“I need to check something in the kitchen,” a colleague said. She was working from home. “I hear the smoke alarm,” she added quickly before turning off her Zoom camera and microphone. She sounded remarkably calm. I would have bolted from the room. And I probably would have forgotten ...

The days are getting longer. In the month of February, we gain about an hour and half of daylight from the beginning of the month to the end of the month. February always feels like the turning point of winter to me. I learned a new term, "solar spring," from a news clip, and it occurs from ...

Seed starting time is just around the corner. I would like to share a cautionary tale about seedlings while there is still time to order or purchase your seed-starting supplies. This way, you won’t have to live in fear of your precious tomato seedlings dying, as I did last year. Two years ...

We were seated at a sunny table in a restaurant recently. Brightness on a cold winter day always boosts people’s moods. When I sat in the booth, unfortunately, the sun was lasering my eyes. All the tables were full, so we could not move to a different spot. The window had no shade. I could ...

“I just love it when it’s 20 below!” said no one to me. Ever. Many people enjoy winter activities such as skiing and snowmobiling. When brisk winds push the perceived temperature even lower, however, even the most enthusiastic outdoor adventurers retreat indoors. Many of my retired ...

January is a good month for hibernating while browsing newly-arrived seed catalogs. As you flip through the pages, warm thoughts of sunny summer days and fresh, ripe tomatoes come to mind. In Minot, the Ward County Master Gardeners will be celebrating National Seed Swap Day by hosting a ...