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Showin’ some love
In our horticulture work, we often marvel at our plants’ abilities to adapt and survive. Seeds dropped or discarded on the edge of a concrete path will grow to produce flowers, and sometimes do even… Read more
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Trade wars blowin’ up prices
I am not an economist but I learned back in Economics 100 (won’t say how long ago that was) that tariffs harmed both parties participating in a trade war. It is baffling that the mission… Read more
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Build it like a beaver
Have you ever heard of a beaver dam analog? Well, I had not so when a volunteer opportunity to construct one at The Wilderness Center arose, I signed on. Beaver dam analogs (BDAs) are dams… Read more
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Starvation is imminent
Since January 2025, multiple USDA funds have been cancelled by the current president. Many of the funding programs cut have in common the goal to educate, conserve land and to feed children and vulnerable Americans.… Read more
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Searching for sustainable Fabrics? Modal may not be the answer
I went to Walmart the other day and uncharacteristically, I strayed over to the summer t-shirt area. I stopped shopping at Walmart for several years because I found myself buying things that I really wasn’t… Read more
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Don’t buy it—make your own!
I was in the grocery store and I walked down the cake aisle. I didn’t really want cake so I decided to look for a muffin mix. I picked up the GF mix that I… Read more
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Organic for All
Weeds. Yes, indeed they can be very unsightly. But did you ever stop and notice which “weeds” are getting chomped on? This summer we took notice. We discovered that the insects (we’re no longer calling… Read more
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Battling an unknown beast
Among the many disappointments of the 2025 growing season, the rhubarb had the life sucked out of it. It fell over, partially from the heat, but most likely because its source of energy—its leaves—were chomped… Read more
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Climate Change Up Close & Personal
I volunteer with the Climate Reality Group, the local park system and a conservation center. It’s part of the plan implemented to “get serious” about climate change and environmental conservation. On some days, I feel… Read more
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Enjoy it as long as you can
It’s another peaceful day at the lake. Get outside and enjoy nature! Do it while you can, because the EPA is no longer policing industry as it did in the Biden administration. From CNN: The… Read more
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Loving on the Planet
Small animals are attempting to take over parts of our property. Apparently, we are running some type of animal flophouse and the guests are up running around at different times of the day. Chipmunks, squirrels,… Read more
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Feed the Birds SAFER this Winter
Everyone I know enjoys the beauty of flowers during spring and summer. Whether in-ground or in containers, flowers add that oomph! to a front yard. Curb appeal. But nobody I know likes it when the… Read more
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Eating for Healthy Feet
Are you taking good care of your feet? No, I don’t mean going to nail salons and having paints and other chemicals sprayed on your feet. Or having them scraped by shared, but perhaps sanitized… Read more
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How fresh is the garlic?
Repelling most people (and vampires!), garlic is a favorite at mealtime. It has been a few years since we tried—and failed—to grow garlic in our garden. The rodent thieves always find it and dig it… Read more
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More look-alike plants: Mallows
We learn something new with every new plant that gets planted. For one, we learn whether it is possible for us to grow it (!), and for two, we observe what it looks like in… Read more
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Happy Halloween!
Lots of things go bump in the night but this one just bungee jumps off the roof. This is one reason we never go outside after dark. 😱 Read more
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A handful of mint
Mint is an herb that comes in many varieties, including spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint and others. Out of the many, our favorites are spearmint and peppermint, appreciated both for their scent and their flavors. Spearmint… Read more
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Fruit tree trials (and tribulations)
Vitamin C is essential and getting it can be costly in stores. Oranges are quite expensive and given their time in transport and storage, they spoil pretty quickly. To get our C, we usually buy… Read more
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Happy Independence Day!
This year has been especially interesting for the U.S. Constitution. To commemorate the holiday, we are publishing the Constitution’s index. Read the document so you know its purpose. Have a wonderful holiday with your family… Read more
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“Cuash” leaves
How old were you when you figured out that different plants in the garden have different leaves? I was yesterday years old. LOL. No really, it has taken me years to learn to pay close… Read more
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Take a moment…
Sometimes we just have to stop and enjoy nature. We #givad@mn about conservation and we hope our readers do, too. Protect your local animals, waterways, air, and soil. We follow, support and learn from many… Read more
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Once a year
Corn. Oh sweet, sweet corn. It is harvested in May in Ohio, and if you’re lucky, you can get into the stores selling it and buy some before they run out. This year, I was… Read more
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Stop. Listen. Look up.
What did you see? Sometimes it takes a while to find the source of the beautiful birdsong but if you are patient enough, the singer will show itself. We are birders, and have been for… Read more
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Extreme Heat and Pregnancy
Stating that climate change is false does nothing to stop it. Head in or head out of that roadrunner hole in the ground, the Earth is getting warmer. And, extreme heat threatens maternal and infant… Read more
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The Lilacs
We love the native plants. Yes we do. In fact, we recently purchased from The Wilderness Center’s Native Plant Sale. The Little Lady Lilac, a favorite, is a trademarked perennial flowering shrub that is not… Read more
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What’ve we got to lose?
Whew! With bad and sad news about family members and losses, and of course, the ongoing frenzy about political chaos that dominating the news media, this has been quite a week. During weeks like this,… Read more
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Take a hike!
No that’s not meant to be insulting. When was the last time you got outside? If it has been a while, it’s time to take a hike. On April 5 the ColorBlindWork team will be… Read more
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Zapping the Roots
I have been using steel, aluminum and copper wire in the vicinity of my gardens for years, primarily in the form of protective fencing. I had heard years ago from a veteran gardener that the… Read more
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Agent Orange
No, I am not using a derogative to describe the current president—but this content does involve him. Recently, he halted the cleanup of the Vietnam-era herbicide (the first reason it made it onto our blog)… Read more
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USDA Discrimination
Greetings! It’s the final day of Black History Month 2025! Before we get into our post this week, we start with a question: Thank you for participating in our short survey. We did not write… Read more
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The Hill We Climb
What we’re feeling today: Ms. Amanda Gorman reciting her January 2021 inaugural poem for President Joe Biden, “The Hill We Climb.” Happy third week of Black History Month 2025! ColorBlindWork | People. Plants. Purpose. Let’s… Read more
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I would have built a greenhouse
A few years ago, one of my relatives sent me a snapshot of some jewelry her significant other had purchased for her. She left the price tag visible so I knew the cost of it.… Read more
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Agricultural Contributions
Americans of African descent have made impacts on the farming industry, horticulture and related food processes from the first arrival in the British colonies and from the time the United States was formed. Today, that… Read more
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Environmental Justice
Among the many former presidential executive orders revoked in the last week, one concerns environmental justice in minority communities. Executive Order 12898, signed by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1994, mandates that all federal… Read more
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A different way to grow: Tools
The second webinar in the “A different way to grow” series. This time we talked about tools. Not just the tools that may first come to mind—like a trowel—but other tools for sustainable gardening. Hope… Read more
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Dodging Store-Bought Disease
Whenever I brought home cakes, cookies or any type of dish to my mom, her first question was always, “Is it from scratch?” For anyone unfamiliar with that term, it’s the southeastern U.S. synonym for… Read more
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With the end in mind: Sourcing
I haven’t done much corporate work in supply chain management, but whenever I had the authority to make purchases, I made informed decisions in fulfilling my responsibilities. Now that I am building a business promoting… Read more
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Soul Food & Our Souls
This holiday season was marred by the death of a favorite aunt, my mom’s sister, who she always called “O.M.” O.M. passed away after a long, full life. Her health declined due to a physical… Read more
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A peck of pickled peppers
If you’re a person of a certain age, you may recall the tongue-twister about Peter Piper and his peck of pickled peppers. My mom taught us that one and some selling of seashells, and that… Read more
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Is it safe to Eat? Grow your own!
Sick after eating contaminated spinach or lettuce? Tired of being nervous over vegetable recalls? Wasting money because you have to compost suspicious looking vegetables (that looked fresh in the bag?) Unfortunately, we can relate to… Read more
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Herbs & spices can do what…?!
Herbs and spices are often viewed only as food additives. But did you know that they are beneficial to your health? That rosemary, cardamom, cinnamon and turmeric that you have diced, sliced, chopped and pushed… Read more
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Good (Home) Forestry Practices
I learned a bit about forestry practices during the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist training this summer. The Holden Arboretum Hidden Forest and Gardens speaker talked about how to manage forests to protect wildlife and encourage… Read more
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Setting up a Garden Indoors
Our parents, grandparents and our ancestors from way, way back all grew gardens. We are continuing in that tradition, both outdoors and indoors. I believe I can grow just about anything indoors—and I have tried,… Read more
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What’s going down the drain?
I hate to admit this but when I was younger, I threw some trash down the storm drain (yikes! 😲). No one had ever told me not to do this; however, it’s like that because… Read more
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Brown-bagging in the garden
It’s getting colder outside and if you still have remnants of your summer garden—in particular, tomatoes—harvest them now. If you don’t the stinkbugs just might move into your fruits. What can you do to avoid… Read more
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Working out is a part-time job
I work out every day. Yes, every day. As I’ve grown older, I noticed that I have to do about twice the work that I did just 10 years ago. Maybe three times the work… Read more
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