Posts by Mary Wildfire
121 posts found, showing 20 per page
Going Solar Mary Wildfire May 15, 2020
False Solutions to Climate Change: Real Solutions
This has been a long tour through the Wonderland of fake solutions to climate change, ideas designed to splash a coat of green paint on Business As Usual so that certain private interests can keep getting richer…and so the rest of us need not be bothered with changing our habits or lifestyle. More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions
False Solutions to Climate Change: Real Solutions
This has been a long tour through the Wonderland of fake solutions to climate change, ideas designed to splash a coat of green paint on Business As Usual so that certain private interests can keep getting richer…and so the rest of us need not be bothered with changing our habits or lifestyle. More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions
Going Solar Mary Wildfire May 15, 2020
False Solutions to Climate Change: Geoengineering
Geoengineering refers to proposals for solving the problem of climate change, not by mitigation—that is, reducing emissions and deforestation, the causes of global heating—but instead by the use of new technologies. More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions
False Solutions to Climate Change: Geoengineering
Geoengineering refers to proposals for solving the problem of climate change, not by mitigation—that is, reducing emissions and deforestation, the causes of global heating—but instead by the use of new technologies. More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions
Going Solar Mary Wildfire May 15, 2020
False Solutions to Climate Change: Buildings
Estimations for the percentage of greenhouse gases emitted by the buildings sector vary wildly. But any assessment should include both the embodied energy involved in constructing new buildings and the energy costs of heating, cooling and lighting buildings. More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions
False Solutions to Climate Change: Buildings
Estimations for the percentage of greenhouse gases emitted by the buildings sector vary wildly. But any assessment should include both the embodied energy involved in constructing new buildings and the energy costs of heating, cooling and lighting buildings. More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions
Going Solar Mary Wildfire May 15, 2020
False Solutions to Climate Change: Agriculture
It’s become increasingly clear that climate change is not only real but beginning to bite. Now that much of the population is finally feeling the urgency—and during a time when COVID19 has much of our frenetic commerce on hold, giving us a space for thinking and discussion–what can we do to protect the only planet we’ve got? More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions
False Solutions to Climate Change: Agriculture
It’s become increasingly clear that climate change is not only real but beginning to bite. Now that much of the population is finally feeling the urgency—and during a time when COVID19 has much of our frenetic commerce on hold, giving us a space for thinking and discussion–what can we do to protect the only planet we’ve got? More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions
Going Solar Mary Wildfire May 15, 2020
False Solutions to Climate Change: Transportation
It’s become increasingly clear that climate change is not only real but beginning to bite. Now that much of the population is finally feeling the urgency—and during a time when COVID19 has much of our frenetic commerce on hold, giving us a space for thinking and discussion–what can we do to protect the only planet we’ve got? More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions
False Solutions to Climate Change: Transportation
It’s become increasingly clear that climate change is not only real but beginning to bite. Now that much of the population is finally feeling the urgency—and during a time when COVID19 has much of our frenetic commerce on hold, giving us a space for thinking and discussion–what can we do to protect the only planet we’ve got? More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions
Garden Mary Wildfire May 13, 2020
Brassicas
Brassicas, cole family plants, are members of the cabbage family and include broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, collards, mustard greens, kale, and Chinese cabbage. All like cool weather and rich soil, and can take a light frost. Some kale can tolerate much lower temperatures. More
Brassicas
Brassicas, cole family plants, are members of the cabbage family and include broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, collards, mustard greens, kale, and Chinese cabbage. All like cool weather and rich soil, and can take a light frost. Some kale can tolerate much lower temperatures. More
Going Solar Mary Wildfire May 10, 2020
False Solutions to Climate Change: Electricity
It’s become increasingly clear that climate change is not only real but beginning to bite. Now that much of the population is finally feeling the urgency—and during a time when COVID19 has much of our frenetic commerce on hold, giving us a space for thinking and discussion–what can we do to protect the only planet we’ve got? More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions, Pollution, Renewable energy
False Solutions to Climate Change: Electricity
It’s become increasingly clear that climate change is not only real but beginning to bite. Now that much of the population is finally feeling the urgency—and during a time when COVID19 has much of our frenetic commerce on hold, giving us a space for thinking and discussion–what can we do to protect the only planet we’ve got? More
Issues: Climate Chaos, False solutions, Pollution, Renewable energy
Garden Mary Wildfire May 7, 2020
Fencing Them Out
Your garden has good soil, is freshly tilled and ready to grow many wheelbarrow loads of vegetables and perhaps some fruits (strawberries or raspberries). You have a plan. Next—you probably need a fence, to keep out the deer, groundhogs, rabbits, and the local dogs and cats (the dogs aren’t interested in your crops but may trample them; the cats look upon your soft earth with unseemly intent). So…how do you build this fence? More
Fencing Them Out
Your garden has good soil, is freshly tilled and ready to grow many wheelbarrow loads of vegetables and perhaps some fruits (strawberries or raspberries). You have a plan. Next—you probably need a fence, to keep out the deer, groundhogs, rabbits, and the local dogs and cats (the dogs aren’t interested in your crops but may trample them; the cats look upon your soft earth with unseemly intent). So…how do you build this fence? More
Garden Mary Wildfire April 29, 2020
Preparing Your Garden
Late April—time to set out plants, plant seeds, plant potato sets…but first, we need to talk more about soil preparation. In the first column, I mentioned getting your soil tested, but it can take weeks to get your analysis back, especially in the busiest time—now. Meanwhile, there are some quick and (literally) dirty ways to test your soil. More
Preparing Your Garden
Late April—time to set out plants, plant seeds, plant potato sets…but first, we need to talk more about soil preparation. In the first column, I mentioned getting your soil tested, but it can take weeks to get your analysis back, especially in the busiest time—now. Meanwhile, there are some quick and (literally) dirty ways to test your soil. More
Garden Mary Wildfire April 23, 2020
Starting Your New Garden
Last week we talked about why you might want to start a garden, and some considerations for planning it. Let’s say you did that, you acquired some seeds (or have them coming by mail order) and have staked out your garden space. What’s next? More
Starting Your New Garden
Last week we talked about why you might want to start a garden, and some considerations for planning it. Let’s say you did that, you acquired some seeds (or have them coming by mail order) and have staked out your garden space. What’s next? More
Garden Mary Wildfire April 15, 2020
Your New Garden—First Steps
Why plant a garden? So many reasons! It’s good exercise, and gets you outside to absorb all that Vitamin D that keeps you healthy and cheerful. It’s a source of ultra-local, ultra-fresh food. It’s security, in case the pandemic or the economic aftershocks cause serious shortages later this year. More
Your New Garden—First Steps
Why plant a garden? So many reasons! It’s good exercise, and gets you outside to absorb all that Vitamin D that keeps you healthy and cheerful. It’s a source of ultra-local, ultra-fresh food. It’s security, in case the pandemic or the economic aftershocks cause serious shortages later this year. More
Going Solar Mary Wildfire November 25, 2018
Review of Drawdown: the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming
Drawdown was a major collaborative effort involving 70 research fellows from 40 countries. It’s not so much a cohesive plan as a list of partial solutions: 80 that are tested and in use at least somewhere in the world, and another 20 that are speculative. More
Issues: Climate Chaos, Extreme energy, Renewable energy
Review of Drawdown: the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming
Drawdown was a major collaborative effort involving 70 research fellows from 40 countries. It’s not so much a cohesive plan as a list of partial solutions: 80 that are tested and in use at least somewhere in the world, and another 20 that are speculative. More
Issues: Climate Chaos, Extreme energy, Renewable energy
Short Fiction Mary Wildfire November 1, 2018
Full Moon Plus One
A short story set in a pagan future More
Full Moon Plus One
A short story set in a pagan future More
Short Fiction Mary Wildfire November 1, 2018
Soul Miner
A science fiction story which was inspired by something that actually happened among the Lakota Sioux a hundred years ago… More
Soul Miner
A science fiction story which was inspired by something that actually happened among the Lakota Sioux a hundred years ago… More
Poetry Mary Wildfire November 1, 2018
Aurora’s Call
This is another set poetry form, called a villanelle. Unlike the pantoum, it has a set number of stanzas, and two repeating lines in specified positions. More
Aurora’s Call
This is another set poetry form, called a villanelle. Unlike the pantoum, it has a set number of stanzas, and two repeating lines in specified positions. More
Poetry Mary Wildfire November 1, 2018
April Obsession
So much I ought to be doing but All I want to do is play with flowers Plan elaborate gardens for rich people With perennial beds spiraling around fountains and lotus pools set with reeds and frogs And dogwoods wearing birdhouses like earrings. More
April Obsession
So much I ought to be doing but All I want to do is play with flowers Plan elaborate gardens for rich people With perennial beds spiraling around fountains and lotus pools set with reeds and frogs And dogwoods wearing birdhouses like earrings. More
Poetry Mary Wildfire November 1, 2018
Cassandra’s Quandary
The parasite class ascends triumphant, unimpeded in the swirling murkiness created by our endless circuses. More
Cassandra’s Quandary
The parasite class ascends triumphant, unimpeded in the swirling murkiness created by our endless circuses. More
Poetry Mary Wildfire November 1, 2018
Convocation
I was just having fun with word-sounds here, but decided I liked it. More
Convocation
I was just having fun with word-sounds here, but decided I liked it. More
Poetry Mary Wildfire November 1, 2018
January Silence
Yesterday I saw dead grasses draping into the creek forming ice-disks, crystalline lilypads in rows, like some ethereal high-pitched musical instrument. More
January Silence
Yesterday I saw dead grasses draping into the creek forming ice-disks, crystalline lilypads in rows, like some ethereal high-pitched musical instrument. More