Courtesy of Mauricio Gomez

EASY TO MAKE CHIA PUDDING Courtesy of www.ehow.com

INGREDIENTS :

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional

2-1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)

Pinch sea salt

1/2 cup chia seeds

3 to 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup, honey, or agave

DIRECTIONS:

1. Pour the almond milk into a jar, or sealable container, followed by the chia seeds, pure maple syrup, vanilla extract, and sea salt.

2. Secure the lid firmly on the jar and shake well until the contents are well combined.

3. Refrigerate the pudding overnight, or until very thick, at least 4 hours. If possible, stir once or twice throughout the chilling process. 4. Once the pudding is thick, taste it for flavor and add sweetener to taste. Serve with your choice of fresh fruit, nuts, and/or granola.

" ONE BENEFIT OF

An American author and journalist, Jeannette Walls was born in 1960 and is widely known as a former gossip columnist and author of the memoir The Glass Castle . Published in 2005, The Glass Castle was on the New York Times’ Best Seller List for 421 weeks and details her nomadic childhood, which included several periods of homelessness, but also her ability to work her way through university and eventually graduate with honours. Her first novel, Half Broke Horses, is based on the life of her grandmother.

SUMMER WAS THAT EACH DAY WE HAD MORE LIGHT TO READ BY. --Jeannette Walls

WHAT’S MY HARDINESS ZONE? If you’re new to gardening and have never heard of hardiness zones, you’re going to want to learn about them before getting started. Growing plants that don’t thrive in your specific climate can lead to disappointment. Knowing your hardiness zone is the best way to set yourself up for success. In Canada there are ten zones, which are further split into A or B. For example, the coldest zones are 0a and 0b and can be found across the northern part of most of the provinces – excluding the Maritimes, as well as across all three territories. Meanwhile, the highest numbered zone is the southern tip of Vancouver Island at 9a. These numbers coordinate with the information you can find on plant labels and seed packages.

If you find a plant you’d like to add to your yard or garden, you’ll need to ensure it can survive in your zone. Of course, these numbers mostly apply to shrubs, trees and perennials because they need to survive through the winter. You can still plant something rated for a much higher zone if you only want to enjoy it for the summer season. However, if you’re someone who feels sad when something you’ve planted and cared for doesn’t come back in the spring, sticking to your zone number is the best choice for you. Another way to incorporate plants that prefer higher zone numbers is to create a microclimate in your outdoor space. Microclimates are made by using other plants and forms of shelter to replicate a warmer zone. Also, greenhouses are always an option!