Your Health: Flu season not over despite slowdown
Flu activity seems to have quieted down recently, for which we can all be thankful. But the flu season is not over yet. Influenza is still out there.
The Mountain Gardener: Learn about drought tolerant plants at faire
Without a doubt, the most requested item I'm asked in the design process is to include low water-use plants and garden solutions that are low maintenance. We live in the west where rainfall occurs predominantly from late fall through late spring and the amount and duration vary tremendously. Whether you live in the shade or the sun, it's a smart idea to keep water costs down in the summer and to preserve this natural resource.
Plain Talk About Food: The truth about lard…leaf lard and tamales
Lard can be a touchy subject for many cooks who have or have not cooked with lard over the past 50 years, especially if you have not brought yourself up to speed with the new way pigs today are being raised on sustainable farms — such as Flying Pigs Farm in upstate New York.
The Mountain Gardner:The perfect mix
A gardener's life: water, prune, plant, rake, weed, stake. Repeat as necessary. Then smell the roses, harvest the vegetables and pick a mixed bouquet of flowers, grasses and greens to enjoy inside.
Your Health: Radiation exposure fears dispelled
There has been much hype about radiation danger since the recent tragic events in Japan. Right off the bat let me dispel several common fears. As of this writing there is absolutely no need for anyone on the west coast to take potassium iodide pills to prevent thyroid cancer. There has been no significant increase in the local levels of radioactive iodine here on the West Coast, and unless conditions at the Fukushima plant radically change, it is unlikely that we will receive dangerous levels here.
Homeless Point-in-Time Count shows continued progress in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County Housing for Health Partnership (H4HP) has released results of the 2025 Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, demonstrating a significant drop in individuals...