Appalachian Naturalist (Calvin)
Environmental scientist writing on energy and environmental policy, ecological impacts, and resilience.
Planting Only Male Trees Creates Botanical Sexism
Botanical sexism is a valid consequence of only planting male cultivars of tree species in urban environments. People reject the idea of botanical sexism because it goes against the establishment teachings of botany. Let me explain further 👇🏾
Feeding a Baby: Endless Loop of Spills and Patience
Baby: I’m hungry Me: okay here’s a bottle Baby: *spits out milk* Me:🚬 Baby: where’s my milk Me: *Goes to feed again* Baby: 😴😴 Me:
Native Species Signal Ecosystem Health and Systemic Integrity
Every native species still present is proof that some part of the system is still holding on. Native species matter for more than being present. They indicate whether an ecosystem is still carrying the relationships that hold us together. When native...
Solar's Dark Side: Bad Siting Harms Land and Farmers
Solar is not inherently good simply because it is renewable. Poorly sited utility-scale projects can fragment habitats, displace productive farmland, inflate lease terms that farmers do not fully understand, and replicate the same predatory practices long associated with oil and...
Renewables Shield Consumers From Fuel Price Volatility
Retail electricity prices are influenced by fuel volatility, transmission upgrades, grid maintenance, and utility rate structures. Natural gas price spikes, such as those seen in 2022, directly raised electricity costs in gas-dependent regions because fuel costs are passed through to...
Invasives Stabilize Soil, Aid Pollinators—Beyond Native Bias
People wrongfully characterize invasive plants: -They stabilize exposed soil -reduce erosion while improving soil structure -provides additional food for pollinators, especially as early succession plants. Mullein is a great example of this, but many of you are too focused on just native plant...
Teacher Salaries Stagnate for a Decade, District Contracts Trap
The issue with jobs in education isn’t the fact student teachers aren’t getting paid…it’s the pay following student teaching. It takes a teacher 5-10 years to see a significant increase from their initial starting salary. Thats 5-10 years of only making...
AWS Execs Plot to Exploit Pennsylvanians for Data Centers
Is this you with Amazon Web Service Execs making plans to sell out Pennsylvanians to Data Centers?
Fossil Fuels Depend on Geopolitics, Not Affordability
If fossil fuels were truly the answer to affordable energy, affordability wouldn’t be reliant on geopolitics. fossil fuels are a self-inflicted womb to our economic prowess and energy independence, tied to broader geopolitical conflicts and commodity markets.
Draft Boosts Elite, Leaves Pittsburgh Small Businesses Struggling
The NFL draft did nothing but concentrate all the wealth to elite owning businesses while the majority of small businesses found themselves at a loss. Way too much focus on Point State Park. Little focus on the actual cultural scenes...
Affordable Landscape Software for Native Hillside Gardens
Need suggestions for landscape architecture software that ain’t gonna make me cry in $$$ to help design my parents a native garden on a hillside.
We Need Reduction, Not Total Ban on Fossil Fuels
I’m so confused on how people can conflate “we need to reduce our dependence and use on fossil fuels” with me saying “BAN ALL FOSSIL FUELS” There is a lot of nuance and we will always need fossil fuels. The goal...
Babies See in Grayscale, Not Invisible to You
If my baby can only see in black and white for the first 6 months…doesn’t that mean I’m invisible to her?
Stop Shaming Moms: Breastfeeding Isn't Universal
I’m a new dad. I’m the midst of witnessing the struggles my wife is dealing with breastfeeding. I will gladly take time out of my day to sh*t post about anyone shaming women who can’t breastfeed, because breastfeeding is not...
Powdered Formula Saves Lives; Stop Shaming New Moms
It’s okay to shut the fuck up and keep your shit opinions to yourself. Powdered formula literally saves lives and post partum mothers already have enough things to deal with emotionally than hearing how they aren’t “doing enough” because they literally,...