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Welcome to Bluedot Living Martha's Vineyard, a newsletter that gathers local good news, good food, and good tips for living every day more sustainably. |
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Welcome to Bluedot Living Martha's Vineyard, a newsletter that gathers local 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.
All Dear Dot illustrations by Elissa Turnbull. |
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Every shorebird you see (there are many this time of year), is “vitally connected to a flyway, an aerial artery that surges twice a year as thousands of birds travel to and from their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere,” writes Sam Moore in this story from our spring issue. “On the East Coast, these routes can extend up past the Arctic circle and down to the southern tip of South America.” Though the populations of many migrating birds have dramatically decreased in the last few decades, the American oystercatcher (captured in this photo by Lanny McDowell at Katama) is a success story: Efforts by many groups to increase reproductive success across the species’ breeding range has increased oystercatcher populations by 50% since 2008. Read more about this, and how local biologists track some Vineyard birds all over the hemisphere.
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Skip scrolling! Here's what you'll find in this edition of the Bluedot Newsletter: |
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I spent the summer of 1975 at my family’s cottage on Lake Huron, which was where I first heard about a blockbuster new movie called Jaws.
Soon, Jaws was all my cottage friends were talking about. Their descriptions of what this great white did to swimmers were graphic, in the ways of pre-teens eager to freak out their friends. It gave me pause but didn’t keep me out of the water. Then came the day that my older brother reported sharks had been discovered in the St. Lawrence River. They were becoming used to fresh water, he explained, following up with daily updates: The sharks had advanced into Lake Ontario, fully capable now of surviving in fresh water. They were breeding, he told me. I didn’t believe him, exactly. But I believed it was possible. |
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And so when he told me that fishermen had hooked a small great white near a resort town 20-minutes up the lake, I began to swim only in groups, only in waist-deep water, eyes scanning always for fins. No matter that it was all a lie, I remained vigilant until Labor Day, when we packed up and returned to the city.
In 2019, my husband and I bought a place in Vineyard Haven. Then Covid hit and we Canadians weren’t allowed to cross the border. Hungry for the Vineyard, we watched Jaws for the first time at a makeshift drive-in, reveling in familiar sights. I’m truly heartened to know that sharks are making a comeback after years of vilification, as this story by Lucas Thors tells us. And it won’t keep me out of the water. You’ll find me, however, in a group. Or close to the shore. Always scanning for fins.
It’s No-Mow May! Which means we all get to watch our grass grow and enjoy the silence, not as easy for some folks (ahem, my husband) as it might seem. Read my Battle of the Blades for how to find a truce between the no-mowers and the more-mowers.
– Leslie Garrett (and Britt Bowker and Jamie Kageleiry)
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A state plan to cut 45 acres of non-native white pines in the State Forest has sparked debate across the Island. Conservationists, fire officials, and ecologists all agree the forest needs better management — but what that looks like is far from settled. Some say restoration will revive rare habitats and reduce wildfire risk. Others warn against rushed decisions and advocate for letting nature take its course. As stakeholders debate carbon costs, biodiversity, and climate resilience, one thing is clear: there’s no consensus yet — only passionate voices on every side. Read more in this story by Lucas Thors.
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If you make a purchase through our links, including from Amazon, we may earn a small commission. |
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As spring puts on a show all around us, we can’t help but want to bring those flowers inside. If you find yourself longingly admiring public displays of daffodils and tulips, you deserve to treat yourself to some flowers. Or, spread the love and give flowers to someone else. Our Marketplace editor, a flower fiend, trusts these companies when she wants to liven up a room or needs a special gift. In fact, they’re stepmother-, mother-in-law–, and sister-in-law–approved! You still have time to order ahead of Mother’s Day. |
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FreshCut Paper makes greeting cards that go from flat to fabulous in just seconds. Our Marketplace editor first spotted them in a botanical garden shop, and they’ve become one of her go-to gifts. Today, she also spotted one in the background on a team Zoom call. These lovely arrangements look even better in person than they do online — and they look great online.
Shop on Amazon or read our review. |
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Keeping fresh flowers in the house year-round is pricey, and while dried flowers make a nice alternative, they can shed and get messy. Enter Unwilted, a woman-run, Michigan-based brand that makes beautiful paper flowers by hand. Our Marketplace editor keeps Unwilted peonies in her Airbnb, and guests often ask her where they can find paper bouquets of their own. Save 20% with code BLUEDOT20. Shop today or read our review. |
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We always recommend shopping for fresh flowers at a local farmers market, but if that option isn’t available, or you’d like a cut-flower bouquet for someone out of town, we suggest Bloomsy Box. Bloomsy sells Rainforest Alliance Certified bouquets and potted plants. When your stepmother, who’s a stickler for quality, is impressed by two separate Bloomsy bouquets, it’s no small feat.
Shop today or read our review. |
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– Illustration by Elissa Turnbull |
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Dear Dot,
Wondering if the Girl Scouts organization is now using sustainable palm oil?
– Sarah
Dear Sarah,
In Canada, where Dot grew up, girls aged nine to 11 participate in Girl Guides, not Girl Scouts, though they are the same movement by a different name. Where they diverge, however, is the cookies. While Girl Guides sell the classic chocolate and vanilla cream cookies in the spring and the chocolate mint cookies in the fall, Girl Scouts offer far more variety, including cookies that are gluten-free, vegan, kosher and Halal.
But whether Girl Guide, Girl Scout or neither, young women keep the rest of us honest. As a mom to two young women, I know well that they will not tolerate hypocrisy and that they have a strong sense of right and wrong.
Which is why some Girl Scouts called out the organization for being complicit in a practice that was, to them, wrong.
The practice was the use of palm oil in the Scouts’ iconic cookies.
Have the Girl Scouts cleaned up their acts and their cookies? Read on.
See more Dot here. Got a question for her? Write her at deardot@bluedotliving.com |
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We mentioned a few weeks ago that Bluedot Living is part of Covering Climate Now’s new campaign called The 89% Project. The name speaks to a study indicating that, globally, 89% of people want more action taken to address climate change, including pollution, droughts, floods, and wildfires. We’ll not only be sharing some of Bluedot’s great content celebrating the ways in which people are doing exactly this in their communities, but we also benefit by being able to publish some of the great stories from other outlets, including this great explainer from the Guardian about how talking about climate change creates a positive feedback loop, and this story from The Revelator about how to talk to your friends and neighbors about climate change — nobody wants to be the Debbie Downer, right?
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Inside each issue of Bluedot Living Kitchen, you’ll find fresh cooking inspiration for planet-friendly eating, waste-saving tips for a more sustainable kitchen, and inspiring stories of the people who grow and make your food. In the latest issue, you’ll find tips for growing hearty herbs you’ll actually use, dozens of seasonal recipes, low-waste tips for campfire cooking, and the story of the third-generation farmers behind the regenerative Happy Hens Farm.
Claim your free issue now! No payment information required.
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Curious how many birds are overhead each night, migrating back from the South? Check out Birdcast for the count. And Nantucket Lights has some great advice (works here, too!) on how to minimize light pollution to ensure the safety of those winged wanderers. For more Island eco-resources, consult our Ultimate Simple, Smart, Sustainable Handbook to Martha’s Vineyard.
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Britt Bowker has been writing and editing for newspapers and magazines across New England, spending a lot of her time on MV. |
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Leslie Garrett has been covering climate stories for 20 years. Anywhere near the water is her favorite place to be. |
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Jamie Kageleiry is a longtime magazine and newspaper editor from Oak Bluffs. Her favorite spot on earth is being in a kayak, anywhere on MV. |
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Reach our eco-conscious readers every other week by advertising here.
Contact adsales@bluedotliving.com to reserve a space in our publications! |
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