Dear “Earth Talk”: How can I recycle my unwanted CDs and DVDs? — Mike Wells, Oswego, Ill. Compact discs and digital videodiscs have become the de facto standards for media storage and playback for millions of consumers and businesses around the world. But the very popularity of these inexpensive five-inch-diameter discs made of metal, plastic, […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
For many veterans, the sacrifices never ended
Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo. Shovel them under and let me work — I am the grass; I cover all. And pile them high at Gettysburg And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun. Shovel them under and let me work. Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor: What place […]
Posted inArts & Culture
All things cucurbita
Hot on the heels of her acclaimed book on melons, horticulturist Amy Goldman is out with The Compleat Squash,a new book that features 150 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squashes, including detailed descriptions of their history, taste, texture, and recommended uses. An advocate of agricultural biodiversity and organic growing methods, Goldman made sure to provide […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Still waters
Who has not gazed upon picture-book renderings of Ephesus, Rome, Tyre, Machu Picchu, Stonehenge, and other fantastic sites of archaeological remains and not wondered about the civilizations that inhabited those places? No one who is interested in history can view the pillars of a once-great temple, or a paved roadway that in its day was […]
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Aliens have arrived. Now eat them.
Have you noticed the large crate of strange-looking green, orange, and yellow fruits that showed up recently at the supermarket? These tough-skinned beauties are winter squash. Not only do they make fetching table decorations, but they can also be used in many recipes. Winter squash are harvested when the fruit is mature, the rind is […]
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Share your gardening knowledge
If you have a desire to learn more about gardening and share your knowledge with others, the University of Illinois Extension master-gardener volunteer program may be for you. You don’t have to be a gardening expert to become a master gardener. All you need is an interest in gardening, a willingness to learn about horticulture, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Plain’s folks
If you’re like me, maybe you’ve wondered about the derivation of the “Aristocracy Hill” designation given to the historic neighborhood bounded by South Grand Avenue and Jackson, Second, and Eighth streets. Perhaps you’ve wondered (as I have) about the “hill” part of it — there doesn’t seem to be much of a hill there at […]
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Plan now for a splash of color
One of my favorite gardening experiences is seeing yellow and purple crocuses peek through snow in March. Now is the time to select and plant spring bulbs if you want to enjoy a similar splash of color early next year. Flowering bulbs are an important addition to any landscape or garden. The more bulbs of […]
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prairie notes 10-7-04
The big bluestem, dressed in its fall red-wine colors, glows in the late-afternoon sun among the bright-blue New England asters and a scattering of yellow goldenrod. From the center of this acre of prairie, nothing is visible except the sky and the tops of the oaks and cottonwoods along the creek. I like to imagine […]
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Get busy now, do less next spring
I haven’t met a gardener who has ever found the end of his or her “to do” list. September is a good time to complete projects we didn’t get done this summer. The first garden chore I recommend is an easy one: Spend an evening sitting on your garden bench, reflecting on the beauty of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Earth talk 9-23-04
Dear “Earth Talk”: I’ve heard that some foods are now being irradiated. Why is this done, and what are the implications for our health and safety? — Emily Worden, Monroe, Conn. Food irradiation — used to kill bacteria, parasites, and insects in food and to retard spoilage — is actually not new. Research began early […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Prairie notes 9-23-04
Maybe it’s just me, but fall 2004 closed in a little faster than the calendar suggests. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to organize your fall composting project to deal with the annual lowerin’ of the leaves. If the ultimate goal is to return the compost to your yard as next […]
