MADERA – The gardening public is invited to come and learn from Master Gardener Karen Petryna about ways to slowly convert your yard to more drought-tolerant landscaping, as she presents a Native and Drought-Tolerant Plant Workshop sponsored by Madera Master Gardeners. Native and drought-tolerant plants can reduce your use of water, pesticides, and fertilizer which will save you time and ...

By Virginia Eaton I hate being manipulated. The only other thing that gets my blood pressure up faster is being bullied, and the current state of food marketing and labeling employs both tactics with a vicious force that has destroyed our health and endangered the health of our children, grandchildren and beyond. Do I sound angry? Good, because the more ...

By Virginia Eaton A friend once said to me that men tend to have a linear career path while women, for various reasons, have a more winding, tumbling, curvaceous career path. I have held on to that observation over the years as I have woven together an eclectic knowledge and skill set in the fitness and wellness industry that got ...

Ann Elias has discovered a new technique to add to the garden,…’hose-craft!’ Ann says, “When your hose is too worn to properly deliver water, turn it into a no-slip rug to place near your potting bench.”  Hose-craft is taking useless old hoses, considering them ‘art supplies,’ and re-purposing them in the garden. Here is the step by step “How-To” Finding ...

OAKHURST – Poke your head under the sink, check your garage and peek into your storage shed. If you see empty cans of paint, old oil filters, solvents, needles or any of a host of hazardous materials and want to get rid of them, you’re in luck. You can shed much of your excess household toxic waste on Saturday, July ...

OAKHURST – Bring your earthy, leafy, and flowery questions to the experts as the Oakhurst Garden Club this weekend, as True Value presents a workshop on Bees, Birds and Butterfly Gardens, on Sunday, June 7 at 1 p.m. The program is free, and if you’ve never been to one of these events, do not delay.

AHWAHNEE – As residents prepare for what is sure to be a challenging fire season, knowing what firefighters need in order to defend their homes may prove invaluable. Over two days last week, the men and women tasked with that crucial job were put through their paces during training drills at Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park. Each year, crews are presented ...

MARIPOSA – The Master Gardeners of Mariposa County will hold their annual Plant and Garden Art Sale on Saturday, May 2, at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, Amigo Picnic Area from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Special features include bonsai-style trees and shrubs planted by Jeff Nicholas, who will be present at the sale to discuss the plants and their care.

Not only do ladders add height and interest, but provides open storage like a set of funky shelves. See our best Flea Market Gardening ideas and some fun projects you can do! When ladders are too fragile to hold people, they can still hold plants! Besides going vertical in the garden, we love them for how rustic they are and ...

“Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: the future can be better than the present, and I have the power to make it so.” David Brooks Here’s the conundrum: 1. I’m a conservation biologist. Therefore, I’m into sustainable living. 2. We are in a serious drought. And even when it’s not drought-y here, it’s a pretty darn hot and ...