I live in the West where our own (and California's) fires often clog the sky with particles but my heart went out to you all at the photos in the Times. Thank you for this essay and the resources.
Which prompts my question - an earthbound one rather than skyward: I compost in a "bingo" bin and usually in my dry NM climate only produce 2 batches of good compost a year. I keep seeing the adds for the electric table top composter. Could you comment on these - are they as effective and "good"as sold? (I wonder about the carbon footprint of electricity counterbalancing any "efficiency.") Also, I have read they take up a great deal of countertop, something I safeguard from all but my toaster oven and old microwave (used to scald milk for my morning coffee and reheat leftovers.)
I'd love a composting lesson from you - and one I could pass on to my newly hatched New Yorkers (son & daughter-in-law.
Ellen, what excellent questions. I, too, have wondered about those composting machines: It seems like the embedded carbon in the device, plus the operational energy use must surely outweigh their impact? But I don't know for sure, so it deserves a deep dive.
As for composting in NYC, it's pretty easy and getting easier, thanks to new legislation that just passed this week (next year it be required citywide: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/nyregion/food-composting-nyc.html). I can definitely write about how we manage it in our home. You have given me a couple excellent topic for a future newsletters: thank you!
Thanks Alix, I ran across the article and read it before checking In Substack for replies. And found it an excellent expose of why it isn’t creating compost but pointless ash.
I’d love a Not Too Late book discussion! It’s been sitting on my nightstand, infrequently picked up as I’ve prioritized fiction books as an escape lately.
Hi Laura and Naila. I'm one of the contributors to Not Too Late. If you'll have me I'd be happy to join the conversation if the time zone fits. We also came out with Harvest Moon: Poems and Stories from the Edge of the Climate Crisis and we're also running what we call the global poetry rebellion called WhenIsNow.org. Even if it's just the three of us (and a Negroni) it will matter.
I was initially drawn to your writing because of the connection between living small and living more sustainability, so I'm all for additional content on the climate crisis and ways to respond to it. Thank you for levering your platform to speak out about this urgent issue!
Thanks for sending this and for including the resources. The past few days have definitely been a wake-up call (not that we should have needed it!). The idea of living under those conditions semi-regularly is terrifying.
It's hard to think about, but it sounds like it will become more regular on the East Coast (and it's already so common in the West). We may double down on more air purifiers, so we're ready for it: Ours couldn't keep up this week.
I live in the West where our own (and California's) fires often clog the sky with particles but my heart went out to you all at the photos in the Times. Thank you for this essay and the resources.
Which prompts my question - an earthbound one rather than skyward: I compost in a "bingo" bin and usually in my dry NM climate only produce 2 batches of good compost a year. I keep seeing the adds for the electric table top composter. Could you comment on these - are they as effective and "good"as sold? (I wonder about the carbon footprint of electricity counterbalancing any "efficiency.") Also, I have read they take up a great deal of countertop, something I safeguard from all but my toaster oven and old microwave (used to scald milk for my morning coffee and reheat leftovers.)
I'd love a composting lesson from you - and one I could pass on to my newly hatched New Yorkers (son & daughter-in-law.
Ellen, what excellent questions. I, too, have wondered about those composting machines: It seems like the embedded carbon in the device, plus the operational energy use must surely outweigh their impact? But I don't know for sure, so it deserves a deep dive.
As for composting in NYC, it's pretty easy and getting easier, thanks to new legislation that just passed this week (next year it be required citywide: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/nyregion/food-composting-nyc.html). I can definitely write about how we manage it in our home. You have given me a couple excellent topic for a future newsletters: thank you!
Ellen, you might enjoy this article in the New Yorker about those at-home composting machines. It's less of a review and more of a thought piece on food waste diversion, but definitely worth a read: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/the-promises-of-the-home-composting-machine
Thanks for sharing the link, Alix! I read this just this week.
Thanks Alix, I ran across the article and read it before checking In Substack for replies. And found it an excellent expose of why it isn’t creating compost but pointless ash.
I’d love a Not Too Late book discussion! It’s been sitting on my nightstand, infrequently picked up as I’ve prioritized fiction books as an escape lately.
Let's do it--even if it's just you and me! I'll suggest a few dates in my next newsletter.
I’m in!
Hi Laura and Naila. I'm one of the contributors to Not Too Late. If you'll have me I'd be happy to join the conversation if the time zone fits. We also came out with Harvest Moon: Poems and Stories from the Edge of the Climate Crisis and we're also running what we call the global poetry rebellion called WhenIsNow.org. Even if it's just the three of us (and a Negroni) it will matter.
What a generous offer! I will email you to check about times. We've got at least one more signed up for out meeting.
I was initially drawn to your writing because of the connection between living small and living more sustainability, so I'm all for additional content on the climate crisis and ways to respond to it. Thank you for levering your platform to speak out about this urgent issue!
Thank you for writing this, and for including the resources.
Thank you for reading, Cristina!
Thank you for writing this. 🙏🏻
Thank you for reading ❤️
Thanks for sending this and for including the resources. The past few days have definitely been a wake-up call (not that we should have needed it!). The idea of living under those conditions semi-regularly is terrifying.
It's hard to think about, but it sounds like it will become more regular on the East Coast (and it's already so common in the West). We may double down on more air purifiers, so we're ready for it: Ours couldn't keep up this week.