Editor’s note: The following is the first poem that Bree Sarandrea ever had published. It was in the Rutland Herald when she was 10. Look into the flames, Glowing so brightly. They make you feel so happy, Free of all cares and warm inside. Spread your wings and take flight to the air. Now free…

All the things that have been slow to gain momentum over the past few weeks look set to get back on track. The thoughts, the ideas and the logistics and plans that have been on the back burner are now back on the table. Reason being is that Mercury hits the brakes and starts to…

Building our Killington Dream Lodge part 26 in a series on the Dye family adventure By Marguerite Jill Dye We’re headed for Europe as this column comes out to visit with friends and see old and new sites where I’ll paint en plein air like French “artistes.” I’ll take a break from my series of…

Part 26 in a series on the Dye Family Adventure by Marguerite Jill Dye A child’s awe Some of the stress and pressure in our lives was lifted once I quit my job to care for Danny, cook, keep house, and recover from months of sleep loss. My pay was low and child care high,…

Part 25 in a series on the Dye Family Adventure by Marguerite Jill Dye Motherhood, the next frontier We were awe-struck when our son was born. Duane cut the cord and bathed Danny in warm water. I held him on my chest as we fell in love with the sweet little fellow, all rosy red…

By Bonnie Kirn Donahue Editor’s note:  Bonnie Kirn Donahue is a UVM Extension master gardener and landscape architect in central Vermont. Did you know that the condition of your yard can have an impact on regional water quality? Areas where soil is left open and unvegetated are spots that are susceptible to erosion. Erosion happens…

Every year, just before school starts, the Sherburne Memorial Library hosts its annual stuffed animal sleepover. But this isn’t just any sleepover. In fact, it doesn’t even have any human people actually sleeping over! Instead, the local kids (and even a few grownups) drop their stuffed animals off at the library for a unique toys-come-to-life experience…

 My son just started a job waitering at a local Mexican restaurant. He also works at a grocery store, but he hadn’t been getting enough hours, and since he needs money for his planned trip abroad next month, he knew he had to find additional employment. The restaurant serves authentic Mexican fare and is decorated…

When you live in Rutland City with houses very close to one another you don’t expect to see animals and critters that are prevalent in rural areas. But that hasn’t stopped these “visitors” from checking out our urban setting. Back in the ‘50s when I was a small child I remember playing in the sandbox…

By Rachel Sargent Mirus Water striders are a common sight on ponds, vernal pools, and puddles. During clear summer days, these insects seem to walk on water, a feat they accomplish through a combination of long legs that distribute their weight across the water’s surface and micro hairs that make these invertebrates extremely water repellent.…

By Will O'Donnell Part 1: The calm before the storm  After moving to Vermont in 2019 and spending the next few years there, I left for a brief outing in small town New York, just past the border. A beautiful lake, a quaint small community and an intense education in horticulture was no match for…

As we drive by I hear the cows moo. I see the green trees that sway gently, the leaves dancing on the branches. I watch squirrels and birds jumping tree to tree. I see deer feasting on the grass in a nearby field. The sun sets slowly behind them, outlining the mountains. A lake reflects…

Amidst the confusion, the change and the uncertainty there are a lot of options. One option is to see things from a pessimistic perspective. That nothing can be as good as it once was. It can be easy to fall into the trap of romanticizing the past. Was it actually that good or is it…

By Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont We purchase them at the market. We dine on them in salads and sauces. Some of us indulge in the joy of growing our own at home, but how much do you really know about tomatoes?  To begin, the botanical name for the tomato is Solanum lycopersicum.…

By Ann Hazelrigg, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Vermont     Cucumber and squash production is in full swing in the garden, but there is a key pest that can affect the yield and quality of the fruit. The striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatumare) can be a destructive pest on all cucurbits (cucumbers, summer and winter squash,…