Dear Dot
Dear Dot is here to answer all your sustainable living questions from her perch on the porch. Got a question for Dot? Send her a note for a chance to be featured in an upcoming post.
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Dear Dot
Dear Dot: Which is Worse for the Planet — Food Miles or Food Waste?
Dear Dot -
Dear Dot,
My eldest child signed up for Misfits Market, hoping to help reduce food waste. They were surprised to see items like strawberries and avocados on the list of available items, given that they live...
Dear Dot
Dear Dot: What’s the Best Way to Store Leftovers?
Dear Dot -
Dear Dot,
How long does leftover food last in a refrigerator? Is it important to cover or seal it, and why?
–David
Dear David,
“Food” is a pretty broad category. Some “leftover food,” of course, lasts months, like peanut...
Dear Dot
Dear Dot: What Is a Smart Plug?
Dear Dot -
Dear Dot,
What is a smart plug?
–Julia D.
The Short Answer: A smart plug is a device (available on Amazon) that plugs into an outlet and into which you can plug appliances and other devices. You can...
Dear Dot
Dear Dot: Will New Electric Charging Roads Charge My Hybrid Vehicle?
Dear Dot -
Dear Dot,
I recently bought a new Hyundai hybrid vehicle. I heard that Detroit (one of my favorite cities) is installing new roads that will recharge electric car engines. Will they also charge my hybrid electric?
–Karen
Dear...
Dear Dot
Dear Dot: Help Me Get Rid of Gophers (or Groundhogs?)
Dear Dot -
Dear Dot,
How can I remove gophers from my yard? We are trying a live trap but they go past and are eating roots off all plants and even my huge collection of aloe vera. Please...
Dear Dot
Dear Dot: Are There Rebates to Replace Knob-and-Tube Wiring (So I Can Electrify My Home)?
Dear Dot -
Dear Dot,
I have found that I cannot take advantage of energy efficient programs due to knob-and-tube wiring. Is there a rebate program to rewire a small house allowing me to move forward toward a more...
Dear Dot
Dear Dot: How Can I Smell Good Without Toxic Chemicals?
Dear Dot -
Dear Dot,
I like to wear fragrance. Is there a company that will make me smell great but has healthy ingredients for both me and the planet?
– Bobbi
The Short Answer: Check out databases like Think Dirty or EWG’s Skin...
Dear Dot
Dear Dot: Is There an Eco-Friendly Way to Whiten My Whites?
Dear Dot -
Dear Dot,
To enhance whiteness, are you suggesting to add lemon juice, white vinegar, and baking soda with the laundry strips? How much?
Thank you.
–Kathy
Dear Kathy,
While Dot is happy to let pet fur and dirt congregate in...
Dear Dot
Dear Dot: Is Organic Food Really Better?
Dear Dot -
Dear Dot,
I’m a Harvard alum and a recent article in the Gazette indicated that organic food is no better than conventionally grown. What say you, Dot?
–David
The Short Answer: There are many factors that determine if organic...
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Mooo-ving Towards Clean Energy
The cows are fueling clean energy on the dairy farm at northern California's Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company.
Eco-Friendly Mother's Day Gifts
As they say, “It takes all kinds to make a world.” And mothers do, literally, help make the world. So, I’ve got ideas for many kinds of mothers (if not quite all kinds). Maybe there’s something here that’s right for yours.
Favorite Items for Spring Cleaning
Every spring, my husband designates a weekend for deep-cleaning and decluttering our house. I’m not looking forward to this...
Sustainable Tech and Home Office Favorites
In October of 2000, I became the first person in my middle school to receive a cell phone. A gift from my grandmother, the Nokia had a little antenna and came with a set of four plastic Disney covers...
RECIPE: Super-Creamy Hummus
We all want to eat more plant-based, both for our own health and the health of the planet. Got a can of chickpeas? Crack...