Monthly Archives: March 2015

Now is a good time to clean those pests off your houseplants

Posted on March 23, 2015 by tedmanzer

Most people don’t like to spray pesticides inside their homes. I don’t blame them. I do like houseplants but so don’t certain insects and other critters. Sometimes we can use soil applied granular chemicals, but some people with pets are … Continue reading →

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Shamrocks are confusing symbols

Posted on March 14, 2015 by tedmanzer

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and shamrocks abound. The problem is that people can’t agree what a shamrock is. If you research the topic you’ll find that shamrock means ‘small clover’, but when you search for shamrock … Continue reading →

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Calving time for a West Virginia Tennant Farmer

Posted on March 14, 2015 by tedmanzer

My wife’s parents were tenant farmers for much of their lives. That meant they worked long hours running someone else’s farm for very little money. Long days and often harsh conditions were always part of the job, and calling in … Continue reading →

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Believe it or not, vegetable garden season is just around the corner

Posted on March 2, 2015 by tedmanzer

It’s almost March. Don’t let this winter weather dampen your spring gardening plans. In eastern North Carolina you’ll be out working the soil before long. Just remember to plan and don’t try to do too much too soon. Invest in … Continue reading →

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Even in winter many dormant plants can have surprising uses

Posted on March 1, 2015 by tedmanzer

Years ago my daughter was struggling to find a science fair topic. She wanted to study natural plant dyes but was discouraged since there wasn’t much growing during the winter. I told her there were plenty of dye options outside … Continue reading →

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Plants can’t get much more unique than the ginkgo tree

Posted on March 1, 2015 by tedmanzer

Some botanists call them living fossils. Ginkgo biloba is the only species remaining from a Division of plants that went extinct thousands of years ago. It is one of the most primitive plants still in existence, but it thrives in … Continue reading →

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Mincemeat is an old time favorite that has evolved over time

Posted on March 1, 2015 by tedmanzer

When I was a kid my mom made mincemeat every fall during productive deer seasons. She used neck meat, which is gelatinous and full of gristle. This doesn’t sound appetizing, but it always made good mincemeat. When you say mincemeat … Continue reading →

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