Moving forward

Dorm shopping can be overwhelming. The lists of must-haves grow ever-longer, meaning you definitely “missed” something while moving into the college room—whether for yourself or a loved one. But whoever may be nesting in the small space, it’s now been a few weeks. You’ve gotten a feel for what you need to pick up versus what you don’t, and may be looking to fill in some gaps that make dorm living more comfortable, convenient, and stylish.

At times, usually when I supposed to be doing something else because I’m a grad student and procrastination of some form seems to be part of the gig, I find myself planning what plants I would include in an imaginary biodome on a inhospitable planet many astronomical units away. Imaginary biodomes are one of my favourite thought exercises – to me it is the perfect fusion of my love of space exploration and my attempts to grow as much as my own food as I can in my small backyard.

Today is Asteroid Day!

Moving is an undertaking, no matter how you slice it. Navigating the renting or buying process, finding the funds to invest in a new place, and packing up all of your belongings takes a lot of time and effort. Often, overwhelmed by everything else, we forget about the money that goes into actually making the move. You'll need to finalize your budget and make sure you have what you need to move before getting started—but what does it really cost to move? Home services website Angi surveyed 1,000 people to find out just how much it takes, so you can be better equipped for the next big transition.

College move-in day can be almost as stressful as it is exciting. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first or your fourth—there are many things to consider and many ways to make your new temporary living place feel like home.

Our bodies are a combination of 206 bones and more than 600 muscles that do everything from pumping blood to helping us carry heavy groceries to the kitchen. Just like any other animal, our bodies are designed for movement. Muscles need to stay in shape to work properly and keep us active in the ways we are accustomed to moving. Our ancestors were constantly on the move engaging in manual labor or walking as a means of transportation. Compared to generations before us, we are spending increasing amounts of time in environments that limit our ability to be physically active. Thanks to modern conveniences that have created less physically demanding lives, we are often in situations that encourage prolonged sitting – at home, work, travel, and social gatherings. Evidence shows that all this time spent sitting is having serious effects on our health.

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) (SLF) is the latest non-native species to take hold in the U.S. This planthopper is large (about a half-inch long) and originally from several countries in the Far East. It was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014, and active infestations are now established in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and as of just last week, North Carolina. SLF has not been detected in South Carolina, but it is an insect for which we need to be on the lookout.

Farmhouse sinks have been a favorite of interior designers and homeowners alike for years. When renovating a kitchen, one of the most important features is the sink, and the classic aesthetic, depth, and variation of materials that farmhouse sinks offer often make them a winning choice.

“I planted 3 A. giganteum bulbs in an area where a large spruce had recently been removed,” Elizabethsflowers wrote. “They came up last year, but didn’t seem happy—the leaves quickly turned brown, and the flowers weren’t too impressive. I think they might have been unhappy in that acidic soil. I meant to move them last fall, but forgot! Can I carefully move them now, before they bloom, or should I wait?” So what’s is the answer for alliums, and for other bulbs?MOVING ‘IN THE GREEN,’ OR NOT?I would not try to move alliums “in the green” (meaning when they are up and growing), I told Elizabethsflowers. The risk of breaking off the

LEST YOU THINK I HAVE FORGOTTEN YOU, and my commitment to post new garden how-to and woo-woo regularly, it just ain’t so. The weekend was devoted to a higher purpose: moving A Way to Garden to a new, very macho server in Texas, where it can welcome as many of you as wish to show up at any given moment…which we hear might be happening soon.

THIS SUBJECT ALWAYS RATTLES ME A BIT: When to move flower bulbs that you want to relocate, or divide? There are proponents of the “in the green” tactic, meaning to move them when they have their foliage on, and others who say no, no, never–do it once they ripen, or even in fall.

THIS ISN’T JUST LOW-TECH, IT’S SLOW-TECH. Even with my old gas-powered push mower (emphasis on “push” on this hilly terrain) and the tractor for the outermost areas, I’m clocking a minimum of 45 minutes a day and not keeping up.