Many publications have reported about the sudden die-off of honey bees, often referred to as CCD or Colony Collapse Disorder.

Yet for all this news coverage, it’s not clear what is causing the widespread death of these bees that are not only critical for honey production, but pollination of crops.

In fact, some sources suggest that bee pollination is responsible for one-third of America’s diet. Crops which rely heavily on bee pollination include almonds, apples, blueberries, melons, plums, avocados, cucumbers, pears, cranberries, cherries, kiwis, cauliflower, carrots, onions, celery and sunflowers.

Thus, an answer - and cure - needs to be determined soon.

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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Here’s some good news about something sweet to eat.

WebMD reports that: “One cup of pineapple has only 74 calories and provides 94% of your RDA of vitamin C. It’s also high in manganese, an important mineral for the body’s muscle tone and nerve and bone health.”

Of course, cutting pineapple is no easy task. Here are a few steps that we find useful:

1) Use a sharp knife and a cutting board.

2) Remove the stalk first

3) Cut the bottom and the tops off

4) Remove all the prickly skin by slicing it off in thin pieces (leaving a cylindrical sphere of the native fruit)

5) Then cut the fruit in small or large slices

by Farmers Almanac Staff
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Tired of paying top dollar for toothpaste made with baking soda? Try this recipe to make your own.

You’ll need to purchase vegetable glycerin from a drug store. If you can’t find it on the store shelves, ask the pharmacist to order it for you.

In a small container measure 10 T. baking soda and 5 to 6 T. glycerin and stir. Add 1 to 2 t. of peppermint flavoring and combine.

Spoon out as needed and apply to toothbrush. To ensure good oral hygiene, give family members their own little jar and baby spoon.

~Toothpaste recipe excerpted from Deborah S. Tukua’s book: Pearls of Country Wisdom: Hints from a Small Town on Keeping Garden and Home.

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by Farmers Almanac Staff
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