A new sustainable home complex is coming to fruition in Ann Arbor, Michigan, adjoining more than 100 acres of pathways and woodlands. The bylaws restrict combustion appliances and gas pipelines. Instead, the neighborhood will be entirely electric and run entirely on solar energy. It’s green right down to the last detail, with rules governing all, from how lighting is permitted to avoid disruption of the local ecology to the influence of heating systems on a sound environment. Food production will occupy one-third of the project’s …

Interacting with nature is considered to be wonderful for fighting stress, so having your private outdoor area can greatly help your sense of amusement and comfort. At the same time, a well-kept, natural garden may add value to any home. You’d imagine that any healthy garden would have at least one tree when it comes to gardening, right? In practice, while there are many people planting trees and tree-planting efforts underway worldwide, perspectives differ on whether keeping trees in a yard is a wise idea …