March arrives with muddy boots and big ambitions. After months of watching the garden sleep under frost and snow, even the smallest signs of life feel like a celebration—the first brave shoots pushing through cold soil, birds reclaiming their morning chorus, seed packets spreading across the kitchen table.   READ MORE 

If you’ve found yourself standing in the grocery store lately, squinting at an ingredient label and thinking, why does this need seven kinds of gum?—you’re not alone.  READ MORE 

The first time I brewed tea from flowers I'd grown myself, I was transported back to my grandmother's garden, where she would carefully collect chamomile blooms in her worn wicker basket each morning.   READ MORE 

What is it with seeds? Why are lettuce and carrot seeds so ridiculously teeny that the instructions on the package (“plant three to four inches apart in rows”) make no sense unless you’ve got fingers like a leprechaun?  READ MORE 

Boy—I’m showing my age with the classic duo in that headline, eh? Hey, kids—go ask your parents (please God, don’t make them have to go ask their grandparents, oh please, please! I’m still a kid! Really—I’m just a little old for my age!) who Mutt & Jeff were and get back here.  READ MORE 

Oh, how people in ancient times revered this slender green spear, not just for its delightful taste and impressive health properties but also for its mystical connection to the world of bodily functions.  READ MORE 

The attic bedroom of our old farmhouse is where we hide magic: the tiny Christmas trees that appeared by the beds on Christmas morning; the tiny cannabis plants, years later, hid­den in the same place (but this time from me); the Venus Fly Trap, for my youngest's tenth birthday.  READ MORE 

Normal people (that means nongardeners) think of the rest of us (that means gardeners) as sweet little old ladies with sunhats and flower skirts, humming elevator hits to ourselves as we putter placidly amongst our plants.  READ MORE 

Every March, I become a wildly optimistic gardener. It happens the same way each year. One warm-ish afternoon slips between the snowstorms, the air smells faintly like wet soil instead of ice, and suddenly I’m convinced this is the year. The year everything thrives.  READ MORE 

There are moments in the garden when you know—you just know—that something wonderful is about to happen. For Gail and me, that moment often arrives carrying a colander. We step into the garden, brush past tomatoes and basil, and make a beeline for the edamame patch.  READ MORE 

I didn’t discover baby carrots in a seed catalog or at a farmers market. I discovered them in my father’s kitchen—though, as with many lessons from a professional chef, the truth came wrapped in a bit of gentle leg-pulling.  READ MORE 

When I was about 5-years old, Summer had a very specific soundtrack: cicadas buzzing, sneakers crunching gravel and a gaggle of kids loudly debating who had found the biggest blackberry.  READ MORE 

If you ask the hills of Kerry for a love story, they point to the old oak that leans toward the O’Malley place and say, “Start there.” The wind keeps a memory or two in its pockets, and on certain evenings—when the sheep are full of opinion and the clover smells like tea  READ MORE 

“You want a piece of pit?” Cousin Margaret chuckled, her thick Donegal accent stretching the word “peat” into something entirely new. She was laughing at my request for a brick of turf from the stack next to her roaring fireplace.  READ MORE 

I once believed that plants lived their lives in quiet stillness. They stood rooted in place, waiting for rain and sunlight, subject to both care and neglect. But I was wrong.  READ MORE 

When I was in third grade, my teacher, Mrs. Groh, handed me a copy of Carver’s George, the inspiring landmark story of George Washington Carver. Little did I know it would plant the seed for a lifelong fascination with one of the most brilliant agricultural scientists in American history—and eventually lead me to grow what became, quite possibly, the biggest soybean farm inside city limits.  READ MORE 

There are treasures in life that we hold dear, and for me, my four grandbabies are like pure gold. I was fortunate to be present at every one of their births—well, except for one. That time, I was far away, recovering from not one but two surgeries.  READ MORE 

Every May, Mom's two-foot crystal vases of pink peonies graced our bay window, filling the room with their sweet fragrance and cheerful presence. For years, I thought peonies only came in pink—until one fateful farmers market trip 10 years ago.  READ MORE 

I’m looking for a Boyfriend Plant,” I say to the tall, handsome nursery worker who asks if he can help me. I’d been checking him out for about a month now—no wedding ring in sight—and finally got up the nerve to make an attempt at flirting.  READ MORE 

I think these weeds stowed away in the horse manure,” I say, pointing at some new squatters in our garden, tucked up under the base of the red Russian kale.  READ MORE 

As I begin this collection of stories about gardening and farming across America, I find myself reflecting on how deeply the land has shaped my own life. Like many families in this country, mine traces its roots to people who worked the soil for their living.  READ MORE 

The Irish are known for their warm hospitality, hearty meals, and a knack for turning even the simplest ingredients into culinary magic. With this collection, we invite you on a flavorful journey that combines the rustic charm of Irish traditions with a garden-to-table twist.  READ MORE 

As my wife Gail and I embarked on our culinary escapade through the bustling streets of Dublin, little did we know that our taste buds would be swept away on a tidal wave of smoked salmon delight.   READ MORE 

As Saint Patrick's Day approached last year, my wife Gail and I were eagerly preparing for our annual celebration. Ever since we moved to Plymouth we've been fortunate to be surrounded by neighbors with deep Irish American roots.   READ MORE 

When my father and I first started our Family vegetable garden in Sacramento, we planted potatoes almost as an afterthought.   READ MORE 

As a boy, I marveled at how quickly my father could whip up a loaf of Irish soda bread. With no yeast to fuss over, this hearty bread seemed like magic, transforming from pantry staples to a warm, crusty masterpiece in under an hour.  READ MORE 

Growing up, Shepherd’s Pie was the ultimate comfort food—a dish that united our family around the dinner table with its hearty flavors and creamy mashed potato topping. When we began growing our own vegetables, we reimagined this Irish classic, adding layers of fresh garden peas, carrots, and herbs to create a lighter, brighter version of this timeless dish.  READ MORE 

When Gail and I first visited the charming Irish countryside, we were captivated not just by the rolling green hills but by the warmth of the people and their undeniable passion for food. In a tiny pub, we discovered sticky toffee pudding—a dessert so rich and indulgent that it felt like a sweet embrace after a brisk walk along the rugged coastline.  READ MORE 

During our trip to Dublin, Gail and I stumbled upon a quaint café that boasted desserts infused with Irish cream liqueur. Intrigued, we ordered a slice of Irish cream cheesecake. One bite was enough to convince us we’d discovered the perfect marriage of Ireland’s love for dairy and its world-famous liqueur.  READ MORE