attract bees!

Annuals                                                              
Asters
Calliopsis
Clover
Marigolds
Poppies
Sunflowers
Zinnias


Perennials
Buttercups
Clematis
Cosmos
Crocuses
Dahlias
Echinacea
English Ivy
Foxglove
Geraniums
Globe Thistle
Hollyhocks
Hyacinth
Rock Cress
Roses
Sedum
Snowdrops
Tansy
Yellow Hyssop

Garden Plants
Blackberries
Cantaloupe
Cucumbers
Gourds
Peppers
Pumpkins
Raspberries
Squash
Strawberries
Watermelons
Garlic


Herbs
Bee Balm
Borages
Catnip
Coriander/Cilantro
Fennel
Lavender
Mints
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme

Shrubs
Blueberry
Butterfly Bush
Button Bush
Honeysuckle
Indigo
Privet


Trees
Alder

Holly

Basswood
Black Gum
Black Locust
Buckeyes
Redbud
Fruit Trees
Golden Rain Tree
Hawthorns
Hazels
Linden
Magnolia
Maples
Mountain Ash
Sycamore
Tulip
Poplar
Willows

rosemary shortbread cookies

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large tablespoon of chopped fresh or dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Blend the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add the vanilla, and the rosemary. Then slowly add the flour until the mixture forms a crumbly ball when you knead it.


Roll the mixture out on a floured board until it’s about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick, and cut into squares or use a cookie cutter to make shapes. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the top just starts to turn a light golden brown.


Remove the cookies from the baking sheet, and let them cool on a cooling rack.

fruit flies

Put a piece of fruit like a banana peel into a plastic container,  put the lid on the container and punch small holes in it.  The fruit flies are attracted to the fruit so they go into the container but they can’t come out. 

planting strawberries

1. Check your soil. Strawberries like well-drained, fertile soil that is slightly acidic. The best soil for strawberries tends to be compost-enriched, sandy soil. Strawberries grown in this type of soil will yield more and be sweeter.

2. Use raised beds. Raised beds tend to drain better and that along with good soil will ensure a sweeter fruit. Container planting is also a good option.

3. Check your location. Strawberries should be planted where they will get at least eight hours of full sunlight. Getting enough heat and light is crucial to sweet fruit production.

4. Give them space. Strawberries like to have enough space to grow and spread out. They should have at least 12 inches (30 cm) in between each plant. If strawberries get overcrowded, they tend to produce smaller, sour fruit.

5. Plant in the fall. If you can, plant your strawberry beds in the fall rather than the spring. That way they will have time to get a good root system in place before they start the large task of growing and producing fruit. If you live in a cold weather climate, just make sure to liberally mulch your strawberry plants so they can withstand the winter successfully.

6. Make sure you plants are healthy. Another cause for sour strawberries is disease. Mildew, rot, and other problems will be a drain on energy resources and the plant can't keep up properly.

rotate your garden

Rotate your vegetable crops. Next season, plant the same vegetables but in different areas because each one depletes the soil of something different. This gives each area of soil a chance to rebuild its nutrients.

at the office

Ask co-workers to bring their unwanted cups, mugs, plates, cloth napkins, and silverware to work to replace disposable items in the break room.  Everyone was your own after use!

clean up your environment

When you are out walking or hiking, pick up trash along the way.  When you get home, recycle whatever possible.

the sun and outdoor lights

The world is constantly looking for alternative energy sources. But thanks to solar technology  all you need to do is look to the sun.  By utilizing fixtures that are solar powered you can harness the sun’s energy during the day and enjoy the light at night.  Outdoor solar lights are available in stores and online in may shapes and sizes.  They are easy to install and don't require electric outlets so they can be used anywhere.

glass jars

Line your pantry shelves with recycled jars filled with items that you would typically put in plastic containers or bags.  Your shelves will be more organized and your food will be well preserved.  

Glass jars are great for transporting soups, smoothies, snacks, juice and nuts to work. No more exploding plastic containers!

paper, paper, paper

replace paper napkins with cloth napkins 


replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/napkins (or cut up old t-shirts for great towels) - store the used ones in a small container in your kitchen and just wash and reuse


purchase toilet paper that is made from recycled paper


if you print documents, print on once-used paper and/or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available (or an alternative-source paper)


reuse envelopes, wrapping paper, the front of gift cards (as postcards) and other paper materials you receive wherever possible


read books, magazines, and newspapers from your local library


create and use note pads from once-used paper


leave messages for family members/roommates on a reusable message board


make your own cards/letters from once-used products (gift wrap, tissue paper, received cards and notes)


 reuse gift bags

sharing is good!

Share With Friends: Share things like books, magazines, movies, games, recipes and newspapers between friends or neighbors.

replace disposables

Replace Disposables:   Wherever possible, replace disposable products with reusable ones.  Razor, food storage, batteries, ink cartridges (buy refill ink), coffee filters, plates, cups, drinking bottles, furnace or air conditioner filters, etc.

white vinegar

White vinegar cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.

keep slugs away

Help keep slugs away by planting certain plants near or in your garden.  Corn, Sunflower, Geraniums, Pumpkin as well as certain herbs like mint, chives and basil, naturally repel slugs. Slugs love beer!  Get a shallow container and place it in the garden close to the plants where you’re finding the slugs. Place it in the ground so that the top is approximately level with the ground and fill it with an inch of beer.  The slugs will come in droves! Clean out the slugs and refill the beer as needed.

Cucumbers Repel Ants

Not everybody likes cucumbers. You may be interested to learn that ants hate cucumbers, especially cucumber peels. You'll especially appreciate that fact if you want to get rid of them. Just spread some cucumber peels - the more bitter, the better - anywhere you don't want ants.


People are slicing up cucumbers instead of spraying pesticides because they don't want toxic chemicals in their homes or in their garden sheds. There is growing evidence that synthetic pesticides pose a health risk to humans and animals.