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Welcome to The Hub, a Bluedot Living newsletter that gathers good news, good food, and good tips for living every day more sustainably. |
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Welcome to The Hub, a Bluedot Living newsletter that gathers good news, good food, and good tips for living every day more sustainably. |
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If you purchase anything via one of our links, including from Amazon, we may earn a small commission. |
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DISPATCHES FROM ALL OVER
SUSTAINABLE LIVING ADVICE
ECO-FRIENDLY RECIPES |
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DISPATCHES FROM ALL OVER · SUSTAINABLE LIVING ADVICE · ECO-FRIENDLY RECIPES |
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“There’s no inherent virtue that goes with rural or small town life, but there is an inherent dependency.”
–Bill McKibben, author and climate activist
Writing about small-town Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz, Bill McKibben (you can read Bluedot’s Climate Conversation with the legendary creator of Second Act here) points out how neighborliness is tied to climate issues. After all, when the waters rise, who do we rely on but our neighbors to help mop out our basements? But neighborliness is also about coming together to tackle issues proactively, from protecting an old-growth forest to the “pollenteers” planting for pollinators. It’s the thinking behind Bluedot Living, with our regional sites and newsletters that focus on what’s happening in communities around the continent, and our Hub site and newsletter (you’re reading it!) which, ahem, connects the dots so we can all learn from and be inspired by the incredible work being done all over. Sign up for the locations closest to you … and then gather up your neighbors and change your world. |
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QUICK LINKS |
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Skip scrolling! Here's what you'll find in this edition of the Bluedot Newsletter: |
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Don't let the summer heat drain your natural energy. Stay cool, hydrated, and vibrant with NativePath Hydrate - a powerful powdered electrolyte drink mix designed to keep you hydrated as nature intended.
Unlike most hydration supplements, Native Hydrate contains high-quality amino acids and electrolytes, providing optimal hydration without excessive sodium or added sugars.
Simply mix one scoop of our refreshing powder into water or your favorite beverage to enjoy increased energy levels, improved muscle strength and bladder function.
And here's the best part: Stock up now and enjoy up to 44% off your purchase, plus receive a free gift and free shipping with every order. |
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FEATURED STORIES |
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BIG IDEAS AND LOCAL CHANGEMAKERS |
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So… what exactly does collagen do, again?
This nutrient is Insta-trending for a reason – it’s essential for healthy skin, joints, and bones. The big bummer: many collagen supplements are made with artificial ingredients and (gross) animal byproducts. NativePath has a different approach.
NativePath collagen is certified grass-fed and pure, and sourced from 100% happy, healthy cows… so you can put nutrients into a happy, healthy human. It provides Types 1 and 3 collagen – more than 90% of your body’s needs. Plus, it’s tasty and provides 20 grams of protein, so you’ll get lots of energy to boot.
Find out more about the many benefits of NativePath’s collagen powder on their website! |
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These are easy, snackable foods from our friend Nicole Litvack at Bluedot Living San Diego — each plant-based, involving ricotta, and delicious.
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Bluedot San Diego editor Jim Miller is a big fan of so-called climate fiction, or “cli-fi,” so who better to write our In a Word column to define the term? “The cli-fi genre spans everything from post-apocalyptic nightmare scenarios (Cormac McCarthy’s uber-bleak The Road (available on Amazon),” Jim writes, “to novels set in a very real-feeling near future where the characters are dealing with everyday issues of a changing climate as well as issues of their own (T.C. Boyle’s Blue Skies, also available on Amazon).” Jim acknowledges that, “Digging deep into an imagined climate-changed future may be stressful for some readers, but others may find it comforting or empowering to peer into one or more of the many possible worlds we could inherit.” |
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– Illustration by Elissa Turnbull
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Dear Dot,
I just love Q-Tips. But I’ve seen a product line called LastObject that makes reusable products, including one called LastSwab. It’s a nubby little swab that’s supposed to replace 1,000 disposable cotton swabs, and is made of silicone with a case made from recycled ocean-bound plastic. But, I just can’t imagine that I'd like a silicone swab as much. If I got the fancy swab and didn’t like it, wouldn't that be very wasteful? Is the production energy involved with the LastSwab higher than for my cotton Q-Tips?
Please help me as I sweat the small stuff!
–Elise, New York
Dear Elise,
Dot knows you’re not alone in either your dedication to Q-Tips and your cotton swab quandary (by the way, I’m sticking with vernacular here and using the brand name “Q-Tip” synonymously with any cotton swab). The average American uses a whopping 415 cotton swabs every year. Those small quotidian single-use products really add up. To help you decide if testing out the silicone alternative is worth it, let’s first consider the environmental impact of disposable Q-Tips.
In short, it depends on the materials these Q-Tips are made of. …
Read on to hear what Dot recommends. |
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Bluedot Living's newsletter may contain affiliate links, including from Amazon, and may receive a commission when you buy a product from our links. |
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For many of us, especially parents with kids in school, late August and early September can be extra busy, making it the perfect time to try out an online grocery service. These three brands can help you shop more efficiently and save money. |
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Misfits sells discounted produce and packaged goods that don’t make it to stores because of sizing, cosmetic, and packaging discrepancies. Use code BLUEDOT50 to save up to $20 off your first purchase (by 8/31). |
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Shop today or
read our review. |
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Thrive, a membership-based market, offers a plethora of quality items at great prices (vitamins in particular are a steal). The yearly fee quickly pays for itself. Try the house label for organic oils, nuts, and dried fruit. |
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Shop today or
read our review. |
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Public Goods, a membership-based platform, offers a small but excellent assortment of affordable products. Their granolas, ramen, and especially coconut cookies are top notch; we really like the toiletries, too. |
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Shop today or
read our review. |
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The Keep-This Handbook |
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Ready to join the many others installing rooftop solar panels? Find out what you need to know with Bluedot’s (Solar) Panel Discussion. (You can source and compare the best installers in your region — no cost — via Energy Sage). |
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Parting Thoughts About … Time Off for Joy |
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As we move into Labor Day weekend, we wish you the opportunity to savor this last gasp of summer. We at Bluedot believe it’s important to find joy in the work we do — taking time to stop and breathe and, as the saying goes, touch grass does us all a world of good. Want to hear more about incorporating joy into climate action? Listen to Bluedot Editorial Director Leslie Garrett talk to a Canadian podcast host about how joy can be fuel.
Enjoy the weekend, and we’ll see you in two weeks.
– Jamie Kageleiry and Leslie Garrett
Editors
Write us at editor@bluedotliving.com |
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Jamie Kageleiry, a longtime magazine and newspaper editor from Martha's Vineyard, says her favorite spot on earth is out on a kayak there, looking at birds. |
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Leslie Garrett has been covering climate stories for close to two decades. She divides her time between London, Ontario, and Massachusetts. She’s still figuring out her favorite spot but it’s definitely near the water. |
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Read past issues of The Hub here. |
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Bluedot Living® magazine and bluedotliving.com are published by Bluedot, Inc.
Find more simple, smart, sustainable stories at bluedotliving.com, our Martha's Vineyard website, our Brooklyn website, our San Diego website, our Los Angeles website, our Santa Barbara website,
our
Toronto website, and our
Boston website. Subscribe to any of our newsletters here.
Write us at
editor@bluedotliving.com if you’d like to see a Bluedot newsletter or magazine in your community.
To unsubscribe from Bluedot Living please click here.
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