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Submit Your Images! November Theme: “Veterans” Deadline for Nov: Sept. 29. Submit photos online: www.alabamaliving.coop/submit-photo/ or send color photos with a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Photos, Alabama Living, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124. Rules: Alabama Living will pay $10 for photos that best match our theme of the month. Photos may also be published on our […]
Don’t be misled by false Medicare or Social Security ads
Online and otherwise, there’s a lot of information out there, and sometimes it’s difficult to tell what sources are credible. With millions of people relying on Social Security, scammers target audiences who are looking for program and benefit information. The law that addresses misleading Social Security and Medicare advertising prohibits people or non-government businesses from […]
Protect man’s best friend with adequate shelter
Many of our outdoor dogs could use extra bit of TLC. The primary concern is safety. They need to be in a confined space. Four dogs were shot and killed in our tiny neighborhood in the last 3 years for trespassing. A few months ago, as I was coming home from work, I watched a […]
Varied terrain makes Alabama a mountain biking destination By John N. Felsher | Photos by Billy Pope, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Many Americans grew up riding bicycles as their primary form of independent transportation until they learned how to drive automobiles. In recent years, cycling enthusiasts have taken their sport to higher levels, literally […]
The healing power of nature
Flower photos help daughter connect to mom with Alzheimer’s By M.J. Ellington | Photos by Elmore DeMott What started out as a trip of curiosity to take a few photographs led one Alabama woman to a professional career as a nature photographer. The career, in turn, led Elmore DeMott to a personal commitment to capture an […]
Land trust helps preserve north Alabama’s spaces
By Aaron Tanner North central Alabama is a diverse natural area, with an abundance of caves, sinkholes and plants and wildlife unique to the region. But this part of the state has also rapidly exploded in population. The Land Trust of North Alabama is a non-profit dedicated to conserving natural resources and preserving vulnerable land […]
Discovering (and protecting) Alabama
Dr. Doug Phillips is arguably the most passionate and vocal conservationist in Alabama. He’s an educator and an outdoorsman, and he’s become a familiar face as the host of “Discovering Alabama” for more than 30 years. He didn’t plan to be the face of the program, which is broadcast by Alabama Public Television and has […]
Making the most of moss adds landscape interest
If you’ve got moss growing in your landscape, don’t think of it as an enemy. Think of it as a gorgeous, low-maintenance friend. Mossy spots in a yard usually occur in areas that are too shady, wet, acidic and/or compacted to support turf, groundcovers and other ornamental plants. Those spots are, however, prime habitat for […]
Do skylights bring sky-high energy bills?
By Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen Q: Our kitchen and dining rooms are in major need of some natural light. We’ve been thinking about installing a skylight, but we’re wondering if that will increase our energy bills. Can you provide any advice? A: Skylights can bring a little of the outside world indoors and make your living […]
In this periodic feature, we highlight books either about Alabama people or events or written by Alabama authors. Summaries are not reviews or endorsements. We also occasionally highlight book-related events. Email submissions to bookshelf@alabamaliving.coop. Due to the volume of submissions, we are unable to feature all the books we receive. Coastal Alabama Retirement Guide and Coastal […]
Looking for good barbecue? Safety pros are in the know!
Most publications get professional foodies to compile lists of favorite restaurants. But we think we have an even better source: The safety staff of the Alabama Rural Electric Association, which publishes Alabama Living. Why? Our safety guys are always on the road, traveling to provide training and guidance to our 22 member cooperatives and some […]
BY JENNIFER KORNEGAY | Food/Photography BY BROOKE ECHOLS We’ve all got our own preferences, so feel free to have your barbecue your way. Pork, beef or chicken? Ribs or other cuts? If other cuts, pulled, sliced or chopped and then tucked between a bun or mounded on a plate? Dry rub or sauce? And on the […]
Small game animals are a great introduction to hunting
By John N. Felsher Many young sportsmen begin hunting by accompanying a father, grandfather, other relative or friend looking for small game. Young hunters usually see more game and fire their guns more often when hunting small game than when sitting still and quiet for long hours in a deer stand. Following behind an experienced […]
Hardy Jackson’s Alabama: Southern by the signs
You remember a couple of years ago when they busted TV’s Miss Cleo? She was the Jamaican psychic whose “hotline” offered free “supernatural insight into love and money.” Well, according to authorities, Miss Cleo (who was really Youree Dell Harris of Los Angeles) used the old “bait and switch” on folks who called in. She […]
From trial size to supersized: Solar surges in rural communities
By Tracy Warren Five years ago, many people in the electric industry viewed solar energy as a kind of “boutique” resource––more an energy accessory than a real power supply option. But in the last half-decade, as the costs to install solar went down and electric utilities gained experience with this unique energy resource, there has […]
Alabama National Guard welcomes first black female pilot
When 2nd Lt. Kayla Freeman wore her wings for the first time on the stage of Fort Rucker’s Army Aviation school, she didn’t consider how historically impactful the moment was. Freeman, whose June 21 graduation made her the first black female pilot in the Alabama National Guard, graduated from Tuskegee University in 2016 with a […]
Inventing a new solution for greenhouse gas
Co-ops and scientists team up on an innovative approach to energy and the environment. Later this year, five teams of scientists and engineers from around the world will start packing up and relocating their laboratories to a patchwork of gravel lots next to a coal-fired power plant in northeast Wyoming. Their mission: nothing less than […]