I have some questions on how to start a Victory Garden. Not only as a means of growing food for the full time staff on property, but also to show the scouts how a garden functions and how to start one themselves. I’d like to know if there are publications on best practices for the Ohio growing climate, what crops should grow, and other topics like soils, sunlight, etc.

I have a window sill facing the East, on the outside of the house I have an old hedge. On the inside I have 7 very healthy orchids. They only have fresh orchid bark in them, I have transplanted them all this past week to assure there was no decomposing moss or plant debris in them, I have also sprayed the orchids down with Neem Oil. These tiny black bugs have been populating the window sill every day, although they are never on any of the orchids. They are very slow moving, and mostly dead it seems, as I have sprayed with Home Defense, repeatedly in this area. But as soon as I clean them off. They reappear! They are no place else in my home. Which seems odd since I have a very large collection of various houseplants in one other room and a large Monstera in my Bedroom. None of which show any signs of this problem! The one other place these are appearing are in my microwave!!! I scrub it out with disinfectant, and only use it to heat my coffee! The next time I open it, there are 2 or 3 dead ones laying in it! ?!?!!! Can you help me get rid of these things? I have a very clean home, I do not have any kind of food scraps or unclean surfaces! I can not figure it out! Thank you! Kathy Pickett 2705 Armco Dr Middletown OH 4504<personal data hidden> <personal data hidden>

This summer and end of the fall, I first noticed the ends of branches falling off two mature hackberry trees with green leaves attached. Drought? As fall progressed, I’ve now been seeing some branches one to two inches thick fall out of the trees. They appear quite rotten. We have also had something laying eggs on one of the two trees for years. Both trees are on our front yard near the street. Any ideas about the health of these trees? Temedies? I don’t recall so much of this in past years. We have lived here about 12 years. Thanks for any comments or suggestions.

I used a steamer juicer to make grape juice. I put it in canning jars and put the lids on top and they all sealed. I did not put them in a water bath though. Will they be safe to store? I did this about two weeks ago and my friend just told me today I should’ve put them in a water bath too. Just wondering if they’re safe.

I planted bare root Summer Bearing Killarney in May 2023, We have berries that summer on very short canes. This summer we did not get any berries as we may have pruned at the wrong time. The individual canes grew quite tall 6' or so. I have been reading about floricanes and primocanes and now am very confused about what to do with these berries. Please advise.

We have a steep hillside covered with ivy, and "wild cucumber or manroot" We are working on removing this. I was wondering what we could plant instead that is deer resistant and will help hold the hill from erosion

We have some 30+ year old evergreen trees that need to be replaced. We will be cutting down and digging out stumps. Will there be any issues with replacing them with Nannyberry shrubs? If yes, what would you recommend for replacements? Thank you

Hi there, I’m wondering if I have edible meadow mushrooms growing in my yard. Attached are a couple pictures and a video. Thanks

4 hens are 3 years old and layed eggs all last winter with a heat lamp 10 chickens hatched June 10, 9 hens and one rooster joined the run a few months ago. Heavy molt seems finished. Good quality organic feed on demand. Oyster shells in extra feeder. Most of day in chicken tractor, free range about 2 hours late in day until sundown. About one cup of treats before bedtime to lure them into run, spread out so they don’t fight. Why no eggs?

I recently had a landscape company plant five, six-foot Black Spruce trees on a slope - about 45 degrees. The root ball is exposed on the one side. Should I cover the root ball with mulch, leaves, or dirt for the winter? They were planted in July and have received regular watering throughout the growing season. Photos attached. Thanks for your advice!! :-)