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Friday, July 5, 2024

On Nantucket, it takes a village to build a self-reliant food system. “Nestled within the windswept scrub pines and sandplains of Nantucket’s south shore are acres and acres of amazing, hard-earned soil,” Bluedot editor Britt Bowker writes in “Raising Farmers on Nantucket.” Long-established farmers mentor newer farmers, who in turn mentor the newest, who try out farming on eighth-of-an-acre plots, with help from Sustainable Nantucket, and the Nantucket Land Bank. This is Dylan Wallace, with just-harvested rhubarb. Dylan came up through the mentorship program, and now has his own farm, Eat Fire Farm. Bluedot Living Nantucket Magazine is the newest addition to the Bluedot universe. Check out the website here to read about how they’re solving problems, thirty miles out to sea: Keeping their skies dark, turning their lawns to meadows, and raising pigs to provide the island’s only locally grown meat. If you know or love Nantucket (or both!), you can sign up for the newsletter here.

“Optimism is seeing challenges as opportunities to make progress; it's having the confidence that there are things we can do to make a difference. We can shape the future, and we can build a great one if we want to.”

― Hannah Ritchie, Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet

There is much dismay lately, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court’s turning over of the so-called Chevron Deference, which gave regulatory agencies the power to determine how to interpret ambiguous language in laws. The decision, as the Natural Resources Defence Council puts it, “has profound consequences, not only for the country’s rule of law but also for how agencies — such as those protecting the public against everything from pollution and contaminated food to workplace hazards and rising drug prices — are able to function.” And though Hannah Ritchie admits that being an optimist right now can be interpreted as naive, she takes a different view, acknowledging challenges — yes, even overwhelming, seemingly insurmountable challenges — as opportunities to make progress. The key, she believes, is not losing sight of our power to create change, nor acquiescing without giving it everything we’ve got. Put another way, it ain’t over til it’s over. And … it ain’t over.

• Can Hollywood Make Climate Change Bingeable?

• Raising Farmers on Nantucket

• Easy Roasted Fennel With Garlic

• Paris Olympic’s Big Climate Promises

• Eco-Friendly Beach Gear: Men’s Swim, Women’s Swim, and Sandals

• In A Word: Silviculture

• Build Your Own Solar Generator

• Climate Quick Tip: Fix That Scratch with Walnuts!

• Dear Dot: Will My Bee Bath Attract Mosquitoes?

• What Can I Do With My Damaged Garden Hose?

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Go ahead, buy that scratched thrift store wood table. Here’s an eco-friendly hack to make it look like new.
For more Bluedot Climate Quick Tips, click here.

 The Bluedot Kitchen

In New England, it’s a tradition to eat salmon (and peas!) in July. Why? According to Yankee Magazine, “The salmons’ annual migration up New England’s rivers from the Atlantic made them an available (and delicious) source of protein for early settlers in the summer months. The late-June ripening of peas made for a clear choice. …” We’re happy to share Vanessa Seder’s Crispy Salmon With Pea Shoots. From Eat Fire Farm on Nantucket, farmers Dylan and Caroline Wallace sent us this easy Roasted Fennel With Garlic. If you’re not on Nantucket when you go to make this, you can substitute their Eat Fire Farm Salt with any herbal salt mix.

Mr. Fix-It: Build Your Own Solar Generator

– Illustration by Elissa Turnbull

Dear Dot,

I've heard that it's good to put a bee bath in my garden, because bees get thirsty and need water. I hesitate to leave out any standing water, though, because I don't want to invite mosquitoes to hatch. Do you have any suggestions?

–Thirsty for Pollinators, New York, NY

Dear Thirsty,

Dot is delighted to report that your fears are unfounded, assuming, of course, that your bee bath will be well maintained and refilled with fresh water every few days or so. 

Consider this, Thirsty: Birds will likely share this bath with the bees (and why not? There’s no harm in a common water source!). And birds love little more than dining on mosquito larvae. If it’s there, they will eat it. What’s more, larvae take seven to ten days to hatch. If birds haven’t consumed all the larvae, you will have dumped it all out when you refill/clean the bee/bird bath every three or four days. 

If you remain concerned, you can add some motion to your (wee) ocean, which will repel mosquitoes, who prefer their water still. A water wiggler (on Amazon) will add ripples to your bath and delight birds. While the sound might still attract bees  — gurgling water means fresh water in the apian arena — bees are more likely (and safer) to stick to the edges of the bath where there’s no danger of falling in, while birds will happily frolic. 

Splashily,

Dot

BUY LESS/BUY BETTER: The Beach 

Bluedot Living's newsletter may contain affiliate links, including from Amazon, and may receive a commission when you buy a product from our links.

It’s officially summer, and you may have noticed, it’s hot out! The ocean — or lake, river, pool, or cold spring — beckons! If you’re looking for thoughtfully made swimwear, start here. For more, check out our list of Bluedot-Approved Picks for the Beach.

 In recent climate news, The Supreme Court's overturning of the Chevron decision raises concerns about federal oversight in critical areas like environmental regulation and public health. Escalating insurance costs due to climate-driven natural disasters are prompting more homeowners to forgo coverage, increasing financial risks. July, traditionally the hottest month, continues to set new temperature records due to human-caused climate change. These issues underscore the urgent need for comprehensive climate action and policy reform to protect both the environment and public welfare.

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The Keep-This-Handbook

Time to toss your old garden hose? Let Bluedot’s Guide to Getting Rid of (Almost) Anything tell you how to dispose of it. If it’s repairable, Mr. Fix-It’s got you covered.

The Story Behind Bluedot

“There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world,” astronomer Carl Sagan wrote in 1994’s Pale Blue Dot. “To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.” Sagan’s humbling words inspire us to deliver stories to you that reflect his and so many others’ work to cherish this blue dot. Please consider forwarding this newsletter to your friends and family to share and inspire real-world eco-actions we can take at home and in our communities. 

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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