Tidal Life began as an environmental column in the South Whidbey Record, the bi-weekly paper that covers the towns of Langley, Clinton, Freeland and Greenbank.
For three years I enjoyed the pleasure of a public pulpit for my monthly rant about the stupid things people (myself included) do on their waterfront property. The column offered solutions for how to do things better to take care of the land and water.
Budget cuts eventually forced the paper to discontinue most columnists and freelancers. But It was glorious while it lasted.
A few of these columns have been repurposed into posts here on Tidal Life. Eventually I plan to update them all with current information. As they have recently disappeared behind a paywall, that has become a more pressing project. You can read three columns before you get blocked. The ones in bold are my favorites. If nothing else, the titles serve as a reminder that I’m pretty good with puns.
A few sunny February days and island minds turn to mulch
Drifting to where Puget Sound starts
Green is good, except up there
Hey Gardener! Leave that tree alone
Let’s blame Elmer Fudd for our itchy trigger fingers
Pickled or par-boiled, this is going to change the way we eat oysters
There’s always something new to learn about our most common substance
We need to learn to look beyond the flashy surface
What we talk about when we talk about Puget Sound
Whidbey is some place; keep up the good work
Will we choose fashion or substance?
How to cheat at enviro-living: First step, steal the idea for a column
Practical protection: The best defense is a good offense
The waterfront takes care of itself, but I’d sure like to be there
Certain Disaster: Greenies wreck Island economy by saving a forest
Look out: Something scary could be coming this way