Self-tutoring about gardening: the tutor wonders about breaking up the soil. Whenever I turn the soil with a shovel in one of the garden plots, the earthworms seem disturbed – some even get cut in two (Sorry!). Yet, tilling the…

Self-tutoring about gardening: the tutor observes centipedes. Yesterday, planting this year’s garden (let’s hope for the best), I was happy to notice earthworms active therein. I don’t recall many last time, so am encouraged about this year’s prospects. I was…

Self-tutoring about gardening: the tutor shares a story. Many years ago I was aerating the lawn with a hand tool when a man approached me from where he was parked across the street. “Hello…what are you doing?” he asked. “Aerating…

Self-tutoring about yard work: the tutor follows a family tradition. Although I’m trying to reform, I haven’t done much yard work these past few years. Perhaps absurdly, I did much more ten years ago, when we didn’t even have a…

Self-tutoring about garter snakes and gardening: the tutor shares about garter snakes. Until 2012, I used to see snakes fairly often in the yard. Since, I’ve wondered where they’ve gone. After all, reptiles are sensitive creatures whose presence usually suggests…

Self-tutoring about composting: the tutor shares a find about composting rhubarb leaves. Rhubarb leaves are poisonous. Yet, can they be composted? The other day I noticed someone advising not to. I had assumed rhubarb leaves are compostable, and I’ve found…