Home & Garden: Green stormwater projects have some costs, many benefits

How often do you think about what happens to the water that runs off our roofs, roads and sidewalks during a rainstorm?

Gently sloping and smooth green landscape can be gorgeous. And flat, well-mown lawns are great for romping on, kicking a ball, picnicking on. And a neat lawn bespeaks an organized life. Why mess with that?

You may have heard talk about rain gardens. Intuitively we can guess what they are: an area that has plants like a garden and collects rain. But what exactly are they and how do they work?

A Vermont non-profit organization called ReSOURCE, which has offices in Burlington, Barre and Hyde Park, is bringing its six-week, hands-on “Weatherization 101” training to Middlebury this summer. This six-week training starts July 1.

As warmer weather beckons Addison County residents outdoors this spring, there’s an uninvited guest they should keep watch for in their gardens, lawns and fields: jumping worms.

My Consumer Assistance Program is here to help with tips and resources for homeowners and residential contractors.

It happens all the time; someone buys a house, loves the location, isn’t wild about the structure itself. The question becomes, do they remodel the building to fit their needs, or tear it down and start new?

Every year the Middlebury Garden Club gives awards to public and private gardens in Addison County. To be considered, a garden must be able to be seen from the roadside and cannot belong to a current member of the club. 

Emily Johnston, the Public Outreach Coordinator for the Addison County Solid Waste Management District Board, invites homeowners and renters to come to a free workshop hosted by the ACSWMD this fall. Upcoming topics include Backyard Composting, Vermicompo … (read more)

After residing in older homes, Sally Jenks Roth knew that when she moved into a home in Bristol that was only a decade old, it would be more efficient to heat and cool simply because of the newer construction.

Have you been thinking about switching to an electric lawn mower? Ready to start converting some lawn to a pollinator garden? Come to the Weybridge Spring Eco-Fair.

You may have heard of jumping worms, sometimes referred to as “snake worms.” Worm castings that resemble coffee grounds on the soil’s surface are likely the first thing you’ll notice.

If you’ve got a gardening question, you can call the University of Vermont Extension Master Gardener Helpline to get an answer. 

Embodying the New England dream entails not only appreciating the region’s natural beauty, history and culture, but also actively engaging in the community and building a sustainable home.

Our greenhouse is much more than a collection of pretty plants. It is a magical space where, even in the depths of winter, we retreat to be immersed in the soothing presence of growing things.