, gardeners who’ve grown fond of their little green friends search for ways to help them survive the harsh weather to come. Although many plants will go dormant to protect themselves, others are...
Four Avocado Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Before
There’s nothing quite like a perfectly-ripe avocado. This irresistibly rich, yet delicate; firm, yet creamy fruit can make any ordinary dish luxurious. Yet extracting the cheery green flesh from its dark coat is always a...
Learn to Lean on Lunar Cycles for Spiritual Growth
In seeking spiritual perfection, all great sages suggest that we let go of worldly concerns and align with heavenly principles. It is commonly believed that the moon tugs on our emotions just as it pulls...
Unraveling the Mystery of Chinese Medicinal Herbs (Part 3) He Shou Wu, or “Fo-ti root”
Why is it that Asians seem to age more gracefully than others, often keeping a youthful appearance well-past middle age? While lifestyle choices obviously play a leading role in health and longevity, one secret to...
Fungus Fest 2025: a Mush-Anticipated Learning Event at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum
October 12 was an exciting Sunday for mushroom lovers across New Jersey and the Tristate area. The Fungus Fest, hosted by the New Jersey Mycological Association at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris County, New Jersey,...
Garba: Preserving Indian Culture With Traditional Dance
I was recently blessed with an unexpected opportunity to attend Garba, a traditional Indian dance, central to the nine-night festival of Navratri. Live music, spiritual devotion and engaging folk dance brought together hundreds among the...
From Mundane to Medicinal, Ceremonial and Spiritual – Exploring China’s Rich Tea Culture
The seven necessities for daily life in China, as described during the Song Dynasty, were "Firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea." As insignificant as it may seem, tea was a fundamental element...
Eating for Enlightenment: Ancient Wisdom Reveals What Foods Support Spiritual Awakening
Historically, Yogis, Taoists and Buddhist monks lived very well — maintaining clarity, energy and mobility into old age — on a very basic diet. These ancient sages valued simplicity, and found truth and wisdom by...
Could Moringa Seeds Be Nature’s Solution for Water Purification?
Some 780 million people lack access to one of our most basic needs: clean water. Modern filtration methods can be costly and impractical in many developing countries, a factor contributing to hundreds of thousands of...
For Powerful Traditional Remedies, Know and Grow Medicinal Herbs (O) Onions
When it comes to common household items that can cure what ails you, you can’t get more ordinary than onions. With over 700 cultivated varieties across the world, they probably make a regular appearance in...
Is Our Left Brain Leading Us to Destruction?
In his recent documentary The Divided Brain, Iain McGilchrist introduces remarkable new insights about the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and how they each interpret the world differently. Years of research has led...