By Nancy Shevel Before we have a “plant talk,” let’s take the time to touch on something we all know is so important to our flower/vegetable gardens – water. Specifically, […]
By Nancy Shevel You can’t go wrong with flavorful herbs grown in your own backyard. You can also grow some of the most commonly used spices in your yard with […]
By Nancy Shevel Herbs and spices can do more than provide calorie-free natural flavorings. They are an incredible source of antioxidants, help your metabolism, and improve your health at the […]
By Nancy Shevel Having indoor plants can be refreshing in several ways. First and most important, they refresh the air we breathe. All day long while you are releasing CO2 […]
By Nancy Shevel The Illinois climate and the state’s complex diversity of soils helps farmers produce many agricultural commodities including cows, sheep, poultry, fruits, and vegetables. According to the USDA, […]
By Nancy Shevel About 4,400 different species of worms are grouped into five families. Of those thousands of species, 2,700 are considered earthworms. American gardens are called home by at […]
By Nancy Shevel Feeling old? The earliest fossil records of ferns date back about 360 million years ago (Devonian Period). The first humans (hominins) started appearing only 6 million years […]
By Nancy Shevel Garden cleanup can start in early April or may have to be delayed for a few weeks because of the unpredictable and variable weather in our area […]
By Nancy Shevel One definition of home grown is “grown or produced at home for local consumption.“ When buying produce at the store, do you really know where it was […]
In this last week of fall, almost all of the trees have shed their colorful bouquet of leaves. Native oaks are an exception, holding on to their dry, tan leaves […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
