By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Growing up on a farm, I have always been physically active.

As a matter of fact, I mowed my family’s farm with not a tractor or riding lawn mower but a push mower.

I tell my father that it built character and a strong work ethic on my little 5-foot frame.

As I got older and took jobs outside of the farm, these traits benefited me in many ways.

An example of this is when I was a lifeguard. Many may feel that tanning in the sun all summer long is glamorous but I can tell you from first hand that it can be a challenge. The muscles that I developed through hard physical labor protected me more than a bodyguard.

As I got older and left home, my physical activity decreased and Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Personally, I am always looking for new and exciting ways of displaying my plants.

I have numerous types of hanging baskets and planters that hold my favorite plants but when it comes to my herbs I am somewhat limited.

I have done a strawberry planter planted with herbs, a living, herbal wreath, and even a hanging basket.

But this year, I have decided to go back in time and create an herbal topiary with some of my herbs.

When it comes to herbal topiaries, there does exist two types.

The first type is referred to as Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

As an avid gardener, I am always looking for ways to use my abundant supply of organic material.

My compost bins are full and it is against my nature to throw away such wonderful material that could be turned into “Black Gold.”

So this year I decided to do something about it and that was to try my hand at worm farming or vermicomposting.

I did not jump into this with a light heart. I knew that my worms would have to be taken care of just like my rabbit, livestock or any type of pet. So knowing all the facts and responsibilities, I jumped in, hand first into the project.

The first challenge I had was find a container that I already had. I am trying to reduce my consumerism and in doing so wanted to reuse or repurpose something. As I searched my supplies, I discovered Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Being raised in the country and a natural forager, I love dandelions.

Every spring I love to see the stems rise above the lawn and produce bright yellow blooms.

This simple sign is the one I use to welcome spring.

Every part of the dandelion is useful.

The leaves harvested in the early spring make a delightful salad or sautéed with onions and garlic make a perfect green side dish. Leave harvest later in the season can be dried and used for tea. Blooms are eaten when they are green.

When they open up they are picked and used for jelly and tea. Dandelion wine is a wonderful country drink that is made from the blooms while the sap from the stem and roots is used as a wart treatment. A coffee substitute can also be made from the root but only harvest root after a hard frost.

Before jumping into Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Growing up as a child, my dad and I planted hundreds of trees.

Some of these were for pure beauty and some shared their beauty outside and in the kitchen.

One of my favorite trees that fell into this culinary category was the chestnut tree.

American Chestnut trees have had a torrid past with chestnut blight.

This fungus was brought into New York by way of some Asian nursery stock in the 1900. This blight spread everywhere by wind, rain, birds and other animals. Once it was placed on the bark of a tree, it made its way into the tree through cracks in the bark.

After it entered the bark, it would cause Read the rest of this entry »