Columns

Having been raised by my elderly aunt who ran a boarding house for the workers at the nearby sawmill in the small town of Aberdeen, Wash., my younger days were spent primarily in the company of older people. Our house was the last house...

I don’t know why I’m amazed when I come across an old lawn that was sheet mulched away. After all, it’s a tried and true method to remove a lawn and make way for a new spectacular, low water-use, pollinator-friendly garden that will also...

Once upon a time when our area was underwater there were no parks or trails or trees or gardens. I'm thankful that our mountains rose from an ancient ocean so we could enjoy this beautiful place we call home.  I'm thankful for the Bigleaf maples that shower me with...

“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful, but I don’t know if it could be both.” —Elon Musk Planning became possible when Donald Trump signed off a mega bill, which simultaneously decreases taxes and welfare spending while discouraging immigration; it...

How’s your stretching game? Think of how your body feels waking up each morning. Now, try bending down. Are you able to pick things up with ease? If you move around each day with a stiff body, that can all change with a few...

“Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel.” —King Solomon We tend our vegetable gardens by weeding, watering and feeding them with the best fertilizers we can buy. We lament when the pesky gophers pull our bush...

Wearing something green on St. Patrick’s Day has been a tradition since immigrants, particularly in the United States, transformed the holiday into a largely secular event celebrating all things Irish. Cities with large numbers of Irish immigrants staged parades going back to 1737 in...

Adding California natives to my collection of container plants has been a goal for a long time. Besides attracting birds and wildlife to the garden, they use less water than most container plants, plus they are beautiful. Since I have limited ground to garden,...

Mental health is an integral aspect of overall well-being, yet it often remains overshadowed by physical health. This disparity is particularly pronounced among men, who face unique societal pressures and stigmas that can hinder their ability to seek help. The Silent Struggle Traditionally, men have been...

At the Santa Cruz Gala event last month, hosted by the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce, I was lucky to be seated next to Nancie Newby, president of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation Board of Directors. Sometimes at large events you can be...