… work and play, students in Windy City Harvest’s Youth Farm program have learned to adapt too. With a new way of doing things, the Youth Farm found themselves up against a few obstacles, but … Farm has been really calming, especially during COVID-19. It helps me feel happy, especially with how the world is now, and compared to my other job. I love coming to the Farm. It’s been … our communities, and mindfulness. They also set healthy goals and received weekly kits of food with recipes and instructional videos to cook at home. The whole Youth Farm team had to quickly …
Type: Blog
… When selecting mushrooms for spore prints, look for these things: The cap should be fully open with the gills exposed The gills should look good, not wet and mushy The mushroom should feel … the stems. I use scissors so I don’t pull up or damage any of the gills. Place the mushrooms with the gill side down on a piece of paper. Mushrooms with dark gills, like portobellos, have dark spores that show up well on white paper. Shiitake …
Type: Blog
… , probably caught your eye, and its peculiar perfume tickled your nose. It was also swarming with flying insects. The odor was not lovely and sweet. I would describe it as similar to musty, … at the Chicago Botanic Garden recently. 1. Carpenter bee Carpenter bees are often confused with bumble 2. Mason bee Mason bees are in the Megachile family. The are also known as leaf-cutter bees. This mason bee has filled the "pollen baskets" on its hind legs with pollen from the eryngo, and they are now swollen and bright yellow. Pollen is also sticking …
Type: Blog
… very few exceptions in healthy living plants, and most of the exceptions are partially green with red, yellow, orange, or white patterns; or they look white, but upon closer inspection they … But every once in a while, a completely white seedling sprouts from a seed. This happened with some basil I grew a few years ago. The green and albino seedlings came up at the same … green pigment necessary for photosynthesis—this seedling was doomed. That is the case with all albino plants. The gene mutation that gives rise to albino plants is fatal to the plant, …
Type: Blog
… As Curator of Aquatics I work with the Assistant Ecologist, Lakes and the team of Aquatic Seasonals to maintain our lake … areas fascinating to maintain and a great environment to test shoreline management strategies with use of native plantings and integrative pest management techniques. I’m also interested in …
Type: Staff bio
… The red fruit was hidden under the leaves. So if you try this activity, and you stick with it for six months, you, too, may be rewarded with a little treasure! …
Type: Blog
… or at least make their lives easier. For the most part, birds are perfectly capable of dealing with the weather and finding food. Most of the birds that are not able to cope have long since … The type of feeder can limit the size and types of birds you want to feed. Tubular feeders with small (or no) perches tend to prevent large birds from accessing the food. Tubular thistle … This is particularly important for tubular feeders, where birds are in much closer contact with the feeder. Washing with a weak bleach solution periodically is recommended. What kind of …
Type: Blog
… Hey, Chicago. It finally feels better outside. Everyone breathe a sigh of relief with me. Sigh. We made it. Now that it’s officially patio season, it’s time to get out and enjoy … shade, so she can’t even grow vegetables. My apartment has an eastern exposure back stairwell, with mostly shade and some indirect morning light. Here’s what she says about putting my plants … just for us humans. Plants can get scorched, too. Don’t put them in blazing sunlight. Porches with shade are prime locations for orchids and birds of paradise plants. The outdoors makes your …
Type: Blog
… herbs a cinch, I use an herb drying rack. You can also dry mint by tying it into a bundle with string and hanging it upside down. Mint There are so many kinds of mint —this year, I’m … less tangy and acidic—but it does provide a nice grassy, mild lemon profile. Packed with antioxidants, it is good for heart health and blood pressure, boosts immunity, and may even … and is ready to mix into ice water. To make the iced tea: Add the remaining 4 cups of water with ice to the concentrate along with lime juice and chill. Legend has it that tea was …
Type: Blog
… Add a little brightness to your family's day—play with food, make rainbow dough—and get in some nature play, too. Ready to turn ☹️ into☺? … gratitude.. Coloring in the Kitchen Hey, kids, here are three recipes that make playing with your food even more fun! Rainbow Salad Instead of just regular old salad, fruits and … an array of berries and peeled orange slices to plop into each pop. Let kids fill the forms with their own juice/fruit combos, then freeze. This is a decently healthy solution for sweet …
Type: Blog
