Author: Joseph Greenfinger

Hunger and food insecurity exist in every community in the United States. About 12.8 percent of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2022. That’s 17 million households experiencing food insecurity in a country that throws away more food than any other in the world—120 billion pounds per yearequivalent to nearly 40 percent of the total food produced in the United States. That’s 325 pounds of food wasted per person. In other words, no one in the United States should go hungry. There is plenty of food to share. It’s just a matter of getting the food to the hungry before…

Have you noticed large green caterpillars eating your tomato plants? Then there’s a good chance your plants are being eaten by tomato hornworms – or their close relative, the tobacco hornworm.A common pest of tomatoes, these greedy caterpillars can quickly destroy the leaves of tomato plants as well as peppers, eggplants and potatoes. You’ll need to act quickly to get rid of hornworms, as they can invade a vegetable patch in record time.Tomato hornworm is the larva of the five-spotted moth (Five-spotted Manduca), and is more common in northern states, while the tobacco hornworm is the larva of the Carolina…

Blood stains on carpets from cuts, menstrual periods, food preparation, or pets are some of the most common. Stains can be permanent if not treated quickly or properly, but they are easily cleaned with cool water, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide. Read on to learn the best methods for removing fresh and dried blood stains from carpet. Before start Never use hot water to treat a blood stain. Hot water will “cook” the proteins in the blood, making the stain more difficult to remove. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest…

Maybe add a garden bench, or buy a new charcoal grill for delicious smoky meals, or add lights to light up the garden in the evenings – for those days when you can’t get in the house.String lights and decorative lights are easy to adjust and arrange around different areas of your garden or patio, and whether they’re solar or grid-powered, they’re incredibly versatile. The difference between these string lights and the kind you’d wrap around a Christmas tree is that they have to be sturdy, which usually means they’ll be a little more expensive. Still, here are six of…

Sunflowers may seem unassuming, and if anything, they seem like a very vibrant and cheerful addition to your garden. But recently, there has been a widespread idea that these flowers are essentially garden vampires. According to this theory, sunflowers are suspected of killing other plants or at least taking away nutrients from other plants. Before you confront the culprit or rush to dig them all up, know that this is a myth. According to two experts we spoke to, sunflowers are just great at taking nutrients from their surroundings, but they are not the plant killers that they are currently…

Even if you don’t recognize its quirky name, you’ve probably seen quackgrass in your yard, whether on your lawn or in your garden. This creeping weed is a perennial that forms a thick mat. Prevention is the best method of controlling quackgrass, but if it’s too late, you can get rid of quackgrass by using control methods that are known to work against it. Quackgrass is easier to kill in gardens, but you can get rid of quackgrass from your lawn if you take the right steps. Learn all about quackgrass, including what it looks like, how it differs from…

Happy Monday GPODers! Today we’re getting really artistic with a submission from Tracy Lewis of Denver, Colorado. Tracy has been growing vegetables in her garden for years now, producing enough to feed her family and help out some of her neighbors, an impressive and interesting garden, but the addition of a stunning garden-themed mural really takes the space to the next level: After building and raising 8 raised beds at the beginning of the COVID pandemic and adding a few beehives 2 years later, our garden has grown enough to feed us and several neighbors from May to October in…

Buying your first home or apartment is a daunting process for many people, but doing your research beforehand will ensure that you start the journey with as much knowledge as possible. Reading up on the dos and don’ts of home buying before you start will make your experience much more enjoyable. Rob McGibney, president and CEO of homebuilder KB Home, shares five common mistakes first-time homebuyers make, and how to avoid them. Meet the expert Rob McGibney is the chairman and CEO of home construction company KB Home. Think you need a 20 percent down payment Many people believe that…

Hydrangeas are really making a comeback. The blooms are bigger, the colors are brighter, and it feels like they’ve become the official floral symbol of summer. But if you’ve ever bought cut hydrangeas, you know they don’t last very long. While you can dry and preserve cut hydrangeas, it’s not the same as a fresh bouquet. So when I saw this tip from Skye Hamilton from @hamiltonhousedesigns to help them last longer, I was intrigued. The only problem? This hack seems very, very strange! In summary, here are the steps: When you notice your hydrangeas are wilting or have completely…

While we don’t often see hanging TVs in carefully curated living room photos, the reality is that most people enjoy watching TV while sitting on the sofa—and there’s nothing wrong with having a TV in the living room. In many living spaces, the wall area above the fireplace is the most logistical place to hang a TV. So how do you decorate your fireplace? We’ve got some expert tips to help you do just that. Design by Sarah Lyon / Photos by Allie Provost How to Decorate a Fireplace with a TV In my New York City apartment, I chose…