Lynn and Jim McIntyre’s garden is a bird sanctuary. Cedar waxwings visit each year to feed on red elderberry fruit. Nuthatches hop along the trunks of trees looking for insects. Pileated woodpeckers tear apart rotting wood in search of a meal, and sapsuckers … read more

When thinking of food preservation, many people have visions of some big-production, time-consuming project with dozens of jars to fill with pounds and pounds of produce. But that doesn’t have to be the case. The first thing most people say to me, after … read more

For a shrub that looks like it belongs in the tropics, Fatsias are surprisingly hardy in our region. The plant provides spectacular foliar effects to the West Sound garden, whether it is a plain green-leaf species or one of the variegated cultivars. It’s … read more

If you want to feel good about the world, drive to Poulsbo and spend some time visiting Martha & Mary, a unique organization where kids get their start in life and seniors find a caring and peaceful place to spend the last part … read more

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt adapted from the book “Modern Pressure Canning,” recently released by Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. The glass clinks gently in the hot, soapy water as I wash my jars for this year’s canning. Sitting on the counter … read more

All plants have stories. Perhaps the plant was Grandma’s favorite cut flower. Or it was that green bean variety passed down through generations of family gardeners. Or that pretty veronica whose name you learned on that hike at Mount Rainier. Every kind of … read more

Imagine life without spice — boring! Truly, those little bottles of dried herbs that you line up in the kitchen and reach for when you cook add flavor to your life. Try cooking without a pinch of this or a dash of that. … read more

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from “Simple Organizing: 50 Ways To Clear the Clutter” published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon. Used by permission. When you’re organizing, here’s a simple formula to follow: Less stuff equals more time. This is especially true … read more

Two slices of pizza, a large beer, a large Sprite and a bag of peanuts, for a total of $37.50. That doesn’t count the $24.15 ferry fare each way and the minimum $20 to park, depending on how far you’re willing to walk. … read more