I think the greatest investment I’ve made so far in the 25 years I’ve been alive is Stella Blue, a 2006 Chevy Express cargo van with questionable brakes that came into my life in 2019 and started my adventure into “van life.” My partner Carter and I bought her together and spent a month outfitting Read More
Land for Maine's Future
Making a Difference Over Zoom: My January NRCM Internship
Imagine waking up every morning with a chance to conduct important advocacy research that could directly help influence what legislative bills are passed in Maine this year. Imagine spending every day attending interesting meetings full of smart, passionate people speaking about their work on environmental topics, ranging from climate and clean energy to developing outreach Read More
Reflections on the 2021 Maine Legislature
If there’s one thing that’s for certain about 2021, it’ll be like no other we’ve experienced in our decades advocating for the environment. With a new Administration in Washington and Maine’s 130th legislative session kicking off, we have an opportunity for a reset, both in tone and substance. That’s how the Natural Resources Council of Read More
Thankful for Peace & Quiet in the Maine Woods
It’s been an exhausting year. I don’t need to recap it all for you, but by the end of October I found myself glued to ever-present screens almost every waking hour and being bombarded by anger, sadness, and all-around bad news. This isn’t healthy. I needed to get away. A restorative few days far from Read More
We All Want to Help the Birds We Love
People have a tendency, it seems, to want to help birds. We put up feeders filled with seed and suet, telling ourselves that it will do them good while also acknowledging that this will allow us to enjoy hours of watching their behaviors and interactions at close range, without disturbance to them. Some people go Read More
News & Noteworthy — August 2020
Solar farm subscribers in Maine can get a break on their energy bills—learn more in this Portland Press Herald story by Tux Turkel. Last week we celebrated the fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. We recently learned that, despite the fact that the majority of Maine residents oppose the Read More
Earth Week 2020 Daily Resources
April 22, 2020, marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. To celebrate how far we have come in protecting our environment, staff at the Natural Resources Council of Maine created daily digital care packages from across our program areas that we provided to our members for each day of Earth Week. These resources—informative webinars, inspiration Read More
News & Noteworthy — March 2020
The Natural Resources Council of Maine’s Media Relations & Advocacy Communications Director Colin Durrant shares his thoughts on the latest news related to Maine’s land, air, water, and wildlife each week. Here are this week’s stories: March 19, 2020 COVID-19 has upended our way of life and working in Maine, and NRCM is no different. Read More
Maine’s Outdoor Spaces Offer Respite During Trying Times
In E. O. Wilson’s 1984 book Biophilia, the world-renowned biologist and Harvard University professor described an innate “love of life” that humans have, meaning, we are drawn to nature. In an interview with PBS, he said this intrinsic attraction is so basic that he believed most people understand it and that it’s slowly instilling a Read More