Discover practical tips, stylish decor ideas, and expert advice to create the home and garden of your dreams.
To feel comfortable in your apartment, organize the space so it’s both tasteful and practical. That doesn’t mean fillin…
On sweltering summer days in meadows where the grass hasn’t been cut, you can spot the delicate pinkish-red flowers of the field carnation, marked with dark stripes and white speckles.…
Green plants are among the most effective fighters against air pollution. Without them, life for humans would be much harder. Among green plants, vines hold a special place. They have…
About 10 to 15 years ago, the word “ecology” was hardly known to most people. Now it appears in every newspaper and comes up constantly at conferences. Unfortunately, this isn’t…
You’ve probably realized that just acquiring a garden plot doesn’t guarantee you’ll have a thriving garden. It takes a lot of hard work, especially if the soil is poor and…
One summer, the rains just wouldn’t let up, and like many livestock owners, I struggled to stockpile enough hay. As summer faded and autumn approached, the grass around us was…
I have a deep passion for poultry farming, especially chickens. My love for them began during my school years in the early 1930s, thanks to the principal and teacher, Mr.…
I’ve long wanted to see Angora rabbits. Where are they bred? Where do those fluffy tufts on their ears and paws come from, those adorable little bangs, and those magnificent…
You can fatten pigs without commercial feed. Early in the spring, I gather dandelion roots, cattails, young nettle shoots, and duckweed. I mix in a small amount of soaked breadcrumbs—about…
I am passionately engaged in pig farming. Over the past few years, I’ve experimented with various feeding methods and developed my own system for raising piglets—by three months, they weigh…
Not long ago, wild mushrooms were a common sight on dinner tables. Now their numbers are shrinking each year, and eating them is riskier because of accumulating contaminants. That concern…
Seventeen years ago my family received a small lemon tree as a gift in Pyatigorsk. It was probably two or three years old. In its very first year it bloomed…
Unlike currants, sea buckthorn, roses, and some other berry and ornamental plants, apple trees are difficult to root. However, modern misting systems, growth regulators, and other techniques that stimulate adventitious…
For centuries people have relied on the wild plants around them. Wild species often stand out for one big reason: they’re tougher in harsh conditions. Even now, with thousands of…
Bees are invaluable allies for melon growers. They boost yields of watermelons, melons, and pumpkins, so it’s common to see beehives in melon fields, especially in Uzbekistan. The natural conditions…
Watermelons, melons, and pumpkins are packed with medicinal benefits. Their value comes from vitamins, mineral salts, organic acids, and aromatic compounds that aid metabolism and improve nutrient absorption. That’s why…
Last year I discovered a previously unknown variety of radish that’s truly remarkable. In my unheated greenhouse I grow tomatoes and cucumbers, and early in spring I sow radishes in…
People have cultivated beans since ancient times, and their use was especially prominent in the 18th century in Germany, France, and Sweden. Beans were also popular among Russian peasants. Then…
As the New Year approaches, the days grow longer, and gardeners get busier than ever. It’s time to check seed supplies, buy any missing varieties, and get to work on…
A Little “Secret” All the chairs are arranged closely around the table, except for the main guest’s and the host’s. Guests sit on the side that lets them look out…
Family Adventures in the Woods We spent the weekend exploring the forest as a family. As we were getting ready to leave, Sasha—who didn’t want to go—turned away and, as…
I’m taking Sasha to preschool. Frustrated after trying to ask for a little brother, she exclaims in exasperation: “Mom, just tell me already, how are babies born?! I’ll just have…
Finally, we got some snow and a little frost. I was walking home from preschool with Sasha when she suddenly shouted: – MOM! I see ICE SKATING!!! It turned out…
I’m picking Sasha up from kindergarten. I ask: “How was your day? Were you good? Everything okay?” Sasha, super cheerful, says: “Mommy, everything was GREAT! … just don’t ask the…
There was no water. I cobbled together a mix of boiled and unboiled water to brush our teeth. The water wasn’t exactly drinkable… Sasha was brushing his teeth, and I…
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