Jackson Free Press

Fertilizing in planet-friendly ways

Now that you presumably have your organicgarden planted, whether in pots on an apartment balcony or a larger space, you will want to nurture it with fertilizers.

Our Over-Medicated Nation

On her first visit with me a few weeks ago, Mrs. Johnson, a 32-year-old schoolteacher, announced that she had a condition that "sounds like fibro-something."

Southern Un-Fried Chicken

When I was a little boy living on a farm in Mississippi, it seemed like we had chicken five days a week. We had chicken for breakfast cooked in gravy …

A Few Green Flecks Never Hurt Anyone

I guess you could say I'm a picky eater. I still don't eat my vegetables, and to this day I have a weird thing about eating tomatoes that are bigger …

Anna Franklin's Teacakes

When she was alive, Polkville, Miss., resident Anna Franklin used her teacakes to comfort the bereaved. "Everybody who went into the coffee room at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in …

Code Blue: Police Pursuits Cost a Life a Day

"All units, Ridgeland PD in pursuit. Gray Crown Victoria on lower (Spillway) Road, request assistance," a voice said over the police scanner from Reservoir Control tower.

Charter Schools Rock?

Long a political lightning rod, are charter schools the key to solving the state's education woes?

Apron Strings to Executive Chef

Nick Wallace told me stories as we drove to Edwards in April. There were gardens to see and people to meet, and all of them had a history.

‘Where I Am, You May Not Harm'

Joan Chittister's voice fairly resonates with passion. Her broad smile belies a fierce intelligence and a barely disguised rage at injustice of any sort, especially over systemic injustices of poverty …

Cake fit for a King

My mother was one of the best cooks in the world. On any given day, she could make a meal fit for a king. Mother had her own natural rhythm—her …

Unique Food Finds: Oxtails

The world of food is riddled with the contributions of countless cultures, languages, and centuries of morphing and modification. One such area that has been especially touched by language is …

Take Mom Out on Her Day

One of the best ways to show mom how much you care is to have someone else do all the cooking and cleanup on her special day. If your cooking …

Big Plans, Little Progress

The U.S. Congress established the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission as an independent, public advisory commission with the Rural Development, Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of October 1, 1988.

SWAG: Students with a Goal

Concern about apathy among their peers led several Northwest Rankin H.S. students to start Students With A Goal, or SWAG, to support each other as they serve the community.

Gulf Coast Arts

Silvery, coppery structures twist among old live oak trees near the shore of the Mississippi Sound, close to where the Biloxi Schoon­er docks. This is the site of the Ohr-O'Keefe …

Pho Sure!

Two years ago while I was visiting Gulfport, a friend introduced me to a Vietnamese noodle dish I fell hopelessly in love with.

Winning the Burger Challenge

Constructing the perfect burger is a fine art. One must begin with the finest ingredients: patties hand-formed out of fresh, never-frozen beef, delectable seasonings, a light and fluffy bun and …

Stolen Lives: Remembering the Tragedy of Slavery

An Instrument of Change

A half moon disappeared as the sun rose out of the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 1, 1832. The humid coastal winds filled the sails and carried the ship through the …

The Heartbreak Grape

I never tried pinot noir until the movie "Sideways" intrigued me into buying a bottle. I haven't bought another merlot or cabernet since.

Get Involved

Here are a few national and international organizations that provide opportunities for ways to become involved and to create local grassroots support that will bring remarkable transformation.