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.
Christmas Miracles – 3 Modern Incidents of Divine Intervention
Astonishing events that transcend the ordinary laws of nature are understood to be miracles. Many grand miracles revolve around ancient prophets and teach us lessons in faith, but modern-day miracles happen too, reminding us that...
Open Your Heart and Heal Your Life
Most of us go through life with a heart that is closed to a greater or lesser degree. Do you find it difficult to connect with others? Are you critical and quick to judge? Do...
Keep Appliances at Peak Performance With This Essential Maintenance (Part I) Air Filters
“Out of sight out of mind” seems to be the rule when it comes to appliance filters. Over 80 percent of Americans polled fail to clean or replace their air filters — and there are...
Cultivating Gratitude for a Happy Thanksgiving and a Rewarding Life
Another year has gone by in the blink of an eye, and the holidays are upon us once again. How apt it is for Thanksgiving to fall first in line, as it puts us in...
For Powerful Traditional Remedies, Know and Grow Medicinal Herbs: (L) Lavender
Of the many medicinal herbs that begin with L, none has greater utility and lower maintenance than lovely lavender. Treasured for millennia, this hardy aromatic herb is not only remarkably therapeutic, it is absolutely beautiful...
Riding the Election With Grace: 5 Ways to Keep Your Cool, Even if Your Candidate Doesn’t Win
Facing a constant barrage of political messages can put our emotions to the test. The stakes are high and tension is in the air, but you can remain calm, cool and collected no matter who...
13 Things You Need to Know About Chili Peppers
Indigenous to South and Central America, chili peppers were first cultivated in Mexico some 6,000 years ago. As they made their way around the world, these spicy fruits (technically berries) grew to encompass an exciting...
Embrace 6 Aspects of Grace to Become More Graceful in Body and Spirit
Who doesn't want to become more graceful? In many ways, grace is the picture of virtue. It encompasses not only the spiritual characteristics of kindness, tolerance, and integrity, but is also physically apparent in one’s...
For Powerful Traditional Remedies, Know and Grow Medicinal Herbs (K): Kumquat
Behold the kumquat: sweet, tart, adorable and growable. While it’s not exactly an herb, this little gem of a citrus fruit features many of the qualities you would look for in a quality medicinal plant. ...
40+ Foods Aren’t What We Think They Are
When you enjoy a healthy snack of fresh fruit, nuts and/or whole grains, you're probably pretty confident in their integrity; but surprise, surprise — botanically speaking, many of our favorite foods aren't what we think...
Cultivating Joy, and Finding Serenity
Whether you want to call it true happiness or joy, there is a deep and fulfilling state of mind that everyone wishes to achieve, but many miss the mark through the pursuit of pleasure. While...
Shrimp of the Woods – a Mysterious Mushroom With Untapped Utility
Oftentimes, if we are patient and receptive, the perfect solution to our problems comes naturally. This can manifest as a blessing in disguise, a lesson learned from a tough trial, or predators appearing to take...