Written and compiled by Fred Jaicks   Does the umbrella in your backyard stand out amongst the nearby trees? Why do you suppose that is? What types of trees do you have back there? If you don’t know, how are you supposed to figure it out? This page has many resources to help you...

  Written and compiled by Fred Jaicks   Every gardener is looking for the secret ingredient to help their fruits, vegetables, and flowers grow well and continue producing for many years. For generations, expert gardeners have known that composting is one of the best ways to produce...

  Written and compiled by Fred Jaicks. On a windy day, nothing is more fun than flying a kite. Kites are magical toys that have captured the hearts of both young and old. The way a kite works is fairly simple: it is a small aircraft tethered by rope, and the wind’s pressure above and...

  Written and compiled by Fred Jaicks   Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706. He is best remembered as a founding father of the United States, but that was certainly not Franklin’s only significant accomplishment. In addition to his contributions to American politics, he was also an...

  Written and compiled by Fred Jaicks   Time has become an exact science on the earth; with the evolution of time zones and the creation of coordinated universal time, anyone can find out the exact time that it is somewhere else in the world. However, many years ago the only way to...

  Written and compiled by Fred Jaicks   For centuries, herbs have been used for medicinal purposes. Today, different schools of thought continue to debate the safety and effectiveness of various herbal remedies. Utilizing natural herbs remains a popular method of treating both major...

  Written and compiled by Fred Jaicks   Fred Jaicks has owned MJJ Sales Inc. since 2001, and regularly contributes content to MJJSales.com. When not running his business, Fred writes on various topics, including weather, nature, and woodworking. Backyard Conservation Tips Basic...

  Written and compiled by Fred Jaicks. The Sun: Introduction The sun is a star at the center of the solar system around which all local planets orbit. It is made mainly of the gasses hydrogen and helium, with hydrogen taking up about 70% of its mass and helium 28%. A sphere about 864,000...

  Written and compiled by Fred Jaicks   Mt. St. Helens is an active volcano located in the county of Skamania in Washington in the United States. Named after Lord St. Helens, a British diplomat and friend of George Vancouver, the surveyor of the area in the 1800’s, Mt. St. Helens is...