The Mountain Gardener | All About Soil
The calendar shows it’s spring. The longer days definitely say “spring.” And the weather couldn’t be more “spring-like.” But I'm concerned about the soil in my small garden. Besides battling the gophers (what could they be finding to munch on down there?), my soil...
The Mountain Gardener | What’s New in the Garden for 2024
Gardening trends come and go. Who doesn’t love to read garden magazines with all those beautiful photographs during the winter and dream about your garden’s potential. Ditto for all the gardening blogs on the internet that are written by some very talented people who...
Guest Column | Fifth District May Highlights: Community Events, Progress on Key Issues and Budget Talks
May is shaping up to be busy in the Fifth District with several great community events and notable progress on important issues.
On May 11, the 27th annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards will be at Scotts Valley High School. This is a special opportunity for...
The Mountain Gardener | Growing Vegetables in Containers, Small Spaces or Shade
I have been gardening for a very long time. But even now I feel I know just a little bit about a whole lot of subjects. Every day I learn something new. Now that spring weather has finally arrived I’m anxious to start planting...
Guest Viewpoint | Proposition 44 Weakens Santa Cruz County’s Healthcare Safety Net
Every day, community health centers ensure people can see a doctor, manage chronic illness, receive behavioral health support and get preventive care. In Santa Cruz County, that care is not an abstraction. It is a lifeline for nearly 14,000 patients served by Santa Cruz...
The Mountain Gardener | Rx for Sad Houseplants
It’s been a tough couple weeks for my houseplants. Power outages from recent storms made me move my African violet, which was just starting to bloom over to a window for more light. Others are staged on tabletops. I know my houseplants clean the...
TherapyWorks | 5 Simple Ways to Boost Mental Health
Taking care of your mental health doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. Small, simple actions that turn into habits can make a big difference in how you feel and how you handle life’s stressors.
Whether you're a busy parent, a student juggling responsibilities,...
Rethink the lawn and save money too
Water is a precious and vital resource. Our bodies are about 60 percent water and our brain—a whopping 70 percent. Less than 1 percent of the water on the Earth, however, is suitable for human consumption. With the population increasing and the water supply...
Plain Talk About Food | A Place to Call Home
“The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
Eighteen years ago my sweet Hubby Norm and I, after months of soul-searching to determine if that was the right time to downsize and be nearer to our children, we made...
Scotts Valley police receive $25K traffic safety grant
Scotts Valley Police Department has received a $25,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to support programs promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety.
The...
