Dear Dot, I thought the House Finches were wiped out a number of years ago by a disease that made them blind. Have they made a comeback?  —Marie, Brooklyn, NY Dear Marie, The Short Answer: House Finches that become...

Dear Dot, What’s so bad about paint? Is there any good paint?  –Tiz Dear Tiz, The Short Answer: Most paints are chock-full of potentially harmful chemicals. Dot’s thought? Stick to brands we know are safer, including AFM Safecoat, Caliwell,...

Dear Dot, A friend posted something on Facebook recently about how I should be avoiding palm oil in food because of deforestation. But I vaguely recall hearing that the problem had been fixed. Should I still...

Dear Dot, With Valentine's Day coming up, I have to wonder: Is there such a thing as sustainable floral delivery? —Liza Dearest Liza, When my first child was born, a friend sent me an enormous bouquet of white lilies....

Dear Dot, As I assess peels and skins and tops and petals and stems, I often wonder: Where should I put this? It's equally easy for me to put most scraps in the compost or down...

What can gas stove owners do to protect their family's health? Dear Dot turns down the temperature on the heated rhetoric and serves up sound advice. Dear Dot, I’ve been hearing about the dangers of gas stoves....

Dear Dot, I wear a lot of cashmere in the winter. I know that might sound snooty, but I do it because wool makes my neck itch. I've noticed that in recent years, I can buy...

Dear Dot, I have been looking for a way to recycle gently used books for over a year. Libraries no longer accept books and I can’t find any place to donate them. If you have any...

Dear Dot, There is a gorgeous tree outside my apartment — I love looking at it every day. But the other day I saw someone cutting branches. I want to say they were pruning it, but...