Christopher Michel
Christopher Michel is the former Senior Food and Gardens Editor at Country Living Magazine. Chris has well over a decade of experience writing and editing for national magazines and websites, mostly in the food space, such as Cooking Light, The Kitchn, Rodale’s Organic Life, and Bon Appetit. Prior to that, Chris worked in a variety of food spaces in New York City. In 2022, Chris completed the Alabama Master Gardener’s Program hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Chris lives in Birmingham, AL, where he enjoys running, reading, and cooking for his wife and two girls.
Should I Take Down My Hummingbird Feeder When I Go on Vacation?
There’s a lot of conflicting info out there, so we spoke to an expert.
25 Fast-Growing Flowering Vines That Add Privacy and Cottage-Garden Charm Fast
Add a touch of maximalist beauty to your garden with these lush vining plants!
17 Cheap & Easy Canned Tuna Recipes for Quick Weeknight Dinners
These quick-and-easy recipes help you save money on groceries without sacrificing flavor.
20 Fancy Mother’s Day Cocktails to Toast Mom This Weekend
Cheers to mom!
Buying an Easter Ham? Here's Exactly How Much You Need
We're helping take the guesswork out of planning your holiday dinner.
The Best Dwarf Trees for Small Yards: 19 Beautiful, Low-Growing Options
Some of these top out at 10 feet tall, making them perfect for little yards!
25 Easy Breakfast Ideas That Won't Slow You Down
Give yourself a healthy start with the most important meal of the day.
How to Open a Can Without a Can Opener
No can opener? You probably have one of these options.
42 Healthy Super Bowl Snacks for a Nutritious Game Day
Enjoy game treats while maintaining your health goals!
These Tasty Chicken Soup Recipes Are Right on Time for Cozy Season
Keep these recipes on hand for colds, chilly days, or any weeknight.
54 Popular Low-Carb Recipes Perfect for Weeknight Cooking
Because bread is overrated.
16 Plants that are Perfect for Hillsides and Steep Slopes
You can prevent soil erosion and won't have to drag a lawnmower up and down those hills!
35 Purple Flowers to Spruce Up Your Garden
Whether you want vines, trees, shrubs, or cut flowers, there's a lovely purple bloomer.
38 Quick and Easy Casserole Recipes You Can Make on Weeknights
Pop it in the oven and relax; dinner is making itself.
35 Slow Cooker Recipes to Make Right Now
Don't wait until it's chilly outside to take advantage of your slow cooker. Slow cooker season is year round!
20 Non-Alcoholic Christmas Drinks and Mocktails Everyone Can Enjoy
Serve a celebratory sipper that you know everyone will feel good about.
How to Properly Carve a Turkey Like a Pro
Grab a knife! Here's your step-by-step guide to carving your bird.
33 Thanksgiving Dinner Menus to Elevate Your Holiday Meal
This year, build a theme-menu that'll get the whole crew excited!
52 Fall Dinner Recipes for All Your Cool-Weather Eating
Don’t let the busy fall season keep you from eating well! These recipes are fast and tasty.
The Lawn-Care Trick to Try Before the First Big Snow
Missed your fall seeding window? This simple winter technique can give your lawn a green head start when spring arrives.
100 Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Everyone Wants to Eat
This impressive assembly of sides will help you fill out the side board!
How Long to Cook a Turkey of Any Size
No matter what size bird your cooking, our food editors have expert advice.
The Best Fall Fruits and Vegetables to Cook, Bake, and Savor All Season
Find out what's in season, and learn how to buy, store, and cook with it!
Should You Cut Your Grass Short Before Winter? An Expert Answers
If so, how short? We spoke to an expert to sort out fact from folklore.
Yes, Black Pumpkins Exist—And People Are Obsessed
These striking deep-black gourds are real, rare, and disappearing fast at pumpkin patches this fall.
Choose the Right Evergreen Shrubs for Your Yard
The right kind of shrub will offer years of low-effort beauty and charm to your landscape.
Stink Bugs Invade in the Fall and Stay Over Winter—Here’s What to Do About Them
You may just have a couple. Or you may have an infestation.
How to Keep Pumpkins from Rotting Before Their Time
Learn how to make your pumpkins last longer with these easy tips.
8 Fun and Simple Halloween Drinks for Kids
From eerie to harvest festival fancy, these drinks will fit any Halloween party!
21 Best Indoor Houseplants Make Plant Parenting Easy
Want a stand-out plant that doesn't take a lot of work? We've got the list.
21 Clever Halloween Appetizers for Your Party
Delight the eyes and the tummies with these spookily delicious snacks.
Can Pumpkin-Eating Squirrels Be Stopped? We Tested 5 Home Remedies to Find Out
We tested five different home squirrel repellants. Here's how they stack up.
30 Cold-Loving Winter Flowers to Brighten the Darkest Days
Plan a few spots of color in your winter garden with these persistent blooms.
The Best Indoor Grow Lights to Keep Houseplants Healthy
Keep your houseplants from getting leggy with some full spectrum light!
Winter Can Wreck Your Terra-Cotta Pots. Here's How to Protect Them
If you can't bring them all the way inside, you can still keep them safe.
Those “Fruit Flies” in Your Kitchen Might Be Something Far Worse
Scuttle flies look a lot like fruit flies but are harder to get rid of. Here's how to recognize and deal with this common, unpleasant pest.
Save Your Coleus Plants NOW Before the First Frost!
Here's an easy way to set yourself up for plenty of coleus next spring.
Move Over, Mums—These 6 Fall Blooms Deserve the Spotlight
Set your porch apart from the crowd this fall!
7 Veggies and Herbs That Actually Thrive Inside All Winter
Salad greens, herbs, and more can all be grown inside, through the deepest winter!
3 Things to Do ASAP After Buying Porch Mums This Fall
Get the most out of your mums by taking these three steps.
The One Perennial You Need to Plant This Fall to Help Pollinators
October and November are the best time to plant milkweed, a beautiful perennial that’s easy to grow. Here’s how!
4 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Fall Mums
Sidestep these common pitfalls and pick the best mum of the bunch.
Take These Steps to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Completely
Here's what to do to cut down on fruit flies, no fancy traps or sprays necessary!
15 Quick-and-Easy Egg Recipes That Make Great Breakfast-for-Dinner
Delight the family and make dinner a little simpler at the same time!
4 Cast Iron “Rules” You Can Finally Break
Don't let these common concerns keep you from using your vintage skillet!
8 Showy Fall Plants That’ll Turn Your Yard Into a Haven for Migrating Birds
Give those long-distance fliers a spot to rest on their journey with these pretty plants!
23 Types of Squash to Eat and How to Cook Them
From winter to summer squash, these are ones to search out and eat!
51 Fall Casserole Recipes to Celebrate the Season
Baking weather is back! Get these dishes in your oven.
103 Easy Fall Recipes Your Family Will LOVE
Celebrate the season's bounty (and the year's best weather) with these cozy dishes!
10 Fall Vegetables You Can Plant Now—But Do It ASAP
These fast-growing veggies will give you a last-season burst of produce!
Do This Inexpensive Lawn Chore Now for Gorgeous Grass by Spring
Fall is the best time to seed cool-season grass—here’s how to do it right.
12 Reasons You Should Be Using a Cast-Iron Skillet
Forget the myths. Cast-iron pans are everything you want.
How to Stop Carpenter Bees from Taking Over
If those telltale holes appear in your deck, here's what to do.
How Often Should You Actually Wash Your Cast-Iron Skillet? Here’s What Experts Say
You’ve probably been told never to wash cast iron—but the truth may surprise you.
180 Kids’ Trivia Questions (with Answers) to Test Your Smarts
Looking for a fun family game? See what your kids know—and learn a little something too!
25 Educational TV Shows Kids Will Actually Love to Watch
Make screen time a positive thing with some value-added programing!
72 Best Chicken Dinner Recipes to Add to Your Weeknight Rotation
If chicken is starting to sound boring, you just need a recipe refresh.
We Tried These Heavy Cream Substitutes. They Work
These 9 heavy cream substitutes—including a vegan option—will save you a trip to the store.
12 Plants That Attract Songbirds to Your Landscape
Turn your yard into an oasis for bird-watching, one plant at a time!
These Golden Cheesy Bites Are the Ultimate Snack Upgrade
Move over, onion rings. There’s a new appetizer in town.
15 Smart Rock Landscaping Ideas to Inspire Your Renovation
Large or small, natural or cut, rocks bring a lot of style to a landscaping project.
38 Attractive Fence Ideas, from Rustic to Ornate
From privacy fences to border dividers, we'll help you find the right fence for your situation!
Why Mowing Your Grass When It’s Wet Is Always a Bad Idea
Before you fire up the mower, read these tips!
Fall Is the Best Time to Seed Your Lawn in Many Situations
Depending on your grass type, fall seeding lets grass root deeper before summer's stresses.