Articles written by Greg Spinks

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About me - Greg Spinks

I live in a small, rural township in northwestern Pennsylvania. Enjoy just about everything outdoors, learning and meeting people. In particular, I enjoy writing and my own space.

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Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) Essential fall garden tasks: 1 of 9
All season's are busy in any garden. Fall, in particular, has it's own urgency as winter looms; there is no set date for it's imminent arrival, it can be early or late. While every garden has it's own requirements and environmental conditions, there are some basic autumn tasks.Fall clean-up is as important as spring clean-up ... More..
Home & Garden > Weeds & Pests What to do when tomato blight strikes your garden: 1 of 9
Tomato blight is perhaps one of the most disheartening tragedies that can befall the tomato gardener. While the blackened leaves and dying plants are dashing all hopes of success, there is hope. But it does require some extra work. Good gardening isn't for the faint of heart.The first step is attitude. Blight is a challenge. ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Food & Agriculture Consumer view on agriculture: 6 of 42
Modern agriculture needs to focus on several linked issues; food safety and nutrition; nearly inseparable are environmental issues and affordable consumer prices. The local community, small family farm needs to be re-examined and supported since it has the best opportunity to meet these challenges. Smaller, local and family o... More..
Home & Garden > Weeds & Pests Should you use pesticides to control garden weeds?: 4 of 28
Pesticides should never be used to control weeds in any garden. The synthetic chemicals are deadly to our natural environment. The very use of these dangerous compounds raises many concerns; public safety, environmental and economic issues.Increasingly, there seems to be growing evidence and scientific research which indicate... More..
Home & Garden > Weeds & Pests Methods for getting rid of slugs and snails: 2 of 12
Slugs and snails can devour dozens of plants and developing vegetables almost overnight; it is a horrible to sight to watch a slug weaving in and out of the first ripening tomatoes or devouring the first lettuce greens with a Paul Bunyan appetite. While it is nearly impossible to eliminate the pests short of a scorched earth ... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking (Other) Great seasonal spring ingredients for your cooking recipes: 1 of 6
The Good Harbingers of Spring Wild leeks, or as some call them, ramps, are a sure sign in northwestern Pennsylvania that winter has ended. Patches of the green, small leaves start to cover the woodlands and creek sides usually around mid-April just around the opening day of trout. It doesn't take long before the bulb of this ... More..
Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) Gardening: Winter activities: 1 of 6
Winter activities in the garden depend on the garden and what is planted in the home food plot. For example, mid to late winter is a good time for pruning apples, grapes and blueberry bushes. Maybe repair some fencing for the pole beans and peas. But other than those tasks, not much else can be done when the snow is three fee... More..
Society & Lifestyle > African-American Issues Should the Confederate flag be banned?: 2 of 10
The American Civil War was an ugly tragedy. Well, over 650,000 men, women and children were killed ( and that could be on the low side of estimates), vast tracts of land were laid to waste and there remains hundreds of untold atrocities. People were executed by firing squads, hung from trees, or jammed into inhumane, rat infe... More..
Food & Drink > Fruits & Vegetables What are edible ramps?: 1 of 5
Ramps, also called wild leeks in some regions, are one of springs most flavorful wild foods. Soon after the winter snows melt, woodland areas in much of eastern North America blush with green as colonies of wild leeks emerge from their winter slumber. The ancient ritual begins weeks before the forest leaves shade the brown... More..
Home & Garden > Weeds & Pests How to attract bees to your garden: 3 of 12
Bees are essential to mankind; without them there would likely be severe food shortages. The honeybees, domesticated and feral, along with hundreds of other native species are necessary for the pollination of many of our food crops. Some of the crops dependent on the bees are apples, strawberries, pumpkins, nuts, squash, and ... More..