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How Bluedot’s beloved eco-advice columnist came to be.
We all have those questions, don’t we? I certainly do. Why does my compost heap have so many bugs? Can I plant a non-native species in my garden? Should I be buying grass-fed beef? Organic cheese? Giving up water-intensive nuts?
Pretty early in the conception of Bluedot Living, we realized we wanted to help answer all the questions we (and presumably you) have. And so Dear Dot was born. At that point in my career, I had been writing on climate issues for close to two decades and published a few books about climate change. I comfortably slipped into the identity of a slightly dotty eco-advice columnist who loves puns, hates waste (and villainous corporations and politicians), and thoroughly enjoys researching answers to reader questions.
Our goal with Dear Dot is twofold. For one thing, it’s part of Bluedot’s larger mission of building a community of folks who care about the Earth. To remind each of us that there’s a whole bunch of people cheering each other (and our planet) on. And it’s a place to respond to all those “h’mm, I wonder if …” questions.
Dot’s popularity led to a daily newsletter (Your Daily Dot. Sign up!). For Your Daily Dot, I reach beyond reader questions to bring news of inventions, innovations, policy shifts, as well as incredible stories of communities addressing climate changes in their part of the world. I’ve created exactly the kind of newsletter that helps me feel inspired, hopeful even, about where we’re going.
I frequently hear from readers — which I love — who share their concerns, their love of this planet, as well as their personal or collective efforts. And, of course, they bring me their questions. Which gives me a chance to do what I love best: seek out the experts who can help me answer them.
In the five years that I’ve been Dot, I’ve talked to a tick expert, a tree planting devotee, a pest removal guy, and a policy wonk who helped bring in the fuel-efficiency standards under Obama. I’ve addressed issues of winter composting, plant-based eating, laundry, barbecuing, microplastics, and whether Girl Scouts use sustainable palm oil in their iconic cookies.
There’s much more. And Dot is nowhere near done.
I’m grateful to Bluedot readers. To know that you’re reading Dot and taking action in your own homes and communities staves off despair. I’m not alone. There are so many of us.
I hope, if you aren’t already a regular supporter, you’ll consider becoming one. And if you haven’t already sent Dot your question or a letter to share what you’re curious about or what’s happening in your community, I hope you’ll do that too. Dot and Bluedot Living were created for people just like us.
