Lifestyle
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New business mentoring program matches energy professionals with business coaches
November 22, 2023
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) launches 18-month program pairing energy services business owners with business coaches to address workforce challenges, strategic planning and project management. VSJF, in collaboration with Efficiency Vermont and its Energy Excellence Network, is launching an advanced business assistance program for Vermont energy professionals. Starting in January 2024, a cohort of…
Property values soar, but overpricing proves costly
November 22, 2023
Courtesy Nathan Mostroeni, Sotheby’s International Realty A home on Trailside Drive in Killington was listed for $2.49 million on Nov. 20, just after a home on Trailsdie Drive broke a record in Killington, when it sold for $3.75 million. By Katy Savage Housing prices continue to break records in Killington. In October, a…
Creating a biodiverse vegetable garden with flowers and herbs
May 3, 2023
By Nadie VanZandt When planning this year’s vegetable garden, consider companion planting with flowers and herbs. It’s a rewarding way to attract pollinators, manage pests and promote biodiversity in your garden. The practice will improve your soil’s health and the quality of your harvest. As an added benefit, you might enjoy gathering bouquets of fresh-cut…
Designing a bird-friendly garden
May 3, 2023
By Bonnie Kirn Donahue Bonnie Kirn Donahue is a UVM extension master gardener and landscape architect from central Vermont. One of the great joys and challenges of gardening is seeing creatures inhabit and eat from our gardens. However, in some cases, animals and insects are unwelcome visitors. Woodchucks, deer and cabbage worms can be relentless…
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Blueberries: a backyard favorite
April 26, 2023
By Vern Grubinger Blueberries are a popular backyard fruit. Once established, they will provide lots of delicious, healthy berries for many decades with proper care. To succeed with blueberries, plant winter-hardy varieties and maintain soil pH between 4.5 and 5.5. Mulch every few years with several inches of wood chips or sawdust. Apply a non-nitrate…
State health officials warn Vermonters about mistaken wild leeks, ramps
April 26, 2023
False hellebore is a poisonous lookalike If you are outdoors foraging for wild leeks, also known as ramps (Allium tricoccum), health officials want you to be sure you don’t mistake the ramps for a poisonous lookalike plant called false hellebore, pronounced faals heh-luh-bor. The young leaves of American false hellebore (Veratrum viride) can resemble the edible…
First annual Art for a Paws held, Saturday
April 26, 2023
Proceeds benefit the Springfield Humane Society Saturday, April 29, at 3 p.m.—SPRINGFIELD— Head to the Great Hall in Springfield this Saturday from 3-7 p.m., to enjoy art, live music, entertainment, appetizers, beverages, and learn about the Springfield Humane Society’s mission, present state, and future. “We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves,” the…
Building a bug hotel
April 19, 2023
By Andrea Knepper Editor’s note: Andrea Knepper is a UVM Extension master gardener from Bolton. Many gardeners find ways to invite beneficial insects into their spaces by planting native pollinator plants, mulching and avoiding pesticide use. Another way to support a healthy beneficial insect community is a bug hotel. Bug hotels provide a variety of…
Raising backyard chicks this spring? Know the health risks
April 19, 2023
There are simple steps you can take to minimize the spread of disease As more people start raising their own backyard chickens — whether to enjoy the ultimate in local eggs, or just for fun — it’s important to know the health risks associated with poultry so you can take basic steps to protect…
Plant CSI: Solving crimes with plants
March 15, 2023
By Jodi Larison Plant materials have been used to solve crimes on television shows, in books and in real life. The use of plant materials in solving crimes is called forensic botany. Plant materials that have been utilized in solving crimes have included flowers, fruits, leaves, pollen, seeds and wood. From his novel “Fruits of…
Dog care, tips for spring cleaning
March 15, 2023
By Paula Townsend Editor’s note: Townsend is the manager of Kedron Valley Boarding in Woodstock. At Kedron Valley Boarding, grooming and Daycare in Woodstock, we’re here to help ensure your dog’s physical and mental health all winter long. Just like people, animals need physical and mental activity, and good hygiene to look and feel their…
Sharing the magic of gardening with children
March 9, 2023
By Deborah J. Benoit Deborah J. Benoit is a UVM extension master gardener from North Adams, Massachusetts, who is part of the Bennington County Chapter. Spring is in the air, and what better way to celebrate a return to gardening than to share its magic with children? It’s not too early to start planning now.…
Managing salt in the landscape
March 8, 2023
By Bonnie Kirn Donahue Bonnie Kirn Donahue is a UVM Extension master gardener and landscape designer from central Vermont. Winter in New England brings snow, ice and…salt. Salt can be a great asset in the winter for deicing roads and walkways. Salt prevents ice from forming by lowering the freezing point of water, creating safer…
A history of red tomatoes
February 21, 2023
By Deborah J. Benoit Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) have been on our tables and in our gardens for so long, it's nearly impossible to think of them as growing in the wild. Once upon a time they did just that. That's not to say that a typical supermarket tomato or a tasty, red Mortgage Lifter or…
Boost the health, beauty of houseplants
January 18, 2023
Fight the post-holiday blues with a bit of indoor gardening. Keeping your houseplants healthy and looking their best with a bit of grooming this winter is sure to lift your spirits. Clip off any dead leaves as they appear. Use a sharp snips or bypass pruner to make a clean cut that looks tidy and…
Creating a garden in a terrarium
January 11, 2023
By Deborah J. Benoit Editor’s note: Deborah J. Benoit is a UVM Extension master gardener from North Adams, Massachusetts, who is part of the Bennington County Chapter. Terrariums are miniature gardens in lidded, clear-glass containers. Their closed environment requires little care and only occasional maintenance. The container can be a jar, a glass globe or…
Barn Opera’s Joshua Collier: Hitting the high notes, for opera novices and lifelong fans alike
January 11, 2023
By Liz DiMarco Weinmann Tawdry treachery! Dastardly deeds! Sinful sex! Unrequited love between distraught divas and vain villains! More melodramatic mayhem than in whole seasons of Law & Order and Lifetime Movies! Yes, please! More to the point, “Bravo!” Growing up in an Italian household, I have been listening to opera since I was 5,…
How to grow African violets
January 4, 2023
By Deborah J. Benoit Editor’s note: Deborah J. Benoit is a UVM Extension master gardener from North Adams, Massachusetts, who is part of Vermont’s Bennington County Chapter. You’ve probably seen African violets (Saintpaulia) with their neat rosettes of fuzzy leaves and clusters of purple flowers. Native to Africa, the species were discovered in 1892 by…
The perennial poinsettia
December 28, 2022
By Deborah J. Benoit Editor’s note: Deborah Benoit is a University of Vermont extension master gardener. During the holidays, poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) show off in shades of red, pink, and cream. They’ve been hybridized to decorate our homes during a season when the garden outdoors is fast asleep. Most people treat them as a holiday…
