“Nobody is a better landscaper than nature,” states Raina Weber, dirt-streaked and beaming, from her Housatonic, Massachusetts, native-plant nursery. It’s hard to believe that this hardworking young woman, executive director of the nonprofit Project Native, dropped out of high school and ran away to Hawaii, where she supported herself as a caretaker and by selling […]
plants
Magazine
Helen’s Helpful Hints
If dining on deck, especially with kids, avoid snacks that will blow away or are oily: “Chips, pretzels, and crackers fly away with the slightest puff of wind, and the kids’ hands get covered in grease — which ends up on everything they touch on a boat, and that can be dangerous. Cut-up fruits and […]
The leaves on my blueberry bushes and crab apple trees are tattered. I notice lots of inch-long green caterpillars on the branches. What can I do to stop this damage? — D.S., Hanson, MA The leaf damage you describe is likely caused by the winter moth. This European pest has just recently become established in […]
Magazine
Graduation Day | Mary’s Farm
The older I get, the more I crave good, strong help. In this quest, I’ve encountered some frustrations. I once hired a young man to help in the garden, and after an hour or so, I looked out the window and saw him sprawled on the ground. Thinking he had hurt himself or passed out, […]
Here’s a recipe for a good day: Take one lakeside home; add four friends and fresh local ingredients. Toss in laughter and good conversation. The friends — Ravi Gongaju, Karen Doris, and Anna and Timothy Blanc — originally met while working at Eastern Mountain Sports in Peterborough, New Hampshire, a few years ago and now […]