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Starting and Maintaining a vegetable garden can be a great activity to keep your kitchen stocked with fresh, organic vegetables. It’s also a great way to spend time with friends and family. But… how does one start a garden? Here are some tips to get your garden started and help it thrive! 1. Location Plan …

It’s the first day of spring! Wondering how to celebrate the season? Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered!  Make your own spring tonic soup using edible, organic plants. Watch a penumbral lunar eclipse on March 25. Choose an outdoor-themed book to read (check out our reading list for suggestions).  Spend an hour enjoying a stroll …

Are you looking for an exciting and beautiful destination to journey to for the start of the new year? Look no further than the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! These mountain peaks are stunning at any time of year, including winter.  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the #1-visited national park in the U.S …

Today marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year — the winter solstice!  It also serves as the official ushering in of winter. Here are some things you can do to celebrate this chilly season.  Go on a Hunt  Bundle up your family and go on a winter scavenger hunt! Fewer leaves …

Few plants remind us of the south like Magnolia trees, with their massive cream blossoms and heady, sweet aroma. If you’ve spent much time in the south at all, you’ve probably seen some of these trees, but how much do you actually know about them? Range The Southern Magnolia (scientific name: magnolia grandiflora, also known …

It’s the first day of fall! Below are some ideas for celebrating the season!  Invite some outdoorsy friends to enjoy free National Park admission on Veteran’s Day, November 11th. Pick a pumpkin off the vine. Find pumpkin patches and more. Replace your tired summer annuals with a salad garden: arugula, radishes, carrots and baby lettuce …

Summer is not my favorite season. Sure, there’s a lot to love (long daylight hours, cold, refreshing treats, beautiful summer blooms), but when we’re reaching the upper 90’s every day, I’ve had enough.  But another great thing about summer is that the next season is fall. And I love fall. A Sweet Season  It’s not …

This year, the Perseid meteor shower is observable from July 17 to August 24. But this weekend, it’s set to reach its peak. The best time to see it: around 4:00 am EST on Sunday, August 13.  The name “Perseids” comes from the apparent trajectory of these meteors. They appear to streak from the direction …

In the middle of Massachusetts rests the cozy little village of Shelburne Falls. At first a major salmon-fishing site when the colonists first came to America, Shelburne Falls later becoming a source of waterpower because of the Deerfield River that bisects it. I have a personal connection to the town, as my great-grandparents lived there …

Sometimes life can feel like one hectic schedule after another, and you are always on the go. But if you have a quiet day at home, an afternoon off, or even just an hour of free time, take advantage of the break in your day. You may have to be intentional about it, but there …

One of North Carolina’s greatest attractions in the high country is Grandfather Mountain, the highest peak on the eastern portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Standing at nearly 6000 feet, it is located at the confluence of three counties: Avery, Caldwell and Watauga. This impressive site boasts many attractions, such as its mile-high swinging bridge, …

For Americans, the 4th of July is a time to remember, respect, and celebrate the freedoms we as continue to enjoy. One of the main symbols of those freedoms is the bald eagle, which was named America’s national bird in 1782. Bald eagles were given this title due to their majestic appearance, ferocity, and independence—qualities …

In Chatham County, North Carolina, lies a nearly 14,000-acre reservoir known as B. Everett Jordan Lake. It is loved by campers, hikers, boaters, fishermen, and general admirers of nature alike. Built as a flood control effort and completed in 1974, it now serves as a main water source for multiple surrounding towns and cities, and …

We are right at summer’s doorstep! Here are some fun ways to welcome the season, get the kids outside, and enjoy nature together.  1. Hiking – Take the day to walk some trails! This can be a good bonding experience between parents/caregivers and children and keeps everyone active. It can also yield some amazing views …

As a recent college graduate in a busy internship and someone who has both generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, being proactive in taking care of myself is crucial. I’m not always the best at it—especially when life is busy and I don’t have a lot of spare time or energy. However, there’s one …

Today is Earth Day, a day set aside each year to help raise awareness of the need to protect our natural resources.  Wondering how to celebrate the day? Here are three easy ideas to get you started:  1. Start a Nature Journal: Sometimes it’s hard to care about something when you don’t know much about …

It’s the first day of spring, and there’s plenty to celebrate this season! Check out the list of special days this spring, then head outside and enjoy!  March 30 is National Take a Walk in the Park day. Spend an hour enjoying a lovely stroll in your favorite park! April 5 is National Walking Day. …

What happens when a dedication to the natural world is right in your own backyard? For my family, we didn’t have to look any further than Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Charlotte, NC. Education, stewardship, sharing, and opportunities for getting together as a community are steeped in Wing Haven’s roots. The History  Back …

For many of us, a new year means a little bit more than simply breaking out a new calendar.  It provides an alluring opportunity for a “fresh start” and often stirs within us a surge of motivation to become a better version of ourselves than we were in the year before.  Admittedly, I am a …

It’s the first day of winter! Here are some fun ways you can celebrate the season:  1. Make your own centerpieces from natural materials: pine boughs, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, sprigs of rosemary, or floating cranberries.  2. Take advantage of the abundance of citrus fruits. 3. Go snow-tubing.  4. Take a high-definition photo or use a …