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.
Square Dancing: Traditional, Healthy, Wholesome, and a Hoot!
“Allemande left and do-si-do!” Does this phrase make you want to dance? Does it recall vague memories from high school gym class? Or is it a mysterious mumble of mishmash? If you don’t know the...
The Fascinating Process Behind the Production of Natural Fibers – Part IV: Linen
Continuing our series on natural fibers, today we will look at one of the most ancient fibers used by man that still has broad appeal today. It is more absorbent than cotton, and also dries...
Delightful Diminutives: Why Miniature is Captivating to the Max
From a very early age, we are engrossed in the miniature. Our world of play is packed with puny people, tiny cars, and diminutive building blocks. If we continue this healthy recreation into adulthood, miniatures...
Seasonal Eating for May, and the Yin Yang Principles
Continuing our series on seasonal eating, today we will examine the aspect of balance. Eating seasonally is a natural way to keep your body in harmony with your external environment as it passes through the...
Learn to Love Your Instant Pot
Instant pot owners seem to hail from two tribes — the ones who love their instant pot, and those who are somewhat intimidated by it. Suburban legends of exploding pressure cookers from back in the...
Fortify Your Diet Naturally With Easy-to-Find, Edible Flowers
Radiating exuberance, sunshine and hope, flowers are a feast for the eyes; but that’s not all. You are likely aware of the fact that every single fruit we enjoy begins with a flower. However, you...
Ant Invasion? This Natural, No-harm Solution Is Both Practical and Powerful
According to the 24-term Chinese Lunisolar calendar, March 6 began the two-week period called Jingzhe, or the “Awakening of the Insects.” By now they are not only awake, but also hungry; so you may find...
The Fascinating Process Behind the Beauty of Natural Fibers – Part III: Cotton
Do you have a favorite cotton T-shirt, love the crisp feel of fresh cotton sheets, or appreciate the absorptive power of cotton towels? You’re not alone. Cotton is the most widely-used natural fiber, and one...
6 Unusual Herbs to Upgrade Your Garden and Your Health
Staple herbs like basil, oregano, parsley, and thyme adorn many an herb garden for their culinary uses; yet there are dozens of lesser-known herbs that are equally useful and easy to grow. Whether you’re looking for...
Seasonal Eating for April, and the Chinese Soli-Lunar Calendar
Seasonal eating is an environmentally sound, healthy, common-sense approach to food which has been growing in popularity since the 1970’s. In the purest sense of the term — which also implies eating locally — seasonal...
The Quandary of Quantifying Life’s Meaningfulness
Do you ever find yourself measuring your life’s meaningfulness? People who are generally dissatisfied or depressed often feel that their lives aren't particularly meaningful, while those who feel fulfilled and content tend to find life...
A Gardener’s Guide for April: Growing Seedlings
April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring the welcome, wet conditions to start countless seedlings, and satisfy the thirsty roots of transplants. Here in New Jersey, our final frost date falls between...