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.
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...
Taming the Brazen Rooster of the Woods
This story begins about 10 years ago, off our back deck. We had visitors, including my mom, who had come for the weekend. Gazing up the hill behind the house, she exclaimed, “There’s a chicken...
Be More Broad Minded: 6 Exercises to Expose Your Biases and Open Your Mind
You don’t need to be an intolerant bigot to be narrow minded. In fact, most of us have room for improvement in this area. The quick assessments our brain makes based on past experiences are...
For Powerful Traditional Remedies, Know and Grow Medicinal Herbs (N) Nasturtium
Bright and lively in both appearance and flavor, nasturtium is a popular edible, annual herb. With colorful blossoms set amongst elegantly simple leaves, it makes a charming addition to any garden. As you may already...
Around the World With Cucumbers – 6 Exciting Ways to Enjoy This Summer Staple
First discovered in India thousands of years ago, Cucumbers are now one of the most widely cultivated food crops in the world, and with good reason. Crispy, juicy, refreshing and rejuvenating, these vegetable-like fruits have...
Naturally Green Grass: How to Keep a Healthy Lawn Without Chemicals
While I will always advocate for going grass-free in favor of a lush and diverse garden, perfect green lawns tend to be the standard that many Americans subscribe to. Unfortunately, maintaining this trend supports a...
Fancy, Filmy Fragments and Blue Blobs on the Beach? It’s Not Plastic – It’s Velella Velella
If you have been enjoying the beach this summer, you may have noticed oddly ornate bits of clear film littering the sand; or, if it was soon after a storm, perhaps they were attached to...