My Grandma Putt used to say that except for the fact that it’s round, a store-bought tomato bears about as much resemblance to the genuine article as a goldfish does to an elephant. Homegrown tomatoes are loaded with flavor, so if you haven’t already planted some, what are you waitin’ for? The best way to get your tomato crop off and running is to buy started plants—if you walk into any garden center today, you’ll see acres of them. Make sure your tomatoes stay fat, happy, and hydrated all summer long by keeping the roots moist. Tuck some wadded-up newspaper in the bottom of each planting hole. As water leaches through the soil, the paper will absorb and hold it—right where the roots can tap into the supply through the long, hot days ahead.

Hooray—it’s Memorial Day weekend! The glorious weather is beckoning, so take full advantage of it. Now’s the perfect time to gather up your seed packets and get going—er—growing in your garden. If you have a hard time handling teeny tiny seeds, then try this nifty solution: Rinse out an empty spice jar and put it to good use as a handy helper. With those perforated tops, spice jars make perfect dispensers for lettuce seeds, carrot seeds, and other itty-bitty seeds that can drive you nuts when you try to sow them by hand. Spice jars are also just the right size for storing leftover seeds. Simply combine 1 part seed to 1 part powdered milk, put the mix in the jar, screw the lid on tight, and store it in the refrigerator (not the freezer) until the next planting time rolls around.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from Grandma Putt was to never waste anything. So of course, I thought of her the other day after noticing a bright green grass stain on my favorite pair of jeans. I started to search high and low for the stain stick, then I remembered one of Grandma’s favorite—and free—stain removing tricks!

The truth is, stains happen, no matter how careful we are. And there are lots of products made for getting out clothing stains, including those convenient—and pricey—stain sticks. But here’s Grandma Putt’s little secret—stains rubbed with plain old soap come out just as clean as clothing stains that get the stick treatment. So stop tossing out those leftover slivers of bar soap. Just moisten the piece of soap with a drop of water, and dab any stained clothes that are on their way to the laundry basket. You’ll save a fortune on those specialty treatments, and be rewarded with stain-free clothes that look good as new!

The swine flu outbreak has dominated headlines and news reports for the last few weeks. And even though the virus seems to be winding down—for now—you should continue to protect yourself against infection by frequently washing your hands with antibacterial soap and coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the crook of your arm.

Most importantly, if you begin showing any signs (fever, chills, aches, and a racking cough, along with a sore throat and congestion) of the illness, stay home so you don’t pass the virus on to anyone else. And if it strikes, the last thing you’ll be thinking of is what to eat or drink.

But you must—keeping hydrated and eating right will go a long way toward making you feel better faster. Following these four flu dietary rules of thumb will help:

· Drink lots of fluids. Water is the best choice, with at least eight glasses a day being the recommended amount.
· Eat light. Small meals of soup and vegetable juice are easy to digest, which allows your body to concentrate on a more important task—recovery!
· Hold the milk. Dairy products tend to make mucus thicker, which increases congestion and other symptoms.
· Tank up on nutrients. Take a multivitamin/mineral supplement that provides 100 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamins A, C, and E, and the minerals zinc and selenium.

Happy May Day! Although it’s a worldwide tradition, May Day is celebrated in our neck of the woods by hanging a basket of spring flowers on a neighbor’s doorknob without getting caught. Back when I was growing up with Grandma Putt, she told me that if your neighbor catches you leaving the flowers, you get a kiss. I don’t know if that’s true, but why not keep the spirit of May Day alive, and celebrate spring by making a mini flower basket? It’s fast, fun, and easy to do: Simply cover one end of an empty toilet paper roll with a circle of paper. Paint the tube or cover it with bright wrapping paper. Punch holes in the sides and thread a 12-inch ribbon through the holes, tying a knot at each end. Fill the mini-basket with flowers, and hang it by the ribbon from your neighbor’s door. Then don’t take any chances—run!