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I Found a Chip(munk) on my Living Room Floor
I was going to try and write a beauty and cosmetics or food article for this week’s post since it’s been a while, but something happened this weekend that I couldn’t not write about, and since the purpose of this blog is sharing my personal journey towards sustainability, I figured I’d roll with it. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, we built a catio for our four cats to be able to enjoy the outdoors safely and prevent them from harming wildlife. That said, on the rare occasion, an unfortunate northern short-tailed shrew or black capped chickadee makes its way into the catio (which I’ve learned recently is…
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Growing Habitat from the Roots Up
Exploring Live Staking and Native Species Two years ago in the spring I was on the hunt for a very specific shrub. I wanted to grow shrubs along the roadside as a privacy screen, something native that also wouldn’t attract animals. I settled on downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), a wide branching, broad leaved, shrub that can sometimes grow like a small tree, had beautiful orange foliage in the fall, and grew berries that typically only attracts birds. I visited a couple local greenhouses in search for my perfect shrub, only to find that I was only the second or third person to ask for that particular species in the last…
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To the Carcass in the Road, I’m Sorry
As someone who drives 23 miles each direction on my way to and from work, I cover a lot of pavement. I have a beautiful drive on a state route that follows along a major river, passing through forested and agricultural lands. During the warmer months, I often have the pleasure of seeing a bald eagle soaring over the river, or turkeys and deer grazing what’s left of the corn fields. Unfortunately, along my 23 mile drive, I often see many dead animals as well, particularly at this time of year and again in the fall. *Side story: While in the process of writing this article, I was up in…
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I Forgot My Travel Mug…
I always start my day with a fresh brewed cup of coffee at home, brewed in my regular drip coffee maker. It’s nothing special, but it’s what I like. On the rare occasion that I miss my weekend grocery trip and run out of creamer, I stop into the small market by my work and fill up on some locally roasted brew. Sometimes I remember to bring one of my travel mugs, which is great since they only charge 99¢, but on the mornings when I’m rushing out the door, I usually forget. This week, I had one of those busy mornings and forgot my reusable cup. It was a…
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The Basics of Beauty and Cosmetics: Why I Choose Eco-Friendly Products
Looking back, I can recall some of my favorite childhood shower products. Like the L’oreal for kids shampoo that smelled like watermelon and had an eye on the side of the bottle that looked like a flounder or some other kind of fish. I’ve had sensitive skin since I was a kid so I always used Suave hypoallergenic liquid body wash, which still came in a variety of scents from fruity floral to rich vanilla. Then in high school when we all go through that glorious phase we call puberty and pimples emerge, I started using face washes with the little exfoliating beads to help “bust up clogged pores” or…
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Coexisting With Wildlife When It Comes To Our Furry Friends
Part 1-Direct Impacts One of my favorite things to do with my dogs is find a local trail and take them out for a hike. My dogs are trained with off leash e-collar system, so I often let them run if there are no other people and/or dogs around. I pretty much make them stick to the trail, and always keep them within eyesight. Luckily we have never run into a wild animal while on the trail, however, the mere presence of dogs can have direct and indirect impacts on local wildlife populations1. In this post I will explore the different ways our pets, primarily cats and dogs, can impact…
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Signs of Spring
I live in central Maine, one of the northernmost states in the Continental United State, bordered only by New Hampshire, Canada, and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the beginning of April and the snow in our yard has finally all melted, a sure sign of spring. Spring is often a sign of relief for most homeowners in New England as heating costs decline with warming temperatures, windows can be opened for fresh air, and people become more active outdoors. Classic New England weather consists of hot and humid summers, followed by brutally cold and snow filled winters. This can create quite the obstacle for home maintenance, particularly creating a comfortable indoor…
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Hello and Welcome!
Hi, welcome to my blog. I’m Jordan Tate, a young adult woman living in the beautiful state of Maine. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science in 2015 and have been working in the environmental field since. I’ll admit that while I know much about the ins and outs of sustainability, I find myself too often taking the easy and convenient options most readily available, which are usually the most wasteful. Sustainability and environmental impacts of the individual have been in the spotlight now more than ever, with things like reusable straws, veganism, and electric vehicles becoming viral sensations. While these hot topics are extremely efficient in…
