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iving n g Smart L ivi ivin ng Weekly Save Smarter • Live Better • Rockford Region/Freeport 95¢ • April 30, 2014
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Right in Our Region
Time to Plant!
By Janine Pumilia, executive editor
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fter such a brutal winter, we’re eager to dig dirt and plant! The general wisdom is to wait until Mother’s Day to plant annuals. Most perennials, trees, shrubs and cold crop vegetables, like cabbage and cauliflower, can go into the ground now. Smart Living Weekly urges shoppers to buy plants from locally owned greenhouses and nurseries, rather than big-box stores. More money stays in our local economy that way; the carbon footprint is smaller; and locally nurtured plants are often healthier than those shipped thousands of miles by truck. Also, staff at local greenhouses actually know something about plants and offer invaluable advice. And, they’re far more likely to invest in the long-term health of your plants, something that’s not always visible to the naked eye. Continued on p. 20
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Healthy Snacking • Mother’s Day Gift Ideas • Prevent Warm Weather Injuries Why Your Furnace Needs Spring Cleaning • Vacation Planning Tricks • Early Season Mowing Tips
Smart Living Weekly
Issue 1
53