designed for the way women work.

Menu
vaccinating a dog

Living The Dream: Raising Sheep

Category: Presenting "The Curious Gardener"

We interviewed Theresa Ryan about her experience as a sheep owner, one year after she and her husband Richard bought their first sheep. We hope this will be instructive to others thinking about raising sheep. Womanswork: When did you start thinking about raising sheep? Theresa: I have been knitting on and off most of my adult life and weaving for about six years. During that time I have purchased great quantities of wool.  When I started networking with other weavers I found that…
We interviewed Theresa Ryan about her experience as a sheep owner, one year after she and her husband Richard bought their first sheep. We hope this will be instructive to others thinking about raising sheep. Womanswork: When did you start thinking about raising sheep? Theresa: I have been knitting on and off most of my adult life and weaving for about six years.…

vaccinating a dog

Thinking About Chickens? Meet 4 Chicken Owners

Category: How-To Projects, Presenting "The Curious Gardener"

  We asked Ashley English, author of Keeping Chickens,  to tell us about her experience and offer some of her chicken wisdom. Here is our exclusive interview with Ashley, and three other chicken keepers: Meet Ashley English Womanswork: What are some of the ways someone can acquire chickens? Ashley English: With the resurgence of interest in keeping a flock of backyard chickens, it's now easier to find chickens than ever. I always encourage people to look locally from resources such as feed &…
  We asked Ashley English, author of Keeping Chickens,  to tell us about her experience and offer some of her chicken wisdom. Here is our exclusive interview with Ashley, and three other chicken keepers: Meet Ashley English Womanswork: What are some of the ways someone can acquire chickens? Ashley English: With the resurgence of interest in keeping a flock of backyard chickens, it's…

vaccinating a dog

Pruning Shrubs in Fall

Category: Presenting "The Curious Gardener"

We consulted with our friend the horticulturist Ruth Rogers Clausen about pruning shrubs in the fall. There are primarily three reasons to prune a shrub: To get rid of any dead or diseased wood, or crossing branches To shape a shrub To encourage more flowering Fall is a good time to prune away dead, damaged, diseased or dying branches. It can be done anytime of year but if you do it now…
We consulted with our friend the horticulturist Ruth Rogers Clausen about pruning shrubs in the fall. There are primarily three reasons to prune a shrub: To get rid of any dead or diseased wood, or crossing branches To shape a shrub To encourage more flowering Fall is a good time to prune…

vaccinating a dog

Photo Contest: Send Us Your Photos of Roses

Category: Presenting "The Curious Gardener"

Do you like taking pictures of roses? Send us your best photo and you could win a pair of our leather rose gauntlet gloves (shown here). Please submit your photo to Elizabeth Buchtman at elizabeth@womanswork.com and write "Photo Contest" in the subject line. When we see a photo that deserves to win we will announce a winner! We'll run the contest 3 times over the next year. Roses photographed…
Do you like taking pictures of roses? Send us your best photo and you could win a pair of our leather rose gauntlet gloves (shown here). Please submit your photo to Elizabeth Buchtman at elizabeth@womanswork.com and write "Photo Contest" in the subject line. When we see a photo that deserves to win we…

vaccinating a dog

My Potting Bench

Category: Presenting "The Curious Gardener"

I sketched out what I wanted for my carpenter Val, and the next thing I knew I had the most beautiful potting bench for the greenhouse! It has a sunken tub in the middle, drawers, a platform for seedling trays underneath, with grow lights that hang from above. Here are some of my favorite tools in the drawer of my potting bench.   I always have a seltzer bottle on hand with an Eco Watering Spout attached.     Early…
I sketched out what I wanted for my carpenter Val, and the next thing I knew I had the most beautiful potting bench for the greenhouse! It has a sunken tub in the middle, drawers, a platform for seedling trays underneath, with grow lights that hang from above. Here are some of my favorite tools in the drawer of my…

vaccinating a dog

5 Favorite Tall Woodland Plants

Category: Presenting "The Curious Gardener"

Goatsbeard (Genus: Aruncus)  Goatsbeard is a native perennial that resembles a giant astilbe. Grow it in partial or full shade in organically rich, moist conditions. Will grow 6’ tall and produces cream-colored plumes in summer (as shown). It grows in clumps and can be propagated through division. I found useful information on the Fine Gardening website. Japanese Bugbane: (Genus: Cimicifuga or Actaea (both are accepted)) Common names include bugbane, bugwort,…
Goatsbeard (Genus: Aruncus)  Goatsbeard is a native perennial that resembles a giant astilbe. Grow it in partial or full shade in organically rich, moist conditions. Will grow 6’ tall and produces cream-colored plumes in summer (as shown). It grows in clumps and can be propagated through division. I found useful information on the Fine Gardening website.…

vaccinating a dog

Growing Flowers For A Wedding

Category: Presenting "The Curious Gardener"

Growing Flowers For A Wedding--  Our daughter Eve is getting married in August and she asked me if I would bring flowers. She favors yellow and white flowers, so I went to work figuring out the best home grown flowers for an August wedding. First I looked at what Maria Iannotti had to say about her favorite flowers for cutting and generated a list by visiting her About.com Gardening site.  I immediately zeroed in on annuals because they are reliable bloomers. The…
Growing Flowers For A Wedding--  Our daughter Eve is getting married in August and she asked me if I would bring flowers. She favors yellow and white flowers, so I went to work figuring out the best home grown flowers for an August wedding. First I looked at what Maria Iannotti had to say about her favorite flowers for cutting…

vaccinating a dog

Educating Girls in Afghanistan

Category: Presenting "The Curious Gardener"

      Educating Girls in Afghanistan-- We met Wendy Summer last year at a sale of handcrafted and one of a kind items. She introduced me to her company Zaanha and immediately I was taken in by her exuberance. I pledged Womanswork to participate in her newly formed Zaanha Fund to sponsor the education of a girl in Kabul, Afghanistan named Nilab. Through The Zaanha Fund Nilab went to public school this year…
      Educating Girls in Afghanistan-- We met Wendy Summer last year at a sale of handcrafted and one of a kind items. She introduced me to her company Zaanha and immediately I was taken in by her exuberance. I pledged Womanswork to participate in her newly formed Zaanha Fund to sponsor the education of a girl in Kabul, Afghanistan…

vaccinating a dog

Sharing What I Know About Vitamin D

Category: Presenting "The Curious Gardener"

Preventing Bone Density Loss From Lack of Vitamin D--  The sun used to play a bigger role in delivering vitamin D to our bones. But concerns about the damaging rays of the sun have caused most people to cover up or wear sunscreen whenever they go outside. My dermatologist insists I use a facial moisturizer with sunscreen to protect my face, and I do. But if you cover up, the vitamin D is not absorbed-- it's as simple as that.…
Preventing Bone Density Loss From Lack of Vitamin D--  The sun used to play a bigger role in delivering vitamin D to our bones. But concerns about the damaging rays of the sun have caused most people to cover up or wear sunscreen whenever they go outside. My dermatologist insists I use a facial moisturizer with sunscreen to protect my…

vaccinating a dog

Reduce the Risk of Lyme Disease // Our Favorite Fragrant Shrub is Viburnum Carlesii

Category: Presenting "The Curious Gardener"

Reduce the Risk of Lyme Disease for you And your Pets-- Recently I met someone at a gardening symposium who is an advocate for reducing the incidence of Lyme Disease through education and planning. She outlines several areas to consider including Mouse and Deer Bait Boxes, Landscaping, Lawn Sprays and Protective clothing.  Mouse Bait Boxes: Did you know that mice (not deer) are the primary carriers of the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease? The CDC invented and developed a tick control…
Reduce the Risk of Lyme Disease for you And your Pets-- Recently I met someone at a gardening symposium who is an advocate for reducing the incidence of Lyme Disease through education and planning. She outlines several areas to consider including Mouse and Deer Bait Boxes, Landscaping, Lawn Sprays and Protective clothing.  Mouse Bait Boxes: Did you know that mice (not…

ok ask black house