Dear Eartha, Is it just me, or does it feel hotter this summer? Am I crazy for thinking about getting an air conditioner? As rapper Nelly presaged, “It’s getting hot in here.” And while he definitely wasn’t referring to heat building up in the atmosphere, he was right. It is getting hotter. And not just […]
Dear Eartha, My goal this year is to reduce my carbon footprint by driving less, but it’s not always easy. What tips do you have? The level of convenience that cars provide can deter us from considering other transportation options. If you have access to a personal vehicle your brain is probably on auto-pilot to […]
Dear Eartha, I’m over winter. I can’t wait to get out to hammer some dirt. Is it OK if I hit the trails even if they’re muddy? The short answer is no. As much as we are all itching to hike and mountain bike now that the snow is melting, trekking or pedaling on muddy trails […]
Dear Eartha, I did so many house and closet cleaning projects during lockdown, now I am overrun with paint, electronics, and clothing – I just don’t know what to do! Are these all trash? Isn’t there usually an annual recycling event I can take these items to? Finished home projects and cleaner closets always feel great! […]
Dear Eartha Steward, I would love to grow my own vegetable garden, but I don’t know much about gardening in the mountains. I feel like it would be really good for me to do this! How do you suggest I get started? Growing vegetables in our mountain climate is entirely possible … as long as […]
Dear Eartha, I heard that plastic bags might get banned in Colorado. Is that true? What’s the timeline? Earlier this winter, the Dillon Town Council opted to ban plastic bags and foam takeout containers starting in August of 2021. Breckenridge and Frisco will ban single-use plastic bags starting in September. Additionally, state legislators introduced a bill […]
Dear Eartha, I’m walking along my neighborhood trail and there is a moose ahead, what do I do? We are entering the time of year when moose typically begin wandering onto trails, roads, and even ski slopes and doorsteps. In fact, the local moose population has grown so much that last year the Colorado Department of […]
Dear Eartha, Every winter the lower edge of my roof gets covered in a thick sheet of ice. Come spring, massive icicles form that are a pain to deal with, and result in large puddles around my yard. How should I deal with this ice buildup in the future? Despite their nostalgic wintery appearance, […]
Dear Eartha, Last year, my neighbor installed solar panels on her roof, and she loves them. I’m interested in solar now, too. How do I get started? When you pause to think about it, solar energy is pretty rad. The most abundant source of energy on Earth, it powers nearly everything around us – growing the […]
Dear Eartha, I often see people at the grocery store purchasing two or three cases of bottled water. Don’t we have good drinking water here in the county? What’s with all the unnecessary plastic? In 2016, sales of bottled water surpassed soft drink sales in the United States. That year, the world was awakened to the […]
Dear Eartha, As the pandemic continues, I’m having a hard time staying motivated in my sustainable habits. It seems like we are just even further from tackling the issues of waste and our changing climate than ever before. I could use some motivation! Let me be your conservation cheerleader! Yes, the pandemic has impacted the environment […]
