Every other week, Bluedot Living Martha's Vineyard will share stories about local changemakers, Islanders’ sustainable homes and yards, planet-healthy recipes and tips, along with advice from Dear Dot. Did
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SIMPLE / SMART / SUSTAINABLE / STORIES
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When we thought about how our story “How to Live on Mother Earth,” focusing on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) should look, the works of Island painter Doug Kent kept coming to mind. Kent’s work,
like this “Fall” painting from his Trees series, evoked for us that sense of early times, a pristine Earth, and gratitude for the centuries of Wampanoag stewardship of the land on Martha’s Vineyard. (Thanks to the Granary Gallery for the use of this work.)
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Quick Links
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Skip scrolling! Here's what you'll find in this edition of the Bluedot Newsletter:
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‘Tis the Season
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We’re suckers for the holidays — the lights, the music, and yes, even the shopping. Not the big-box mall shopping but the Main Street shopping, which the Vineyard excels at. The tiny stores staffed by smiling people. The items carefully selected to reflect a community and, often, its artisans. (That photo is an ornament by the “Miles from Mainland” line you can find at Rainy Day in VH.) It’s why we at Bluedot revel in sharing our picks with you (we have loaded up on Buy Better suggestions in this newsletter; see below). A good place to see a lot of artisans in one place is the Vineyard Artisans Festival, which has a big gathering this coming weekend at the Ag Hall. And don’t forget our non-profits. Those who preserve and protect what makes the Vineyard so special, those who monitor and measure and mitigate: Biodiversity Works’ determination to not rest until every Island bat and black racer snake has a home and to help us reclaim segmented landscapes via their Natural Neighbors Program; MV Shellfish Group’s innovative work with phragmites eradication, among others we’ll highlight in the coming weeks. When we support these artisans and organizations, we strengthen our
community.
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And speaking of community, Bluedot is broadening its reach into other locations (hello Brooklyn!) and other niches (can’t wait to reveal Bluedot Kitchen!) so please ensure you’re signed up for the newsletters you want to receive each week by clicking here.
In this season of gratitude, let us share how grateful we are to have you in our Bluedot community. We wanted to invite and inspire people to join us tackling climate issues in our neighborhoods and you accepted. With pioneering federal legislation in the Inflation Reduction Act (find out what it means for
you!), with young people voting overwhelmingly with climate at the top of their agenda, we’ve never felt so hopeful. As always, thank you for helping us get there.
–Leslie Garrett and Jamie Kageleiry
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CLIMATE QUICK TIP
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Water heaters use roughly one fifth of the energy consumption of the average U.S. household. If you’re away for more than a few days, turn water heater temps down to
120°F or “vacation” mode. And let Mr. Fix-it show you how to flush your water heater of sediment so it can do its job longer. Haven’t met Mr. Fix-it? He’s Bluedot’s in-house expert helping us get more life out of our stuff. Find more of Mr. Fix-it’s fixes on our Hub website.
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BUY LESS/BUY BETTER
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Stefanie Wolfe’s Beaded Jewelry
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Stefanie Wolf has been creating unique beaded necklaces, earrings, and bracelets for almost 20 years. With a keen eye for color, Wolf pairs the beads in coordinating shades that mimic the blues and greens of the ocean. Find her at 37 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs.
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Tea Lane Apothecary
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Tea Lane Apothecary — a line of herbal skincare, teas, and remedies — is about as local as you can get. Emma Tobin, who grew up on the Vineyard and went on to study botany and herbalism, uses as many Vineyard-grown and foraged plants and herbs to create her all-natural products. Find them at The Trust Shop in VH, and Kenworthy in Edgartown.
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Carnegie Blair Designs
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We love these colorful mats. The team of Linda Carnegie and Nancy Blair Vietor have been designing and selling items for kitchen, dining, bath, and elsewhere for almost a decade. The line includes cork-backed placemats, wooden whitewashed trays, glass cutting boards, absorbent tile coasters, and whimsical dog and cat food mats. Find them at the Beach House in VH and Past & Presents in Edgartown.
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Miles from Mainland
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If it’s local, it’s just better — no shipping, no cardboard, no trucks rumbling up to your house. And you get to help sustain Island craftspeople and stores. Show your love for the Vineyard with a handmade wooden item from the Miles from Mainland line. Designs include ornaments with a cutout of the Vineyard, tissue boxes, trinket boxes, and pencil boxes similarly decorated. Find them at Rainy Day in VH.
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Roasted Apple/Pear/Beet Salad
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Jenny DeVivo’s been doing miraculous things with lunch for years. You might know her as the chef at the West Tisbury School, where she serves meals highlighting local ingredients. If you aren’t lucky enough to attend the West Tisbury school, try this roasted apple, pear, and beet salad. We think it could add a nice color and crunch to any upcoming feasts.
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Roasted Squash & Chestnut Tart
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Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Now you have that swell little holiday song in your head, don’t you? Not so bad while you sit down to eat this really yummy roasted squash and chestnut tart. Or use it as a side dish for Thanksgiving — to grandmother’s house it goes? (Sorry).
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