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Best and Worst Sustainable Products 2024
As an environmentalist, I’m always looking for ways I can reduce my impact either through behavioral changes, lifestyle changes, or even product swaps. If you’re looking to make sustainable swaps in 2024 to help reduce your impact, here are my best and worst product recommendations. Best TruEarth Laundry Strips and Wool Dryer Balls After moving into a cargo trailer full time in 2022, I needed a space saving and sensitive skin friendly option for my laundry. I didn’t love the plastic coating in pods, so I decided to give laundry strips a try and these are now my favorite go-to laundry detergent. Space saving, and better yet, no plastic jug…
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5 Things I Did To Stop My Cat’s Chronic Vomiting
We are led to believe that frequent or even semi-frequent cat vomiting is normal, but IT’S NOT. I adopted my second cat in 2016, shortly followed by the adoption of our third and fourth cats. The following year, I noticed multiple spots of vomit in the basement where they ate. At first I didn’t know which cat it was or when it was happening, but as the condition worsened, I realized it was Ash who was throwing up about 1 hour after eating. My cats started on dry kibble, but after some research I thought maybe it was just poor quality food causing the chronic vomiting, so I changed the…
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How To Have An Environmentally Friendly Outdoor Cat
My cats are now outdoor cats, but not in the way you might think. They are not free roaming outdoor cats that come in at night, instead, they live full time in a chicken coop turned catio. In this post I’ll explain the why, the how, and everything else you want to know about the new style of outdoor cat. Why My Cats Live Outside The easiest explanation is because now we do too. This past winter (2022), my husband and I decided to convert our cargo trailer into a custom RV and leave Maine in the winters for some warmer weather. That’s easier said than done with two dogs…
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What To Bring on a Day Hike
Do you ever look back on things you did when you were younger and think “how did I survive?” That’s the thought that runs through my head when I think about how I used to prepare for day hikes. A 16 ounce plastic water bottle, drawstring bag, and a pair of run down sneakers and I was heading to places like Angel’s Landing, Maine’s highest peaks, and other remote trails. But times have changed! In this blog post I’m going to share everything I bring on a day hike for me and my dogs. 1) Backpack The backpack I use for day hikes is the L.L. Bean Daytrekker 25 that…
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Car Camping For Beginners
Sharing tips learned from my first car camping experience, everything you will need to know as a beginner! A 4,000 Mile Round Trip Adventure! My husband and I recently took a cross country road trip from Maine to east Texas, where we will be buying land to become snowbirds (another story for another time!) We were joined by our two dog children, Brantley and Scout, who are both large dogs (60-65 lbs). The journey one way was a 30 hour drive along 1,900 miles of highway. I drive a 2015 Ford Escape, a compact SUV with all wheel drive and decent fuel economy. However, the studded snow tires I run…
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Did I Stick to My 2021 Resolutions?
Listen, as a Virgo through and through, I’m not sure there’s anyone who enjoys planning and setting goals more than me. But, it’s also important that we check in on our progress and see if we are actually meeting the goals that we set for ourselves. As we come to the end of 2021, I’m looking back through the resolutions I set for myself at the beginning of the year to see how I did. Resolution #1 Reusable produce bags (accomplished) I actually ended up finding the rest of my reusable bags and was steadily using them throughout the year, but the bags I got were somewhat poor quality and…
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The Christmas Tree Debate
The Christmas Tree is a staple home décor item during the holiday season (even if you’re not religious like me). And while the classic coniferous trees aren’t available in all parts of the country, they grow abundantly in my home state of Maine. So depending on where you live, you might have the option to have a real tree, or a fake tree. Growing up my family and I went to a Christmas tree farm every year, walked the groves of conifers, and picked out a tree that was just right to cut down and bring home. Cookies and hot chocolate were complimentary, and pictures of the previous year’s customers…
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5 Maine Hikes To Do With Your Dog(s)
If you’re like me, you might have adopted a dog with the expectation of hiking together. And…if you’re like me, maybe you adopted a second dog shortly after and was overwhelmed by the prospect of hiking solo with two dogs. In this blog post I’m going to share my experience, tips, and top 5 hikes in Maine you and your furry hiking buddy can do together. Prepping For The Hike Are Dogs Allowed Where You’re Going? Dogs can be a great hiking companion but there are some considerations to make before you hit the trail. Always confirm that dogs are allowed. Some places, like bird sanctuaries or preserves, don’t allow…
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What You Need To Know About “Natural” Products
What Are “Natural” Products To get right to the point, no one really knows. And that’s because there’s no regulatory definition for what “natural” is, which also means there’s no certification process or standardization for products claiming to be natural. Compare this with organic products, which must meet a certain set of criteria in order to receive USDA certification. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency responsible for “ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.” And while there are still tens of…
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Let’s Talk About: Feeding Wildlife
I think we all have an innate connection with wildlife. Whether you’re a city slicker who visits the zoo, an avid sportsman who hunts and fishes to feed your family, or you’re like me and you’re somewhere in between, we all have a desire to see our wild counterparts. Many people feed wildlife in some capacity as a way to engage with nature. But is feeding wildlife an ethical thing to do? In this blog post I’m going to explore the various components of this question in regards to the individual or household. Government agencies at both the state and federal level may engage in feeding wildlife for certain population…
