Halloween Blogfest: Nicki Greenwood

October 29, 2013 By 5 Comments

The Hard-Working Harvest

In a temperate zone, autumn is the season where Mother Nature puts on her annual fireworks show of red, yellow, orange, and apples aplenty, but did you know it doesn’t have to be bedtime for your gardens?

In autumn, a flower garden full of native plants can be especially crucial to butterflies and migratory birds. Fall-blooming flowers like mums and sedum are great sources of nectar, while the seed heads of many ornamental grasses, and the berries of native shrubs, can be left standing through the winter as an important food source for birds. (They also look nice, architecturally, against that oncoming and relentless blanket of snow!) Butterflies like the monarch are losing habitat fast, and your flower garden may be the way station that helps them survive. Check out your library or local gardening club for a list of plants to pack your garden with year-round beauty and usefulness.

A vegetable garden can also work hard through the autumn, and even in winter. The length of daylight is what determines a growing season, not just the temperature. A cold frame can help you trap warmth for your plants, like a miniature greenhouse. The frame is simply a wooden box with a glass or clear plastic insert to let in light. Plans abound on the Internet for serviceable cold frames, and they don’t have to be fancy to work. The frame can be set right over your garden bed, facing south to allow for optimal sun exposure. Even a dusting of frost or snow will not harm the plants growing inside. Just brush it off, open the frame, and quickly snip your veggies for the day! As to what plants you can grow in your cold frame, there are many possibilities, from carrots to radishes to spinach and beyond. The harvest doesn’t have to end in autumn, and you can enjoy fresh, home-grown produce long after the leaves are off the trees.

Want to learn more? Grab a gardener friend, or check out the endless array of Websites on cold frame and all-season gardening. All-season gardeners love to share their knowledge, and you may find yourself with a slew of new friends who enjoy sharing their “harvest after the harvest” with you. Happy Autumn!

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The Serpent in the Stone - Nicki GreenwoodAbout Nicki Greenwood

Nicki Greenwood graduated SUNY Morrisville with a degree in Natural Resources. She found her passion in writing stories of romantic adventure, and combines that with her love of the environment. Her works have won several awards, including the Rebecca Eddy Memorial Contest. Her first book, EARTH, debuted in 2010 through The Wild Rose Press.

Nicki lives in upstate New York with her husband, son, and assorted pets. When she’s not writing, she enjoys the arts, gardening, interior decorating, and trips to the local Renaissance Faire. Look for Nicki’s newest book, THE SERPENT IN THE STONE, released this summer by The Wild Rose Press.

Visit Nicki at: http://www.nickigreenwood.com/
Email Nicki at: nicki@nickigreenwood.com
Find Nicki’s books at The Wild Rose Press

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GUEST POST: NICKI GREENWOOD

July 7, 2010 By 4 Comments

The Earth-Conscious Writer

We hear it all the time these days: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We’re asked to keep the health of our planet in mind when doing tasks as varied as building a house or brushing our teeth. Do you wonder how you, as a writer (and thus bound to using mass quantities of resources and energy in writing and marketing your books), can make a difference?

So did I.

My realization that I Was Not Helping Matters came when I cleaned out my office of old manuscript copies, contest entries, and rejection letters. I had a forest or three of paper kicking around, and I was horrified. What could I do? What can YOU do?

Well, you can use the unprinted sides of that paper for notes. You can get a good shredder and whip it into packing material for shipping. You can send all that shredded stuff to your recycling center. You can try your hand at editing on your computer, instead of by printed page. (It takes a while to get used to, but a decent monitor can go a long way toward making the transition comfortable on your eyes.) You should also consider using paper that has post-consumer recycled content.

In addition to the paper problem, you can limit energy use by putting your computer on Energy Saver settings like Sleep or Hibernate, so that when you walk away from the desk, ol’ Clicky takes an energy-sipping nap. When looking for editors and agents, try submitting your manuscript or query electronically, if the option is available. Carpool to conferences and meetings.

One of the best things about my publisher is that they offer books in eBook format. Not only are eBooks less expensive to produce and distribute than paperbacks, but they help reduce the use of paper, inks, glues, fuel, and all the other myriad resources that go into producing and distributing a printed book. While this is the most popular use of Botox, it has also been shown to be highly effective in addressing both types of sexual dysfunctions, should be consumed regularly tadalafil cialis india to get optimum results. Best Ways To cialis free shipping Advance Your Career Leave Personal Life At Home. India produces some discount levitra famous black ones from Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri. It can be prevented through intake of foods appalachianmagazine.com 5mg cialis generic rich in protein: poultry, certain fish [salmon, flounder etc], lamb, oats and certain cheeses to name but a few. After a short period of adjustment, I got quite used to reading books on my eReader or on the computer. I still like a book in my hands once in a while, but eReaders are getting better all the time, and their comparison to a printed page is exceptional.

Lastly, think about those trips to the library, post office, office supply store, etc. Combine trips if you can. Support local small businesses, which helps to limit the carbon output of shipping merchandise long distances. Buy organic and biodegradable items where you can. Spread the word to other writers. You can and do have an impact on the earth with every choice you make. The smallest change is still a step forward.

Nicki Greenwood graduated SUNY Morrisville with a degree in Natural Resources. She found her passion in writing stories of romantic adventure, and combines that with her love of the environment. Her works have won several awards, including the Rebecca Eddy Memorial Contest. Her first book, “Earth,” is on sale now in print and eBook through The Wild Rose Press.

“Earth” tells the love story between Kincade Murphy, a Montana rancher whose paranormal gift has mysteriously vanished, and Allyson Hamilton, a plant biologist who won’t stop until she discovers the truth about him. When Allyson uncovers a plot to force Kincade off his land, the reticent cowboy must risk it all–including her discovery of his gift–to protect her.

For more information on her books or upcoming events, visit Nicki’s website at http://www.nickigreenwood.com.

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