Today’s my birthday. Yes, I do get a lot of “May the Fourth be with you” comments. I just shrug it off that my birthday, to some, is an unofficial Star Wars holiday. Since I’m an older adult, I’m thinking a lot today about friends and relatives that I’ve celebrated birthdays with in the past who are gone. My favorite birthdays? Read more →

Earth Day is a good reminder of what to do every day and throughout the year for the health of the planet. I spend a lot of time on it. I know many people do, too. The theme for this year’s Earth Day is Invest in Our Planet. Three-quarters of Americans say that they’re particularly concerned with helping the environment as they go about their daily lives. Read more →

It’s important to reduce the amount of pesticides in food that you and your children are exposed to. One way to do that is to be aware of the amount of pesticides that may be on the fruits and vegetables you buy. Thirty years after warnings of the dangers to children from pesticides, 75 percent of U.S. non-organic produce still contain potentially toxic chemicals, Read more →

Since my daughter lives in California, I’ve been fortunate to go wine tasting several times. Sonoma County is my favorite county for wine tasting. My daughter Lisa had been wine tasting in Napa County. She said it was expensive, so we tried Sonoma County instead. It was a big hit. Read more →

I’ve written about antibiotic resistance a number of times. Antibiotic resistance happens when germs such as bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. That means the germs aren’t killed and continue to grow. Resistant infections can be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat. Read more →

Have you been frustrated because you’ve wanted to repair your electronics or appliances or find a less expensive place for repairs to be made other than through the manufacturer? Eighty-four percent of Americans said they agreed with a policy to require manufacturers to make repair information and parts available either to independent repair professionals or to product owners.. Read more →

Recently, I wrote about how price-gouging by corporations is responsible for a third or more of the inflation consumers are experiencing these days. Now, another instance of corporate wrongdoing that’s costing consumers millions has been exposed. Tyson Foods, the largest chicken producer in the nation, will pay $10.5 million to settle a lawsuit. Read more →

Pesticides were found at detectable levels in dozens of fruit leather strips and dried fruit samples, according to new EWG testing. These two fruit treats are among the most popular kids' snacks. The tests were conducted by an independent laboratory on 37 samples of organic and conventional fruit leather from 10 well-known brands. Read more →

It’s a wonderful time of year. My garden is in full production. I grew up on apple ranches in Central Washington. We always has a big garden. Nothing beats corn, green beans, and strawberries straight from the garden. As usual, my raised bed garden is a great producer. Read more →

Strawberries, spinach, and leafy greens are again the top offenders on the Dirty Dozen list developed by the Environmental Working Group or EWG. The EWG analyzes data on pesticide-contaminated fresh fruits and vegetables, based on the latest tests by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration. Pesticide... Read more →