At Home On Earth

SIMPLE / SMART / SUSTAINABLE / STORIES

It’s easy to work to protect cute bears and pretty birds. But when creatures are stinky (skunks), or slithery (snakes), or downright scary (Jaws!)? Wildlife biologist Luanne Johnson writes about how hard it is to be neighborly to these “unloveable” species, but how every native species has a role in the ecosystem it inhabits: “Bats have also suffered terribly from bad publicity. From Dracula to stories about bats wanting to nest in your hair, these little mammals have been maligned, misunderstood, and terrorized by tennis rackets. While people mistakenly think that bats are rodents that chew their way into homes and have lots of babies, that isn’t true. … They are excellent neighbors, because a bat can consume 3,000 – 4,000 insects in a single night.”

We have such faith in Hayhoe’s “practical and effective climate solutions” that we’re making simple solutions the theme of this week’s newsletter. Sure, high-tech innovations have their place, but let’s celebrate the low-tech solutions that punch way above their weight — the ideas that aren’t meant to be patented but shared. Read on and marvel at the ingenuity of ordinary people (and if you’re part of a simple solution, please tell us about it).

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 Bluedot Living Kitchen

Green Garlic Soup

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Saving Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles

“Sea turtles are cold-blooded and rely on their external temperatures to regulate their body heat,” writes Bluedot editor Britt Bowker. “When temperatures drop … the turtles become cold-stunned and are weak and unable to swim.” Enter Karen Dourdeville, the Sea Turtle Stranding Coordinator typically based at Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary who happened to be on Martha’s Vineyard when she spotted three juvenile cold-stunned sea turtles and took action. Read this tale of a hero rescuing half-shells.

Dear Dot: Help Me Find an Eco-Friendly Mop and Bucket

Dear Dot,

Where can I buy a mop that is made of biodegradable materials and a mop bucket made of recycled plastic? Thank you!

– Carole A.

Dear Carole,

Wow, Carole. Dot loves your specificity. But while I will do my best to see if I can source a mop made of biodegradable materials and a bucket made of recycled plastic, let’s zoom out for a moment and revisit some of Dot’s Rules for Sustainable Purchasing.

Rule #1: Make use of items you already have is followed closely by Rule #2: Buy second-hand when possible.

So please consider, Carole, whether you might already possess a mop bucket (or reasonable facsimile) or can find one at a yard sale or thrift store, or by posting a request on Facebook Marketplace or a similar site. Purchasing items made from recycled materials is typically a good thing, but it is a less good thing than keeping already existing items in circulation rather than headed for the landfill or to a recycling system where they, potentially, will get turned into another item (all of which requires energy). What’s more, repurposing items and/or buying second-hand will save you money. And who doesn’t love saving money?

But assuming Dot’s rules nonetheless left you empty-handed, Carole, I’m going to find you the most eco-friendly versions I can of your desired cleaning tools.

(And please don’t miss Dot’s response to Jennifer, curious about eco-friendly cleaning products for a squeaky green home.) Or check out Bluedot’s Marketplace and consider Blueland cleaning products, a Bluedot fave!

What mop and bucket does Dot recommend? Read on.

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The Keep-This Handbook:
Get Rid of Invasives and “Grow Me Instead”

Not all invasive species are bad (though some are!) but they typically don’t extend benefits to local wildlife and helpful insects. Our new “Grow Me Instead” column offers up simple alternatives — this week it’s wild geranium instead of periwinkle. Get growing!

Parting Thoughts About Simple Solutions

A major perk of working for (and reading) Bluedot is the wonderful overwhelm that comes from learning just how many people in communities big and small all over the world are hard at work making our world better. From turning invasive hyacinth into cattle feed around Africa’s Lake Victoria<> to making ugly fruit beautifully edible, the human imagination continues to dream up simple solutions. (And stay tuned for news about Bluedot’s participation in The 89% Project, a reminder that the vast majority of us — 80 to 89% — want action on climate change.)

We do it, too. I (Leslie) pledged two years ago to buy items second-hand whenever I could. The result? I’ve saved money and sent fewer items to the landfill. (And found far more interesting choices!) Many of my simple solutions have become habit. Composting. Line drying my laundry. So-called kitchen-sink meals where “everything but the kitchen sink” gets thrown into a lasagna or a quiche or a soup to avoid food waste. 

Speaking of food, I (Jamie) have become a “reducitarian,”<> and aim to eat animal protein only once a day (at most). It’s cheaper, vastly better for the environment, and delicious. (Try these cheats for less meat.) I’m also avoiding flying (check out contributor Nancy Aronie’s new mode of traveling without airplanes) and working toward rewilding my yard. 

Little things — buying secondhand, avoiding food waste and animal agriculture, and ditching the lawn — but huge impacts.

See you in two weeks!

–Jamie Kageleiry and Leslie Garrett

Editors

Write us at editor@bluedotliving.com

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.

Leslie Garrett has been covering climate stories for close to two decades.  She makes her home in Canada, west of Toronto. She’s still figuring out her favorite spot but it’s definitely near the water.

Sent to: _t.e.s.t_@example.com

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