It's not every day that an easy DIY washer repair saves big money. That's why I want to tell you about my recent appliance win. Actually, it's more like this: I want to BRAG about my easy DIY washer repair win. Our dependable, venerable, 20-year-old Kenmore clothes washer suddenly quit mid-cycle. It threw a breaker in the process, leaving us with a tub full of water and soggy clothes. Not a good thing. I reset the breaker and my trusty washing machine fired back up. But I knew it wasn’t a good sign. Sure enough, once again in the middle of the wash cycle, she quit. This time it wasn’t the breaker. And of course it was Saturday. Plus, I was getting on a plane to Europe the next day. Damn. Easy DIY Washer Repair Continues... I'm thinking it’s the motor or something expensive. Calling around to a few service companies reveals that a visit (not till Tuesday) will be several hundred dollars, plus parts. For a 20-year-old machine! Which means now my wife and I are … [Read more...] about Easy DIY Washer Repair Saves $750
My Story
Why I Love to Pull Weeds
Yes, I love to pull weeds. And I’m not afraid to admit it. Some of you will judge me. I can hear it already. “You love to pull weeds? You must be insane. That’s what Roundup is for.” Well, there’s no better way to remove weeds from a garden than to pull the weeds out, roots and all. I will save the discussion of using poisons in the yard where kids and pets play for another story. Even if you agree with my anti-poison bias, you still might think I’m crazy for enjoying the process of removing weeds. What Are You, Crazy? No. I am not crazy. Unless being an avid gardener makes me crazy. But I still think pulling weeds is awesome. What’s so awesome about going out into the yard and pulling weeds? Here’s my list of Top 5 Reasons Why I Love to Pull Weeds. Reason 1: I love to pull weeds because I love to dig in the dirt. There’s something wonderful about digging in the dirt. Just ask a scientist. Digging in the dirt stirs up the microbes in the soil. When you inhale … [Read more...] about Why I Love to Pull Weeds
Lessons Learned from My Favorite Houseplants
I’ve been asked many times about my favorite houseplants and where my love of houseplants began. It all began in my childhood while growing up in a rural area. My three brothers and I were immersed in nature. So, nature was our playground and trees were our jungle gym. I also worked in the vegetable garden with my mom and dad, which was huge because the garden was feeding six people. The combination of a rural upbringing and a large family garden fostered my love for plants. Later, this manifested itself in my obsession with houseplants. Today, I care for hundreds of houseplants in my home, but there are a few that are extra special to me. My favorite houseplants have brought me joy, and they have helped me learn many lessons along the way. In fact, my favorite houseplants have helped me become The Houseplant Guru. My Favorite Houseplants: Ponytail Palm My mom had a few plants in our house while I was growing up. But the first plant I can remember owning is my … [Read more...] about Lessons Learned from My Favorite Houseplants
Lessons I Learned as Editor of GreenPrints Magazine
I knew my job as Garden Editor at Mother Earth News was about to end. The magazine had been sold, and the offices were moving out of state. I had no idea I was about to learn gardening lessons that would teach me a lot about life. What should I do now? I was driving the last stretch of road before I reached my rural home when it came to me. “I can’t compete with all the how-to garden magazines out there,” I thought. “What if I start one that shares the personal rewards of gardening instead?” Thirty-one years later, I’m still publishing GreenPrints, “The Weeder’s Digest,” and sharing it with thousands of gardeners across the country. Here are six things I have I learned—gardening lessons and lessons about life—as the editor and publisher of an award-winning magazine. 1. Gardening means a great deal to gardeners. Gardening not just a hobby, or even a passion. It truly connects people to the natural world. Gardeners nurture—they parent—their plants. And by doing so, they … [Read more...] about Lessons I Learned as Editor of GreenPrints Magazine
5 Life Lessons I Learned while Foraging for Wild Foods
No one is born an expert—in foraging for wild foods or anything else. We learn by doing, and along the way we make mistakes. As a forager, I’ve struggled to find that essential balance between adventurousness (Hey, I’m eating wild food that I just picked myself, that’s adventurous!) and caution (Hey, I’m eating wild food, I’d better be careful! ). The first, and absolutely essential rule of “The Forager’s Creed” is never put anything in your mouth if you’re not 100% sure what it is. Actually, that’s good advice for life in general. Here are five more life lessons I’ve learned from foraging for wild foods. May you save yourself some time and trouble by learning from my mistakes. Foraging for Wild Foods Lesson #1: Don’t procrastinate I discovered a giant patch of mayapples one August afternoon when I was hot and sweaty and tired. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than a cool swim in the lake. I’d read how unusual it was to find more than one or two, but here was an … [Read more...] about 5 Life Lessons I Learned while Foraging for Wild Foods
