A friend of mine loves native plants. Her yard is wonderful. In the front of her home she planted native shrubs. In a few years, they grew more than six-feet tall, providing a barrier between her home and the street. Birds and animals love her yard. She selects native plants... Read more →

Is it getting more difficult every year to drag out your lawn mower and get the mowing done? Are you questioning the amount you’re spending on fertilizer and pesticides as the budget get tighter? You can reduce the time and money you spend on your lawn dramatically. All you need... Read more →

Growing up in Central Washington’s apple country, I saw massive amounts of pesticides being used on the orchards there. As a child, I was sprayed with pesticides from airplanes. As a teenager, I thinned apples in trees that were dripping with pesticide residues. My father, an apple farmer, died at... Read more →

Baby boomers enjoy gardening because they like making their homes attractive and it helps them relax. Gardening also provides a form of exercise for health-conscious boomers. A survey by the National Gardening Association found that boomers make up about 64 percent of gardening retail sales, according to an Associated Press... Read more →

Huh? What did you say? What was that? If these words are creeping into your conversations more frequently, you may need hearing aids. Scared at the thought? Millions of boomers are. They have hearing problems, but don’t do anything about it. Begin by seeing a medical doctor. He or she... Read more →

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. The annual event is designed to raise awareness and promote treatment of communications disorders. These disorders include hearing loss, Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), difficulty with swallowing or balance, stuttering, delayed language, or voice problems. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association sponsors Better Hearing and... Read more →

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a new report stating mortgage fraud is increasing dramatically. Consumers need to be aware of scams involving mortgages, according to an article by consumeraffairs.com. The report describes a 176 percent leap in mortgage fraud investigations in the past five years. That includes a... Read more →

If you're looking for ways to improve your health, a doctor of naturopathy suggests five things you can do that will add years to your life. Naturopathy is a method of treating disease that uses no surgery or synthetic drugs but employs special diets, herbs, vitamins, massage, etc., to assist... Read more →

Recent trends show that boomers are looking for housing that: Is green. Offers choices in living styles, including space for parents, teens, or visiting grandchildren. Provides healthy living programs. Allows them to age in place. What are your housing needs now and what do you think they'll be as you... Read more →

A survey conducted for the National Retail Federation shows consumers plan to spend 39.9 percent of their tax rebate checks, providing a $42.2 billion boost to the economy. Consumers will also use the money to: Pay down debt – $28.1 billion. Save – $20.1 billion. Invest – $3.4 billion. Pay... Read more →