Hawaiian Flower Identification for Beginners
Hawaii is a fascinating place for all kinds of biology. This tropical paradise is made up of volcanic islands. These islands appeared in the ocean with no life whatsoever. In the beginning, the Hawaiian islands were simply mounds of lava rock. All native species on...
How to Identify the 10 Most Common Fruit Plants
Most people can easily tell apart apples from bananas, and oranges from blackberries. But, how easy is it to identify the plants they come from? To find out, here’s a guide on how to identify the 10 most common fruit plants. Before we begin, let’s go over some basics...
How To Plan and Start Growing an Herb Garden
Diving into the world of herbs is fascinating. Herbs can be used in a variety of ways - culinary, medicinal, and as companion plants. They’re pollinator-friendly additions to the garden and often add color while also being functional. Growing an herb garden isn’t...
What Is Terrace Farming?
People around the world have discovered clever ways to farm in tough conditions. Their land could be too dry, too wet, too hot, or prone to insects or damaging storms. If the land is too steep, people might try terrace farming. Cultures in Peru, Japan, the...
Top 5 Lavender Plant Uses
If you’ve ever walked past a lavender plant, you’ll know that the smell of lavender is one of the richest, most soothing scents there is. Lavender is a fragrant herb laden with small, purple flowers. It’s perhaps one of the most well-recognized scents, and it’s...
Intro to the Mint Plant (and the Top Mint Plant Uses)
Not all of us have a green thumb, but some plants are so ubiquitous that you can’t help but encounter them in everyday life. Mint is one of those plants. It’s probably in your toothpaste, or in a pot nearby as you walk down the street. There are a lot of reasons you...
History of the Poppy Flower
The history of the poppy flower is a rich one. The popular plant is not only famous for its pretty flowers, but also for its use in the production of a highly addictive drug called opium. It also allows us to produce some of the most important medicine in the world,...
How Do Pineapples Grow?
The pineapple is a tropical fruit that travels far in our modern age. Whether you live in the fjords of Iceland or the open prairies of Nebraska, chances are there are little pineapple cubes in your fruit cup, frozen bags of it in the freezer section of the grocery...
What Is Chaga? Intro to the Alaskan Medicinal Mushroom
If you haven’t heard of chaga, you aren’t alone. This mushroom, while wildly popular amongst certain groups in the far northern reaches of the planet, has yet to make it into mainstream culture. That being said, it is rapidly gaining celebrity for its wide variety of...
Guide to Identifying Tree Fungus (and the 3 Most Common Types)
What’s growing on that tree? This is a question you may have asked yourself once or twice on a walk around your neighborhood, in the park, or out in the wilderness somewhere. If you’ve ever wondered about an odd-looking growth on a trunk, stump, or branch, you’re not...