As the calendar turns and we step fully into 2026, a new year invites reflection, renewal and resolve. January is a time when many of us set goals for ourselves […]
Aldona Bird
DIY: Shirt whitening
by Aldona Bird Sweat stains can ruin a shirt or dress, especially if the garment is white. In the interest of combating fast fashion and preserving clothing rather than treating […]
Peaches make for a welcome summertime orchard surprise
Recently my sister, mother and I took a stroll through our orchard. We went to check on our apple trees. We’d noticed a wild apple tree losing its leaves and […]
Pollinator project promotes native plants that nurture
Last year, at a meeting of Morgantown North Rotary, the group realized that a lot of its members have agricultural experience. They were considering their strengths while in search of […]
DIY: Solar lamps
by Aldona Bird Summer nights are perfect for outdoor evening socializing. But as the sun sets, you have to start thinking about how to light up your porch table or […]
Still fighting with slugs in the garden
The last few years my garden has been a dud. This has been due only in part to my busy schedule. While I haven’t attended to my garden enough, what […]
Textile artist repurposes old quilts into clothing
Textile arts occupy a special place in my heart — I love sewing apparel for myself and I’m always interested to learn about how other creatives use fabric. When I […]
To lawn or not to lawn: Overgrown fields lead to moral dilemma
Even though I am not a fan of lawns, I am starting to see benefits of some mowing. For many years, my father spent his summers mowing. He was not […]
Learning about box turtles and mayapples
Growing up as a homeschooler, I remember lessons changing course very quickly based on the interests my siblings and I expressed to our mother (our primary teacher). I always appreciated […]
Vanilla beans are related to orchids
While writing my most recent DIY (vanilla bean extract) I texted my family’s group chat — “did you know that vanilla beans are orchid seed?!” Later, we discussed this on […]
