One of the things that drew me to Germantown was the amount of space to plant things in the ground. I’ve had my share of container gardens in concrete backyards that left me wanting to grow more plants. What I really wanted was enough space to grow my own food. In a time when supply
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Rebranding is the first step. Instead of having a “cleaning day,” which sounds a bit like a list of chores, I have what I call a “home day” — a day where I set aside time to take care of the house’s needs. There is no prescription for what order to do things in, or
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In a search for meaning, a social entrepreneur gets back to her roots Illustration by Faye Zhang Essay by Nancy S. Cleveland I had an uncle we thought must be a CIA operative. At his memorial service, I was talking with one of his colleagues (a guy whose body language screamed, “Don’t ask me what
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If we’ve all lost our minds together, can we really know what’s happening? Illustration by Jameela Wahlgren Interview by Heather Shayne Blakeslee Occasionally, a great reckoning will sweep through a culture, unveiling a world that will be shocking to some and unsurprising to others, but forcing change nonetheless. Take, for instance, the election of Donald
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Federal policies are harming Pennsylvania Illustration by Clarissa Eck By Jacqui Bonomo President Trump’s napalming of environmental protection is withering the air, water, landscape and public health of our nation. As the president’s agenda begins to manifest in on-the-ground changes—at the state and federal levels, in our fragile ecosystems, in waterways and throughout our imperiled
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Two Pennsylvania court cases could end partisan political districts—possibly even in time for the 2018 elections. Illustration by Michael Wohlberg By Kyle Bagenstose The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania tackles a long list of pressing issues: drilling in the Marcellus shale, child welfare, collective bargaining and campaign finance among them. But more than any
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To everything, there is a season The winter outlines of bare trees against the sky always look particularly beautiful when dusk briefly passes behind them—the elegant and intricate silhouettes are otherworldly. That they are the same creatures who only months ago were abundant with leaves fluttering in warm sun is fascinating. In this part of
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In an overgrown herb patch, a hitn of health, a family line and leaves of black history By Constance Garcia-Barrio “Your mint’s running amok,” my neighbor, an avid gardener, said one sunny afternoon. “Let it go much longer, you’ll need a machete to hack it down.” Despite the warning, I aimed to let the mint
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1. Make a holiday wreath. If you celebrate Christmas, living in small spaces in cities often means not decorating a real tree. But a wreath will fit just fine, and you’ll still get that fresh pine scent. 2. Go wassailing. You’ve got two options in the wassailing tradition: Sing for your neighbors, or head to an
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Rest up. There is much work to do in the new year. By Heather Shayne Blakeslee During the holidays, most of us plan to take some time to reconnect with ourselves and our families. A break is in order after a year of the world feeling particularly topsy-turvy. It’s time to check in with our
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