9 clever ways to give your old sponges a second life
BY THE OPITMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM You know the feeling: you’re staring at a sponge that’s clearly past its kitchen prime, and something makes you pause before dropping it in the bin. Good instinct. Old sponges, especially natural ones made from cellulose or other plant-based materials, Read More...
4 reasons your lawn looks thin this spring and how to fix them
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Most lawn care advice focuses on the grass itself: the seed variety, the mowing height, the fertilizer schedule. Tony Burris, Lawn Services Supervisor at Killingsworth Environmental, says that framing misses the mark. “Soil with poor nutrient Read More...
How to keep your garden snake-free
We decided to dust off this older story which offers some great solutions. In many parts of the world, the summer is also snake season, and now is the time to be wary. There are plenty of different kinds of snakes. Some are harmless and actually help out their hosts by providing free pest Read More...
A guide to the bugs eating your garden plants
The summer garden season is in full swing, but finding crawling critters and hole-filled leaves among your delicious produce can dampen your harvest season. If pests are eating away at your garden goods, here’s a guide on how to identify and banish those unwanted bugs. First of all, the Read More...
Feeling restless? Here’s how to channel that into something good
Whether you’ve got something major on your mind or you’ve eaten too much sugar, sometimes it simply feels impossible to sit still. You may be familiar with the feelings: anxious, antsy feet, jittery body, crawling skin, general unease, or quickening breath. This overwhelming energy can be very Read More...
The climate victory garden movement is springing up all over America
A lot of people picked up vegetable gardening as a pandemic pastime, but what started as a casual time (and tummy) filler has become a mainstay for many Americans. According to Green America, an organization focused on encouraging people to grow their own food to fight climate change, offset Read More...
How to help the ocean from anywhere
We all have one big thing in common these days: the changing climate. We are all united by this because it will affect all of us, be it in the form of winter storms, drought, or sea-level rise. The good news is that we can all affect the climate too, in a positive way. Even living in the Midwest, Read More...
Four ways to clean your house plants
Cleaning your plants may seem trivial, but there is scientific support behind keeping your leafy friends squeaky clean. The stomata and chlorophyll of plants, which absorb carbon dioxide and help perform photosynthesis, can be clogged and blocked by dirt and dust. Cleaning your plants helps ensure Read More...
Make your green thumb even greener by cultivating a zero-waste garden
If the thought that’s keeping you warm through these winter months is looking forward to getting back into your garden, you're surely not alone. We’ve shared many stories that tout the benefits of gardening, not only for the gardeners’ overall health but for the health of our natural Read More...
So your compost has mold? What it means and what to do about it
So you’ve set up a functioning compost system in your backyard. First things first, congratulations! But how do you know if your compost is healthy and thriving? Mold and fungi are actually a sign of a functioning compost pile, but not all kinds of mold are good. Check out the list below to Read More...