For this woman’s 102nd birthday‚ she didn’t want gifts — all she asked was that people donate canned food to her community’s food pantry! Trudy Handleman from Bettendorf‚ Iowa‚ believes that “It’s more fun to give than to receive.” She put her principles into action when she started putting together a big food donation for those in need. Her goal was to collect 102 items in honor of her age. “No matter how large or how small the project‚ if you put your heart into it and you really care‚ you get so many followers‚ friends‚ and those are long away and they all want to join you‚” Trudy Handleman told KWQC. Just like the elderly woman said‚ she got an extremely generous outpouring of support from other locals. In fact‚ her original ask was more than doubled! People donated more than 400 items to the canned food drive to celebrate Trudy Handleman’s 102nd birthday. Friendly House Food Pantry was more than grateful for the delivery. Staff said that they’d be able to help 25 to 30 families with the donation. When Quartet Senior Living dropped off the canned food in honor of Trudy turning 102‚ the birthday girl was right there with them. Screengrab from YouTube “I want to be part of that final step when we actually put the things where they’ll be used‚” the elderly woman said. Making it to 102 is a pretty impressive accomplishment‚ but Trudy Handleman made her birthday even more meaningful with her thoughtful canned food donation. What a wonderful reminder that‚ when it comes to helping others‚ there’s no age limit! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Woman Fulfills 102nd Birthday Wish By Collecting Canned Food For The Needy appeared first on InspireMore.

A proud mom took a moment to rightfully brag about her kid on social media‚ and her post is warming hearts. Brooke Olivia made a sweet video that highlighted her daughter doing something special for her brother when he was home sick with the flu. It begins by showing Brooke picking up her thoughtful girl from school on a rainy day. As the daughter neared the car‚ Brooke saw she had something tucked under her sweatshirt. When she got in the car‚ she pulled out a giant Spiderman poster she was trying to keep dry. @brookielivo4 Seriously melted my heart #momlife #boymom #girlmom #brothersister #siblings #sosweet #actofkindess #mybabies #goodheart #foryou #motherhood #mybabies #lovethem ♬ What You Won’t Do for Love – Bobby Caldwell The daughter had gotten the present for her sick brother‚ Max‚ when she went to her school’s bookfair in hopes it would “cheer him up.” “What a sweet sister‚” Brooke captioned. “They have their moments as brothers and sisters do. But they love each other so much and have the best [hearts].” Brooke captured Max’s reaction when he saw the present. And she wrote that it was the first time the sick brother had smiled in days. TikTok “That ‘sibling smile’ he gives when she shows him the poster – total core memory‚” a follower gushed. “Omg the look on his face ‚” another wrote. In the comments‚ Brooke also noted that her daughter didn’t just get her sick brother a present‚ she also bought a “BBF notebook” when she found out a girl in class didn’t have any money for the book fair. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Sweet Sister Gets Her Sick Brother A Special Present From The Book Fair appeared first on InspireMore.

'They're not acting in our best interests'

The worst of all possible worlds

Stolen vehicle was located in Trenton

Our governments should be on the side of progress

'I mean‚ the deal is‚ there's work to be done'

From 1986 until 2008‚ Darius Rucker was the lead vocalist for the American rock group known as Hootie &; the Blowfish. From 2008 until 2018‚ Rucker enjoyed a career as a highly successful soloist in the country music genre. In 2018‚ he reunited with Hootie &; the Blowfish when the band decided to record and go on tour again. As a member of Hootie &; the Blowfish and a solo artist‚ Rucker has been nominated for and won several recognition awards in the music industry. Most recently‚ he received the Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award in 2018 from the Academy The post Top 10 Darius Rucker Songs appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Jeff Fabb is one of the best in the business at thrashing the skins. From 2005 through 2011‚ he was the longtime drummer for alternative metal outfit In This Moment and played behind Richard Patrick in Filter from 2013 to 2014. Those gigs aside‚ Fabb is best known for his long-running stink with Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society from 2012 to 2013 and from 2014 onward. To that end‚ according to Fabb‚ Black Label Society is working on a new yet-to-be-titled record‚ which should set metal fans alight with delight‚ as it’s their first since 2021’s Doom Crew Inc. But that’s The post An Interview With Jeff Fabb of Black Label Society appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Come explore the beautiful world of companion planting and get a free printable garden companion planting chart for easy reference. This article will explore the benefits of companion planting‚ what flowers‚ herbs and vegetables to plant together in raised beds‚ and how to practice companion planting in your garden. I’ve included inspiration photos and layout plans from our gardens as examples too! What is Companion Planting? Companion planting is the idea that some plants benefit from growing near one another‚ while others would prefer to be kept at a distance. Practicing companion planting in your vegetable garden can offer a plethora of benefits – and look beautiful too! Follow our companion planting chart below to see what plants grow best together. The University of Massachusetts further explains: “companion planting is growing two (or more) crops near each other with the theory that they help each other in nutrient uptake‚ improved pest management and reduced pesticide use‚ enhanced pollination and higher vegetable yields”.  We always tuck marigolds‚ basil‚ chives‚ and other flowers around our tomatoes. See our favorite DIY tomato trellis here! Good Partner Plants A recommended companion planting combination usually provides some sort of benefit to one (or both) of the plants‚ or brings an added perk to your garden in general. You can find these listed as “good friends” in our companion planting guide below. Some may have a profound relationship‚ such as relying on each others natural plant hormones to promote growth or protection. Other relationships may be as simple as one providing shade for the other. Example: Consider the classic Native American “Three Sisters” companion planting combination of corn‚ squash and beans. Perfect for maximizing yield in compact spaces‚ the corn grows tall and narrow‚ leaving open space for sprawling squash plants below. The squash shades the soil to help it retain moisture. Pole beans can climb the corn as a support trellis‚ all while adding nitrogen to the soil that feeds both the squash and corn. An example from our old front yard garden. Flowers around the squash to increase pollination and yields‚ onions around the collard greens to deter aphids. Incompatible Plants On the other hand‚ some plants are often recommended to not plant directly next to others – their known or suspected “foes” as I call them in our companion planting chart. Those combinations may cause each other issues‚ such as stunted growth. Example: You’ll often see recommendations to avoid growing peas in close proximity to onions or garlic. Why? Well‚ there honestly isn’t much scientific evidence to support it‚ but theories suggest it’s because garlic and onions are “heavy feeders” while peas are not. This makes their fertilizing needs incompatible. Peas also add nitrogen to the soil‚ while onions and garlic don’t like too much. Another idea is that the pea’s sensitive shallow root system may be disrupted by the growth or harvest of onions and garlic nearby.  In this space‚ I wanted to grow pepper plants in front of the climbing pole beans… but then remembered that peppers and beans are supposedly incompatible. So we put the peppers elsewhere and planted Swiss chard at the base of the beans instead. They did fabulously together! Benefits of Companion Planting 1) Increased Pollination and Yields Pairing fruit or vegetable plants with pollen-rich flowers like calendula‚ cosmos‚ zinnia‚ bachelor buttons‚ or borage is the perfect way to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies to your garden. Many vegetable crops are not self-fertile and rely on pollinators in order to grow fruit‚ including zucchini‚ winter squash‚ cucumbers‚ melons‚ most berries and fruit trees. Therefore‚ more pollinators = more to harvest! Related: Learn more about my 7 favorite easy annual companion flowers to grow from seed‚ or our overall top 23 best plants for pollinators here. Even with plenty of bees around‚ I still often hand-pollinate my squash to prevent end-rot and increase yields! 2) Attract Other Beneficial Insects Bees and butterflies aren’t the only good guys we want to encourage in our garden! Companion planting with flowers and herbs like basil‚ cilantro‚ sage and dill creates habitat‚ food‚ or otherwise attracts other small beneficial insects like lacewings‚ parasitic wasps‚ hover flies‚ predatory mites‚ or ladybugs. Those guys all play an important role in natural pest control. For instance‚ did you know that a single ladybug can eat over 50 aphids per day? 3) Natural Pest Control While many companion plants draw in beneficial bugs‚ some can also help deter pests or disease. For example‚ garlic‚ chives‚ onions‚ and fragrant herbs like basil‚ dill‚ and cilantro can help repel aphids – ideal for natural aphid control around susceptible crops like brassicas or leafy greens. The sharp smell of marigold flowers also reportedly keeps pest insects like whitefly away. Interestingly‚ hot pepper plants contain a substance within their root system that is effective at warding off and preventing root rot diseases‚ such as Fusarium rot. This helps keep root rot away from other companions in the same garden bed as peppers. Other companion plants DO attract pest insects – but distract pests away from your fruit and vegetables plants instead! These are referred to as “trap crops” or sacrificial crops. Nasturtium is a prime example of a trap crop. The flowers attract bees and hummingbirds‚ but nasturtium leaves are also magnets for aphids and cabbage worms. Trap crop plants should be removed from the garden once they become heavily infested. A potted nasturtium plant doing a great job as a “trap crop” near our garden bed. Look at all these cabbage worms I hand-picked off it‚ yet our nearby veggies had none. Learn how to get rid of cabbage worms here. A little crowded‚ but still a good example! Our swiss chard always get a ton of aphids. To the point I almost gave up growing them! But then I tried planting onions (known to repel aphids) between and around the swiss chard. Guess what? No aphids. Prime Example: Marigolds and Root-Knot Nematodes French marigolds are possibly one of the most famous companion plants‚ as their roots contain a natural nematocide that kills root-knot nematodes. (Root-knot nematodes are a microscopic and harmful nematode that feed on root systems‚ reducing plant health and yields.) This makes marigolds an excellent companion plant for tomatoes‚ squash‚ melon‚ peppers‚ and other crops frequently affected by root-knot nematodes. This particular beneficial relationship IS scientifically backed! Yet it is often misunderstood by the well-intended gardener. In order to reap the benefits of French marigold companion planting‚ the marigold root system must be left in place. That means it’s best to cut marigold plants out at the soil line at the end of the season (leaving the roots in place‚ no-till gardening style) rather than pulling the plants out. Even better results are achieved if many marigold plants are grown prior to planting the veggie crop in the same location. A quintessential companion planting combination of tomatoes‚ French marigolds‚ and basil. Basil keeps aphids away‚ gains some shade from the tomatoes (to prevent sunburn) and supposedly make the tomatoes taste better! The marigolds help keep root knot nematodes away from the the tomatoes‚ while also deterring other small pest insects like whitefly. 4) Increase Biodiversity and Beauty Variety is the spice of life! It’s beautiful and fun to mix different vegetables‚ flowers and herbs together in your garden beds. Companion planting adds interest‚ and is generally better for plant and soil health. Companion planting is a form of polyculture‚ or planting several types of crops together in a small space instead of just one. Polyculture and companion planting help increase biodiversity and turn your garden into a mini-ecosystem – an esteemed achievement in organic gardening!  When compared to traditional agriculture or monoculture‚ a bio-diverse garden is less likely to be overrun with disease or pests. It reduces the need for pesticides‚ synethic fertilizers‚ or other chemical products. Diverse gardens also have more robust immune systems to handle environmental stress such as drought‚ heat‚ or cold snaps. Companion Planting Chart And now… what you likely came here for! Please enjoy this free printable companion planting chart as an easy visual resource and reminder of what plants grow well together (or not). I like to keep our companion planting chart on the fridge‚ along with the seed starting calendar for our zone. To create this‚ I gleaned information from dozens of my favorite gardening books and online resources to compile one comprehensive companion planting guide. For even more helpful garden resources‚ don’t miss our 20-page Free Garden Planning Toolkit. It includes tips to start a garden‚ raised bed plot plan templates‚ journal pages‚ plus seed starting and planting calendars for every growing zone. Subscribe here to our weekly newsletter to get your free garden planning toolkit‚ including planting calendars! I realize the font is small‚ especially if you’re on a mobile device. There was a lot of information to fit on one page! If it’s difficult to view online‚ get a printable PDF version here. Homestead and Chill Companion Planting ChartDownload How to Companion Plant in Your Garden Make a plan. Rather than heading outside with a bunch of seedlings and stuffing them in a bed willy-nilly‚ refer to our companion planting chart and sketch out a garden layout plan of where you want to plant everything first. You’ll be less likely to run out of room or accidentally put incompatible plants next to each other. It doesn’t need to be set in stone‚ but a general plan helps me stay more organized! See our vegetable garden plot plan example below. Some of the best and easiest companion plants to grow amongst your vegetables are flowers and herbs. Calendula‚ nasturtiums‚ basil‚ cilantro‚ oregano‚ parsley‚ thyme‚ and rosemary all have no known “foes” – so feel free to mix them into your garden where ever you can! Calendula is my all-time favorite flower (and medicinal herb) so you’ll find it in almost every one of our garden beds. I’ve also become increasingly fond of planting cosmos‚ bachelor buttons‚ and zinnia amongst our vegetables‚ which draw in a ton of pollinators! Get growing tips on our favorite easy companion flowers here. Remember to practice good plant spacing – companions included. Over-crowding plants can thwart the benefits you’re trying to gain with companion planting in the first place! Crowded plants compete for nutrients‚ water‚ sunlight and air flow. They’re more prone to disease like mildew and blight. Pests and disease also more easily pass between them. The good new is: most companion flowers and herbs take kindly to pruning‚ so feel free to cut them back as needed to give your veggies the space they need. When companion planting in raised garden beds‚ I usually add flowers or herbs to the corners of each raised bed at minimum. Then after I plant out all the vegetables‚ I assess where I have room to tuck more flowers or herbs between them. Raised Bed Garden Layout Plans This is the planting plan I drew up for our summer 2019 front yard garden space‚ while keeping companion planting in mind. The plot plan template is part of our Free Garden Planning Toolkit. Our new raised bed garden is a lot larger‚ but I still use the same tools to plan our garden planting layout! I don’t list every type of flower‚ but “F” usually means a spot for calendula‚ zinnia‚ cosmos‚ bachelor buttons‚ marigolds‚ or sunflowers. Note that we grow things like broccoli‚ cauliflower‚ bok choy and other cooler-season crops in our fall vegetable garden instead. The Science: Does Companion Planting Really Work? Some benefits of companion planting are undeniable‚ such as increasing biodiversity and attracting more pollinators to your garden. Yet some companion planting recommendations are more based on theory or anecdotal evidence. This is especially true when it comes to the supposed incompatible plants. I’ve tried to research scholarly articles that back companion planting with science‚ and truth be told‚ they’re sorely lacking. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all bunk though! Some things are well-studied‚ like the benefits of marigolds. Plus‚ experimentation and personal observation is how all scientific theories get started‚ after all. If many gardeners have seen the results of companion planting in their own garden‚ I say it’s worth considering.  A bed of winter squash with flowers in one corner for the bees‚ and chives in the other corner to repel pests. My Experience and Final Thoughts Companion planting must have some truth behind it‚ or it wouldn’t be such a popular subject in the gardening world. However‚ I personally pay most attention to the beneficial planting combinations. Those make clear sense to me! Plus the fun and colorful mix of things bring me joy. When possible‚ I try to avoid the frowned-upon combinations too – but with less scrutiny. I like to think of the “incompatible” plant combos like neighbors. We don’t adore all of them‚ right? We all have different needs‚ lifestyles‚ and tolerance for nuisance. But will I up and die if I have to live in close proximity to someone I don’t particularly care for? No‚ probably not. I will chug along and live my life‚ perhaps just a little less happily… For instance‚ we have inter-planted beans with peppers in the past‚ as well as garlic near peas – both supposed incompatible foes. They still grew‚ though I do admit they seemed less healthy and vigorous than usual. Perhaps it was just an off year? Or maybe it was the nuisance neighbor. In all‚ I try to set my plants up to live their best life‚ with as few hindrances as possible. My suggestion is to make a modest effort to follow the “rules” of companion planting. Yet if limited space or other circumstances leads you to break the rules‚ don’t stress about it too much! And that’s companion planting 101! Have you experimented with companion planting yet? What are your thoughts? Do you think it works‚ or is the jury still out? As far as I am concerned‚ there is no harm in trying. Plus‚ the more flowers and herbs‚ the better! Please feel free to ask questions‚ leave feedback‚ or share this article. Happy (companion) planting! Other organic gardening articles you may enjoy: Seed Starting 101: How to Sow Seeds Indoors How to Amend &; Fertilize a No-Till Garden Bed Between Seasons Composting 101: What‚ Why &; How to Compost at Home Organic Pest Control: Over 25 Ways to Stop Pests from Destroying Your Garden How to Design &; Build a Raised Garden Bed The post Garden Companion Planting Chart‚ Plans‚ and Benefits appeared first on Homestead and Chill.