News

May 20, 2025

If you have been trying your hand at gardening, you undoubtedly have run into a few snags. Many things can cause gardening problems, but a big one is pests. If you believe your garden has fallen victim to a pest, just know that you are in good company! Pests are a normal part of gardening. Learning the basics of how to identify common pests is the first step in remediating these problems and preventing them in the future. I always say that the best form of pest management is prevention! So, take a deep breath and let's dive into learning! What...

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May 12, 2025

Mark stood in his basement, surrounded by all the emergency supplies he purchased. Stacked shelves held freeze-dried food, water storage, first aid kits, and the latest survival tools. His friends joked about it, but he felt confident in his carefully chosen emergency supply purchases. He was ready to take care of his wife and the twins, should something unexpected happen. Then, the storm hit. This wasn’t the average one he'd prepared for, but a Category 4 hurricane that knocked out power across three states, created a ton of damage, and flooded his neighborhood. As water seeped into his basement, Mark...

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April 29, 2025

Helen received an email alert from her bank letting her know she had overdrawn her primary checking account. Shortly thereafter, she received another for her savings account, two other bank accounts, and multiple credit card alerts. Helen's inbox was always full of unread emails, and these alerts just sat there like many of her other emails, ignored until she needed to purchase her morning Starbucks. Her Apple Pay was denied, her Starbucks app pay was denied, and her many other digital wallets all seemed to deny payment. Helen, forced to pull out the little cash from her purse, paid for...

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April 22, 2025

Last month, we talked about how to start a garden from seed. We went through all the details from planning a garden to starting seeds at home by yourself and hardening them off. If you followed those steps (or did your own variation of them), you should be well on your way to having a beautiful, healthy batch of seedlings that are hardened off and ready to be planted in the garden by your last frost date. Most of the last frost dates in the United States pass by the end of May, with some of the coldest US zones...

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April 15, 2025

As winter fades and the warm temperatures return, it provides a great reminder to refresh your emergency readiness. While many focus on spring cleaning inside, experts know this transition is an ideal time to review or strengthen household resilience. Use this spring checklist to help ensure you and your supplies are ready for any challenges summer may present.   Assess Winter's Impact The harsh winter months can take a toll on your home and property. Take time to: ·       Inspect your roof and gutters for damage, loose shingles, or debris   buildup that could lead to leaks during spring rains....

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