fire hazards

The Backyard Fire Pit Trend That’s Making Some Experts Nervous

June 17, 2026 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

Backyard fire pits have become the centerpiece of outdoor living. They create a cozy gathering spot, extend patio season, and give homeowners a simple way to enjoy evenings outdoors. Social media feeds overflow with beautiful fire pit installations surrounded by comfortable seating, string lights, and perfectly landscaped yards. The trend has exploded as more people…

Fire Marshals Warn: This Common Greenhouse Setup Is a Major Risk

February 22, 2026 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

Across the country, fire marshals continue to flag one setup that shows up again and again in post-fire investigations: small greenhouses packed with portable electric heaters, daisy-chained extension cords, and high-wattage grow lights all running at once. Gardeners chase warmth and light for their plants, but many overlook the simple math of electricity and the…

How To Get Free Seeds From The Government by Amanda Blankenship Seeds might seem like a small expense, but any seasoned…
Should I Use Enviro Ice On My Plants? by Kathryn Vercillo Every week, I receive food from Hungryroot. It's a great…
From Trash to Treasure: Transform Shredded Paper Into Garden Gold by Amanda Blankenship Should you use shredded paper as garden mulch? It might…
What Happens to Plants If You Use Enviro Ice on Them? by Amanda Blankenship About a year ago, I wrote our first article about…

You’re Mulching Too Deep — And It Could Slowly Kill Your Trees

That perfectly shaped mountain of mulch around your tree might make the yard look professionally landscaped, but it could be doing more harm than good. Mulch is genuinely beneficial when used correctly because it conserves soil moisture, moderates temperature, suppresses weeds, and protects trees from lawn equipment. The problem starts when homeowners keep adding fresh…

We Regrew Lettuce From the Stump — Did It Produce Enough to Be Worth It?

You’ve probably seen the kitchen hack: instead of throwing away the bottom of a head of romaine lettuce, put it in water and supposedly grow yourself more lettuce for free. It sounds almost too good to be true, especially when the original lettuce has already been eaten and the stump was headed for the compost…

7 Vegetables You Can Still Plant in Fall for One More Cheap Harvest

The tomato plants may be fading and the summer squash may have stopped producing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your vegetable garden is finished for the year. Fall is an opportunity to squeeze another round of food from soil, containers, and garden beds you’ve already paid to prepare. Many cool-season vegetables tolerate frost, mature quickly,…

Your Raised Bed Is Empty — Should You Cover It Before Winter?

The last tomato has been picked, the dead vines are gone, and your raised garden bed is finally empty. It may seem logical to leave the soil alone until spring, but bare soil doesn’t necessarily benefit from spending several months exposed to rain, wind, weeds, and repeated temperature changes. Covering an empty bed can help…