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Dirty Labs makes incredibly effective, enzyme-based, non-toxic cleaning products that tackle stains and grime without harsh chemicals or plastic packaging. The laundry detergent, which is available fragrance-free and in two sophisticated scents, is so concentrated that you only need about a quarter-ounce per load. The powdered dish detergent is equally impressive, and, in our experience, outperforms even the best-selling pods. Find this and more sustainable products in the Bluedot Living Collection.

“Get out now. Not just outside but beyond the trap of the programmed electronic age so gently closing around so many people. … Go outside, move deliberately, then relax, slow down, look around. Do not jog. Do not run. Forget about blood pressure and arthritis, cardiovascular rejuvenation, and weight reduction. Instead pay attention to everything that abuts the rural road, the city street, the suburban boulevard. Walk. Stroll. Saunter. Ride a bike, and coast along a lot. Explore.”

– John Stilgoe, from Outside Lies Magic, a book the Harvard professor wrote about “the acute observation of ordinary things.”

• Dear Dot: Who’s Taking Care of Neighborhood Trees?

• Trail Stewards to the Rescue in Burlington, Vermont

• Climbing to the Top of Haleakalā on Two Wheels

• Yoga Mat Gone to the Downward Dogs? Here’s Where It Can Retire.

• The Tao of Two Wheels

• Recipe: Cranberry, Pecan, and Cherry Raw Energy Bites

• A Mindfulness Exercise for Your Garden

• Find More Than Just Books at the Library

• Running on Fumes: Can Marathons Find a Sustainable Stride?

• Room for Change: The Workout

FEATURED STORIES

BIG IDEAS AND LOCAL CHANGEMAKERS

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Room for Change: The Workout

Dear Dot:
Who’s Taking Care of Neighborhood Trees?

Illustration by Elissa Turnbull

Dear Dot,

There is a gorgeous tree outside my apartment — I love looking at it every day. But the other day I saw someone cutting branches. I want to say they were pruning it, but the person did not look like a city worker. Is this a random do-gooder taking care of a tree, or is someone hurting it? How can I help my favorite tree?

–Michael, Brooklyn, New York

Dear Michael,

Trees are such an overlooked resource. Not only do they provide beauty and shade, urban trees also offer habitat for birds and bugs, reduce a city’s heat island effect (the increase in temperature thanks to urban infrastructure like roads and buildings), and absorb pollutants.

Like you, Michael, lots of people come to feel very connected to the trees outside of their homes or in their favorite parks, according to Sarah Balistreri, part-time environmental educator with Trees New York and a former Greenpoint resident. Consequently, she suggests we notice the challenges that our urban trees encounter — the bicycle chains that scrape the bark or damage from cars and trucks, tree beds treated like trash bins. “People notice that our trees don’t get the care and regard that they deserve,” she says. “And so a lot of folks want to learn to help out.”

Like the random dude you noticed, Michael. He was not some ordinary do-gooder who happened to have pruning shears stashed in his backpack, but rather a qualified do-gooder who had undergone a “citizen pruner” course and been granted a license to tend to Brooklyn’s — indeed the entire city’s — trees. 

Want to find out what you can do in your own neighborhood? Keep reading.

See more Dot here. Got a question for her? Write her at deardot@bluedotliving.com

In a world overwhelmed by climate headlines, musical producer and artist Kiran Gandhi offers a different frequency. On Imagine If, she joins us for a conversation about the intersection of art and activism. From recording melting glaciers to redirecting streaming royalties toward conservation, she’s redefining what activism can look (and sound) like. Touching on topics such as meditation, emotional resilience, and intentional living, Kiran makes the case that sustainable climate action begins within and ripples outward.

Click now to listen on your favorite listening platform!

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What You Can Do: Become a Trail Protector

Do you have a favorite hiking spot? Duncan Murdoch did and consequently created a trail stewardship program in Burlington, Vermont. The venture has been so successful that he’s encouraging others to create a similar program in their communities. Interested? Read about this initiative. Then reach out to him.

We believe small changes can add up to big impact — and Bluedot wants to help you to live more sustainably. As part of your membership, you’ll receive a curated selection of planet-friendly products to use in your own home, and you’ll also save 10% on sustainable shopping year-round and receive deeper discounts with our monthly member-only deals. Bluedot empowers you to live more intentionally and connects you to our community of like-minded individuals who share your passion for the planet. Together, we can inspire meaningful change in our homes, continue sharing impactful stories, and feel hopeful about the future of our world.

Ready to make a difference?

The Keep-This Handbook

Has your yoga mat seen its last downward dog? Find out where you can give it new life, thanks to Bluedot’s Guide to Getting Rid of (Almost) Anything.  

The Outdoor Type

Early on in our relationship, my husband and I bonded over the Lemonheads song “I Lied About Being the Outdoor Type.” Surrounded by friends who loved hiking, kayaking, and camping, we’d giggle as we recognized ourselves in the lyrics: “But I never set foot inside a tent/I couldn’t build a fire to save my life.” I think we were both relieved we wouldn’t have to learn how to pitch a tent — and grateful to have married someone who understood why we didn’t want to.

So you can imagine our surprise when, on a trip to Humboldt County in California, we discovered that we loved hiking. Since then, we’ve hit the trails in Holualoa, Hawaii; St. George, Utah; Portland, Oregon; Juneau, Alaska; and plenty of places in between. We’ve seen rainforests, red rocks, and rushing rivers, all while delighting in the vistas and the crisp, clean air you just don’t get in the city.  

Glamping is still the closest we’ll get to camping, and if you ever find us cooking over an open fire, something’s gone seriously wrong. But now, whenever we start planning a vacation, we look for nearby hiking trails. Turns out it’s called “the great outdoors” for a good reason. 

So get out there! And enjoy the weekend. We’ll see you next week.

– Robin Jones (and Emily Cain, Leslie Garrett, and Jamie Kageleiry)

Editors

Write us at editor@bluedotliving.com

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.

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.

Robin Jones is a Southern California native who served as an editor at Westways magazine for more than a decade. She lives in Long Beach and teaches journalism at Cal State Long Beach.

Emily Cain is a recent graduate of Cal State Long Beach, where she wrote and edited for the university’s award-winning magazine, DIG.

Our audience is informed, intentional, and tuned in to sustainable living. Reach our 300,000 readers by advertising here, or contact adsales@bluedotliving.com to reserve your space.

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