In December, the garden finally drifts into its deep Winter sleep. The soil rests beneath a soft blanket of frost, branches stand bare against the pale sky, and even the most determined weeds seem to surrender to the season’s quiet hush. With the garden tucked in until Spring, there’s a rare stillness—a pause that invites us indoors to gather close with family and friends.  READ MORE 

There’s something undeniably heartwarming about a living plant in Winter. While the world outside lies dormant or dusted in snow, a splash of green indoors reminds us that life is still growing, thriving—and maybe even blooming—right under our noses.  READ MORE 

There’s a special kind of desperation that sets in around mid-January when you’re parenting a seven-year-old. The holiday decorations come down, revealing the sad reality of your living room. The sun sets at approximately 4:47 PM.   READ MORE 

It's amazing how few of us truly appreciate dirt. Look at the way we talk about it. Dirty thoughts are reprehensible; dirty linen is embarrassing; dirty tricks are mean. If something is deemed lowly and worthless, it's said to be common as dirt; and to treat someone like dirt means indulging in some truly despicable behavior.   READ MORE 

As with most of these things, it sure seemed like a good idea at the time. However, if I had any sense at all, next time I say out loud, "Hey, THAT seems like a good idea!" my wife would have been previously instructed to place me in an old car, point it at the nearest brick wall and get me to drive the car headfirst right into it.  READ MORE 

The scent of oregano evokes the comfort of home—simmering sauces, garden suppers, and the warmth of Mediterranean sunlight captured in a leaf.   READ MORE 

Life used to be easier for gardeners. We didn't bother with compost. When plants looked pale, the nice man at the hardware store gave us green stuff to put on them. When they got buggy, the same nice man gave us spray and the bugs disappeared. We put chemicals on our closely mowed lawns. We didn't pretend that weeds were wildflowers.  READ MORE 

Christmas is coming, and Santa Claus—St. Nicholas—is starting to stuff his big sack of presents. But did you ever stop and think, “Who was St. Nicholas, and why does he go around bringing gifts?” The original Nicholas was the son of a wealthy merchant who lived in Lycia (now Turkey) during the reign of Emperor Constantine in the fourth century A.D.  READ MORE 

December has a way of arriving in a soft and unassuming way, as if carried in on the hush of snow-filled clouds. One morning you wake to see your breath in the air, the garden tucked under a blanket of frost, and that unmistakable feeling that something special is about to begin.  READ MORE 

There comes a point in every gardener’s life when we realize that loving plants is about more than just growing them. For me, that moment came one holiday season when I decided I needed to do more than just enjoy the aromas wafting from my father’s kitchen.  READ MORE 

It happened in my late 20s, one chilly December evening in London. I’d been invited to a colleague’s home for a proper holiday dinner. The meal was lovely, but I was especially looking forward to dessert. When my host announced mincemeat pie, I nearly cheered.  READ MORE 

When I was a boy growing up in Sacramento, my professional chef father often humored my big culinary ideas—but he also made sure to remind me of practical realities. One of my earliest “menu proposals” was that every meal in our home should begin with an avocado, split in half, drizzled with Italian vinegar, and sprinkled with salt and pepper.  READ MORE 

I grew up on a farm that has been in my family for a century—a place where the soil holds the weight of generations. My grandfather once turned the earth with ancient tractors that groaned against the rocky ground but never failed him. He knew every rise and furrow of the land, every patch that needed extra coaxing.  READ MORE 

Let me tell you a little secret—I used to think you needed a vast, rolling garden to grow fresh herbs. Rows of fragrant rosemary, lush basil, and thyme carpeting the ground like a verdant dream. But, reality check! My gardening ambitions far outpaced my available space. So, I did what any determined (or possibly stubborn) plant lover would do—I turned to container gardening.  READ MORE 

When I was a child, parsley was nothing more than dried shards in a glass jar with a green lid—a hint of green, leaning toward grey, that only came to life in festive stuffing or holiday recipes. It was there, in the background, adding something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but it never took center stage.  READ MORE 

Slowing down time feels most urgent when Winter’s chill fades, and the new season blooms around us. Each season serves as a checkpoint—a reminder of what we’ve nurtured and what we’ve left undone. It’s often the things we couldn’t find time for that linger in our hearts.  READ MORE 

The empty lot on the corner of Maple Avenue had long been an eyesore. A sagging chain-link fence, tangled with vines, encircled the cracked asphalt, radiating heat on Summer afternoons. But where others saw decay, Clara Rivera saw potential—a chance to transform not only the land but the community itself.  READ MORE 

We moved into our forever home at Christmas—the most magical time of the year. Newly in love, we’d just bought a dreamy 25-acre homestead, complete with endless possibilities and a rose garden that seemed to be whispering, "Just wait until Spring." As a rose lover, this garden was my crown jewel, a peaceful Winter wonderland in hibernation.  READ MORE 

When I was a child, one story in an elementary school reader forever changed the way I thought about maple syrup. The tale began with four small children trudging through snowy woods, their bellies empty save for a few meager berries and nuts. The wind whipped icy frost into their faces, and hope seemed lost.  READ MORE 

I never imagined I’d be growing vegetables in the dead of Winter, much less learning the art of cold-weather gardening in the foggy, hilly regions of Nepal. But life has a funny way of surprising you.  READ MORE 

Read by Michael Flamel Listen Now:   As I pen down this article, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of the cozy nights from my childhood where bedtime stories were the portals to enchanting worlds. It's with great excitement that I invite you to join me on a journey…  READ MORE 

Welcome to Garden to Table Journeys! As executive publisher, it’s my pleasure to share some of my favorite holiday cookie recipes with you this season.   READ MORE 

Read by Michael Flamel Listen Now:   Don and Gail recently attended a family wedding at Owls Nest Resort in New Hampshire. While enjoying the serene mountain landscape, they discovered a charming coffeehouse that became their favorite spot. The standout treat was a rolled oat cranberry walnut cookie, which had a unique and…  READ MORE 

Read by Michael Flamel Listen Now:   In a snowy town, a baker yearning for tropical warmth created the Keylime cookie. This vibrant, zesty treat, with fresh lime zest and buttery dough, brought a taste of sunshine to their wintery kitchen, providing a mini-vacation and a reminder of tropical bliss even in the…  READ MORE 

Read by Michael Flamel Listen Now:   Dark chocolate, rich in antioxidants, benefits heart and brain health. Using dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa in brownies maximizes health benefits while minimizing sugar. Opt for fair-trade or organic chocolate for ethical choices. Nuts for Nutrition: Almonds: Provide vitamin E, fiber, and healthy fats…  READ MORE 

Read by Michael Flamel Listen Now:   When Don thinks about holiday cookies, his raspberry butter cookies stand out. These cookies carry a story of tradition, family, and harvest joy. Harvest-Time Treasure The magic starts in summer, picking ripe raspberries. Don believes the secret is in the jam. He spends hours picking and…  READ MORE 

Read by Michael Flamel Listen Now:   Reflecting on nostalgic chunky peanut butter cookies, Don highlights their blend of familiarity and exotic texture. Peanuts originated in South America, spread to Africa and North America, while peanut butter was invented by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg in the late 19th century. The first peanut butter…  READ MORE