Pecans, walnuts, stone fruits or citrus trees are all constant and dependable in our climate. Weed whackers work great on weeds but inadvertently cut away bark from the base of the tree, effectively girdling it. To prevent wormy apples at harvest time, begin a consistent spray program now. Select vigorous container-grown plants at this season for best results. Spray with carbaryl (liquid "Sevin") or malathion every 10 days during the spring and summer. It's best to find some other means to...

Six years ago, Bertsch and her family and friends began turning a hillside horse pasture into what is now a terraced array of 64 hand-tended beds on her quarter-acre, backyard spread off Stonetown Road. When wistful talk about having a farmers' market in town pricked interest among friends and neighbors last summer, she said, the idea seemed ripe to grow into reality. Grown in composted soil enriched with horse manure, Bertsch's garden -- which includes strawberries, string beans and...

While its impossible to generate the return-on-investment of a gnome, having consumers actively purchase a constant reminder of its brand has helped Travelocity.com separate itself from a pack of online travel sites. Both companies, while pleased with the incremental sales of these tchotchkes, are absolutely elated by the fact that their brand icons have gained cultural currency a marketer's dream. The novelty items, born out of a Staples ad campaign and available at its stores for $5,...

Here is some advice from the experts on how to pick the best fruit. New National Guards Finish Training Is the National Guard prepared to handle hazardous chemicals spills, and contamination? Historic House Goes Up for Sale Recently on the market is one house in Brighton that s rich in history, and may be within your budget! Sonnenberg Gardens Hosts Car Show When you think of the historical Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, you probably don t envision a car show. New National Guards...

HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwean schoolteacher Sylvia Ngandu is unapolegetic about juggling her responsibilities in the classroom with her other job selling fruit and vegetables in order to make ends meet. With world-record inflation now perched at over 3,000 percent and wages perpetually lagging behind spiralling prices of basic foodstuffs, stories such as Ngandu's are becoming ever more commonplace. After leaving their class with work to do for the day or assigning a 12-year-old prefect to take...