Community gardens for a healthier city

Once-blighted properties now grow food

In eras past, gardens were ubiquitous in America. During both world wars, gardens were wielded like a weapon, with millions of “Victory Gardens” planted in both private and public spaces a

Plant rhubarb for decades of desserts

Some of my favorite spring vegetables include lettuce, spinach, asparagus and rhubarb.One of my favorite spring desserts is a slice of warm rhubarb pie with ice cream. Rhubarb, Rheum rhabarbarum, is a

Earth Day and garden event calendar

Be green – help keep the earth healthy.

ONGOINGOversized Items DisposalCity homeowners can schedule a free home pickup of items such as mattresses, furniture or appliances. Call Allied Waste, 522-7797. Residents limited to one free pickup o

Light your fire the eco-friendly way

A roaring fireplace is one of winter’s most enduring images

What warms the hearth may not always be good for the environment – here’s a look at eco-friendly fireplace options.It may look pretty, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Ag

A roadmap to kitchen remodeling

Follow these steps to avoid the trouble spots and end up with the kitchen of your dreams

Ensure a happy and successful kitchen remodel by planning ahead, researching features and keeping expectations in check. 1. Take time to planPlanning is a critical step in any remodeling project, and

Renew your home with solar and wind

Now is the time to invest in renewables

If you’re considering adding solar energy to your home, now may be a good time to do it. Solar panel prices are low because demand slumped after the financial crisis of 2008, when the renewables

Confessions of a bad gardener

It looked so easy. After all, how hard could it be? You bury a few seeds, dump some water on them and wait, right? Apparently not. I must confess that I have failed at one of the most basic and essent

Save the planet, and hassle, with native prairie plants

Native plants and grasses can be welcome additions in the landscape, adding beauty, movement and sound. By planting an expanded area of native grasses, or by mixing grasses with shrubs and flowers, ga

Worm your way to great soil with composting

Years ago friend of mine spent a fall day driving around Springfield collecting bags of leaves. Sounds crazy when most homeowners can’t wait to get rid of the leaves that pile up on their yards,

Green ideas for the garden

Going green isn’t just about hybrid cars, compact fluorescent light bulbs or low-flush toilets. It’s for the garden, too.Environmentally friendly ideas from recycling milk jugs into patio