Inside The Backyard

Big old trees cool our streets in summer.They soften harsh winds.They hold our fragile soils together during storms and heavy rain.They clean the air we breathe and provide shade on those blistering forty-degree afternoons when the garden — and we ourselves — are struggling. But beyond helping us… trees are also home. Entire ecosystems live within them...

The air’s cooling off, the sky that soft lavender-pink, and my two-year-old granddaughter grips the torch like it’s a sacred treasure. My five-year-old grandson walks beside her, whispering about “monsters” in the dark. They’re on an important mission. They’re heading down to pen up the chickens! Let’s be honest… eggs aren't cheap right now. Walking out to the pen and collecting warm, freshly laid eggs from your own backyard chickens feels almost rebellious in the best way..