Dear Dot

Dear Dot is here to answer all your sustainable living questions from her perch on the porch. Got a question for Dot? Send her a note for a chance to be featured in an upcoming post.

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Dear Dot: Is Fake Grass Better Than the Real Thing? 

Dear Dot, I’ve heard about artificial grass as a water-saving alternative to real grass, but if it's plastic, is the fake stuff really eco-friendly?  – Randi, San Diego The short answer: Artificial turf is not a good alternative,...

Dear Dot: Where Can I Find an Eco-Friendly Mop and Bucket?

Dear Dot, Where can I buy a mop that is made of biodegradable materials and a mop bucket made of recycled plastic? Thank you! —Carole A. The short answer: Dot’s number one rule for purchasing eco-friendly products: The...

Dear Dot: How Can I Tackle an Ant Problem Without Toxic Pest Control?

Dear Dot, Did you run an article about ants? I am unable to stop the swarm in my kitchen. Have tried Terro which has always worked for me in the past, but my bottle might be...

Dear Dot: Air Dry or Paper Towels?

Dear Dot, If I'm in a public bathroom and I have a choice between paper towels and an electric hand dryer, which should I choose? I imagine it depends a lot on whether those towels are...

Dear Dot: Where Can I Find Earth-Friendly Sheets?

Dear Dot, I’m looking for bed sheets that are both happy to sleep on, and aren’t bad news for our environment. What should I look for? —Dawn My dear Dawn, Are you the same Dawn who wanted to deter...

Dear Dot: What Can I Do With My Old Piano?

Dear Dot, I’m moving and downsizing. It seems I can’t even give away my family’s 1880s square piano. No one I’ve contacted even wants it to repurpose the exquisite wood. I contacted Big Reuse and they...

Dear Dot: How Can I Find Solar Panels Not Made in China?

Dear Dot, I have been thinking about going solar. Apart from technical and expense questions, I was reading that most solar panels are produced in Xinjiang province, China, often with forced labor. Can I even find...

Dear Dot: Is Green Electricity More Expensive?

Dear Dot, How green is my electricity and is that why it's so expensive?  –Roberto, San Diego Dear Roberto, The forces that keep our lights on can often seem shrouded in mystery. But it’s actually not mysterious at all....

Dear Dot: How Do I Keep Pigeons Away From My Balcony?

Dear Dot, Pigeons are ruining my ability to enjoy my balcony. They perch on a ledge above, so poop is everywhere. I don’t like the idea of using those pointy sharp metal things to discourage them;...

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Making More from Less

On a warm November afternoon, a gentle breeze blows through the vineyard in front of the Jadhavs’ house in Pimpri, a village in the...

A Kinder Silk

Throughout the ages, silk products have been symbols of grace, luxury, and refinement. However, the standard method of raw silk production involves a cruel...

Climate Champ: Joanna Underwood

I arrived early to Joanna Underwood’s charming 1800s brownstone near Union Square in New York City. She was sailing out the front door and...

Building Houses and Independence

In 2022, Pakistan was devastated by unprecedented floods that left millions displaced and without homes in the Sindh province. Following the floods, 1.4 million...

Safeguarding Buffer Zones

Arun Akshaylal Naika has lived his entire life in the Pench village in Madhya Pradesh. As head of the Forest Protection Organisation of his...