One of my great friends, Jerry Gentemann, writes from Tokyo that the answer to reducing our energy consumption is right under our noses (and as we’ll find over the next century, includes using the free solar power just out the window). There already are people on the island working to re-write neighborhood covenants & getting  Continue Reading

It was fun to see Popeye down at the marina last week…she was splashing someone on the dock, which was fun to watch. Couldn’t tell if she’s had her baby yet, but she didn’t look quite as large as when I saw her a couple of months ago…

Heard somebody downtown say the weather right now is like baby bear’s porridge – not too hot, not too cold, it’s just right. Even with a little rain today (hey, the garden needs it!) it’s still nice to get outside & play. -00-

John Simon wrote to tell me: After living on San Juan Island for over 5 years, I finally landed a salmon…thanks to Jim Lawson of Puget Sound Anglers!

I checked in with Diane at the Land Bank about that photo exhibit they were putting together, and she sent me a few examples, plus the story about what it looks like: County Residents Participate in Land Bank Photography Exhibit Inspired members of our island communities shared favorite photographs of Land Bank preserves for the  Continue Reading

In our ongoing series spotlighting the folks who are volunteering at Lime Kiln this summer, this week we’re saluting Don & Ann – here’s more (with questions we asked them): Name: Ann and Don Jarrell Number of years visiting &/or living in the San Juan archipelago: 24 Occupation in your real, or unreal, life: Retired   Continue Reading

In our ongoing series spotlighting the folks who are volunteering at Lime Kiln this summer, this week we’re saluting Don & Ann – here’s more (with questions we asked them): Name: Ann and Don Jarrell Number of years visiting &/or living in the San Juan archipelago: 24 Occupation in your real, or unreal, life: Retired   Continue Reading

Science is wonderful. You can get such a wholesale return of conjecture from such a trifling investment of fact. Mark Twain

For the last twenty years it’s been a side interest of mine to see what a trashy species (that would be us) can do to clean up its act. After hearing Charles Moore last year (Doris Estabrooks arranged for him to come explain how trash & styrofoam are choking the oceans), I was glad to  Continue Reading

For the last twenty years it’s been a side interest of mine to see what a trashy species (that would be us) can do to clean up its act. After hearing Charles Moore last year (Doris Estabrooks arranged for him to come explain how trash & styrofoam are choking the oceans), I was glad to  Continue Reading

Rain or shine, the Farmers’ Market is open tomorrow for Wednesday Market, then Saturday as well… eat local! Here’s more from Lei: The mid-week farmers’ market is still happening on Wednesdays at the lawn on Second Street, across from the Courthouse parking lot.  One of the venders is Eliza Buck of Sowing Circle Gardens &  Continue Reading

People around the island do something that is actually illegal in Colorado & some other states: Capture the rainwater that falls from the skies to use. Apparently folks in Arizona are catching on in Tucson, in this Forbes.com article that features islander & water guy Tim Pope (in the picture shown, dressed up to sing  Continue Reading

When was the last time you saw a white humpback whale? Whaddya call ’em…Moby Hump? Here’s more (with video) from Australia. (Click here.) -00-

Our state senator Kevin Ranker says there is $167 million in recovery investments for shoreline and marine habitat restoration by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (here’s more on that), and a chunk is coming our way – here’s more in his statement: Today US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced the distribution of $167 million  Continue Reading

I hear there were a lot more folks dropping by the Wednesday Farmers’ Market last week – nad here’s more about why it’s a good idea this week, from my friend Lei: This is a reminder that the mid-week farmers’ market is happening on Wednesdays at the lawn on Second Street, across from the Courthouse  Continue Reading

That’s one of the resident orcas this past weekend, coming up to breathe, as captured by the lens of Jim Maya. (Thanks for the picture, Jim!)