Did you think that because it’s the peak of summer that you were safe from pumpkin spice mania? No, of course not: that’s when food companies announce their new pumpkin spice food-like objects, before they hit stores in August and September. Thanks to Consumerist’s diligent coverage of how pumpkin spice everything is taking over the American food supply, we now get press releases about new products. [More]
fall
Of Course There’s A Company That Will Ship You Fall Leaves From New England
By 10.7.15
Sure, you can wear tank tops and shorts in Los Angeles in the fall, but perhaps you’re missing the sight of the leaves on trees changing from green to orange, gold, red and even purple. To bridge the distance for people who can’t make a trip to see the bright autumnal hues of New England in person, there’s a company that offers to ship the fall foliage anywhere in the country. [More]
Say It Isn’t So: Williams-Sonoma’s Pumpkin Seed Pesto Recalled Because Botulism Isn’t Fall Flavored
By 10.14.14
In the fall months it seems like every other product contains some kind of pumpkin flavoring: Greek yogurt, coffee drinks, egg nog, and now botulism. Fine, botulism probably doesn’t have a flavor, but the Pumpkin Seed Pesto from Williams-Sonoma may contain the bacteria, which is why it’s being recalled.
[More]
Pumpkin Spice Watch: Yogurt, Cookies, Ice Cream
By 9.3.14
America has not yet reached peak Pumpkin Spice. We apparently haven’t decided on the next fall flavor yet: it could be pecan, or maybe candy apple. If you can’t get enough of the pumpkin-like flavor, we’ve learned about some new pumpkin spice products on the market: you can learn all about them or clutch your taste buds in terror. Whatever works for you. [More]
Picking Your Own Apples Can Take A Cider Press To Your Wallet
By 9.22.11
The fall harvest season is here. For some reason, that makes people want to pay large sums of money to go out and pick their own fruit. Delicious. Reader Jennifer wrote in to share her apple-picking experience this past weekend at two different orchards in the Midwest as a cautionary tale. Sometimes the businesses out to mislead you and rip you off aren’t monolithic global corporations. They’re a farm in the next town over. [More]
Consumer Reports: Man Vs. Leaf Blower
By 11.13.07
Consumer Reports wanted to know if leaf blowers were really worth the money and ear damage, so they marked off a parts of lawn, filled it with leaves and had the ultimate man vs. blower showdown.
Picking Your Own Apples Is A Better Deal For The Farmer
By 10.24.07
Wise Bread has an interesting story about the economics behind a family trip to a “U Pick” apple orchard. Picking your own apples is now called “agritainment,” and it’s a better deal for the orchard than it is for you. On the other hand, the high prices for an “apple picking experience” may be the only thing keeping the apple trees on the land—and not another subdivision.
On a recent visit to Kuipers Family Farm, about an hour from Chicago, I shelled out $6.50 each for my husband, our 3-year-old daughter and myself to enter the orchard and pick 1/4 peck of apples, about 3 pounds. I could have sat on my couch and ordered a 3-pound-bag of apples from Peapod for $2.50.
How To Carve A Pumpkin Without Severing An Artery
By 10.22.07
Its’ pumpkin carving time, folks, and while fake blood is cool—real blood isn’t.
Are Leaf Blowers Disturbing The Peace? Should They Be Banned?
By 9.29.07
Some residents of a leafy suburb of Boston are fighting over what to do with all the leaves. Residents of Newton, Mass., say they are being tormented by the noise coming from the gas-powered leaf blowers that are now everywhere.
Oh no!
Tips For A "Greener" Autumn
By 9.18.07
LighterFootprint has compiled a list of things you can do during the fall to help lower your impact during the winter. Lowering your impact usually means lowering your energy costs, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to these tips even if you hate the planet and want it to melt.
