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The Thankful Game (with audio)

The Thankful Game (with audio)

“My family,” says my mom, Elizabeth. “Desserts,” says my Aunt Anne. “The breeze,” says my father, Lee, with eleven green beans in his hand. “Air conditioning,” says my youngest sister, Jean, as she  
Christmas Coffee Plant

Christmas Coffee Plant

At the middle school where my wife, Carole, and I teach, we have a small coffee room—with four coffee pots. Two perk regular coffee, one holds decaffeinated, and one has  
Beets Companion Plants for the Garden

Beets Companion Plants for the Garden

Beets are the best! Most vegetables are easy to love, but beets have a lot going for them. They're an easy-to-grow, fast-developing crop that belongs to the Chenopodiaceae family alongside Swiss  
A Giant Pumpkin Tale

A Giant Pumpkin Tale

This article was originally published in our sister publication, GreenPrints Magazine, under the title, “Our Great Giant Pumpkin.” It was written by Jan Canyon and was published originally in 2019,  
How to Use Pumpkin in Unique Ways

How to Use Pumpkin in Unique Ways

It's getting to be that time of year when you try to figure out how to use pumpkin, because your pumpkin patch is producing big time ... or you have  
My Personal Groundhog Day

My Personal Groundhog Day

"Hey!” I slid our screen door open, stepped onto the sunny deck, and yelled, “Get out of there!” The beagle from the farm down the road whimpered at my feet.  
A Heartwarming Harvest (with audio)

A Heartwarming Harvest (with audio)

What could be in this big box?” asked Beth, my adult daughter, as she started to open it. “It’s not my birthday or anything.” “I know,” I replied. “but it’s just  
Gardening for Mom

Gardening for Mom

My mother is a Master Gardener: she received her certification from Michigan’s Wayne State University when I was a young girl. I remember the garden being her retreat from a  
Garden Thief

Garden Thief

In Spring, Summer, and early Fall, half of the yard behind our small bungalow on Detroit’s East Side was a vegetable garden. I often sat at the foot of my