Katrina Martich

I can’t see a bus go by without the refrain from “Another One Rides the Bus” by Weird Al Yankovic going through my head. “Another comes on; and another comes on; another one rides the bus.” I now live on a four-lane arterial with a bus line and am hearing the song a lot. I’m also hearing a lot of noise because of the traffic on that arterial. It’s one of the sacrifices I made to live where I do now. Buses are becoming a regular part of my life, but that wasn’t always the case

Each day since December 21st has brought us a little more daylight, here in the northern hemisphere. In addition to giving us light, the sun is our most important source of energy. Living Connected is starting the new year by focusing on energy in January. Today’s blog post reflects on the fact that we can’t make energy. It’s a gift from something beyond ourselves. Notice Step outside with a hand mirror during the day and bask in the sunlight. Even if it’s a cloudy day, feel

The media has been abuzz with talk of the latest climate change report that was released on August 9th. I’ve been working my way through the report and associated documents, trying to understand its findings for myself. It’s not easy! The report is nearly 4000 pages of technically complex information. I can’t do it justice in a blog post, but I’ll try to provide some context and perspective. Feel free to comment or send me specific questions about the report. I’d be glad to r

Since human beings first discovered fire, energy has been a gift that we’ve put to work for us. In the U.S. today, we use energy almost every moment of every day. It drives our economy and makes our lifestyle possible, but human beings can’t make energy. All the energy we use comes from outside ourselves. The sun’s energy, captured by plants, is the source of most fuels we use. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 86% of energy used in the U.S. comes from

Starting today, my blog posts on the first of the month will be dedicated to the concept of Living Connected. The post will be a 3-step reflection on something we use regularly, maybe daily. The first step will offer an opportunity to mindfully engage the item. Step two will develop insight into the item and the ways our use of it connects us to other people and life on our planet. The final step will be an invitation to practice intentional, just, and sustainable use of the

Much of the U.S. is in record-setting cold and snow as I write this blog post. Birds who migrated to my area of Texas for winter are now coping with several inches of snow on the ground. It’s been a hard winter for birds, starting with a mass die-off of migrating birds in October. An early snowstorm did them in, but researchers found the cause of death to be long-term starvation due to declines in insect populations, which left the migrating birds unable to withstand the snow

A study by the Pew Research Center indicates about three-quarters of adults in the U.S. are concerned about protecting the environment; however, only one-in-five act on this concern in their daily lives. These results are consistent with my observations working as an environmental engineer and in eco-justice ministry. As a people, we care about the environment in a general sense. At the same time, environmental crises don’t seem as urgent as the other daily issues we face. I’

Why aren’t you talking about climate change? More than any other question I’m asked, people want to know why I don’t keep climate change front and center in all I do. If you look at my work, climate change is mentioned or included somewhere in almost everything. However, people are right to say it’s not the primary focus. That’s intentional. Both NOAA and NASA state there is scientific consensus that climate change is happening and is “extremely likely due to human activities

I recently started hanging laundry outside to dry. My intent was to reduce my home’s energy use and carbon footprint. It’s too soon to know if I’ve done so; however, its already affected my life. I now must adjust my activities to do laundry early on days with good weather. I also must take the clothes down and fold them in a timely manner. There’s no more leaving them in the dryer until I feel like folding them and running the dryer (again!) to fluff out the wrinkles. I’m em

Horses have taught me a lot over the years. Most of the lessons came when things weren’t going well. The training rides where everything went wrong, sometimes leaving me in tears of frustration, were the ones that led to breakthroughs in my understanding. Those rides forced me to stop focusing on what I wanted to do, and instead, observe what was happening in the moment. Reflecting on what the horse was telling me caused me to confront my own limits and taught me the importan

The City of Pecos, TX is an intriguing place. It started as a typical western railroad station in 1883. Due to the availability of groundwater and the railroad’s access to markets, Pecos grew into an agricultural center in the 20th century and was famous for its Pecos cantaloupes. Interstate Highway 20 was built around the outskirts of town. Like the railroad, it supplies access to markets for agricultural products. IH-20 also supports another product for which Pecos is now k

The polarized nature of our society today seems to make every choice a test. Are you for or against…? Do you support or not support…? Do you do this or that? I am regularly asked these types of questions about environmental issues and find them troubling. Let’s look at an example. Do you use a plastic straw or not? I don’t know how this one got started, but I’ll assume the intent was good. Questioning the use of something as ubiquitous as a straw helps us see the extent to wh

I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. One reason is their all or nothing nature. They seem to be a set-up for failure. Being human, it’s inevitable that I’ll break my resolution at some point. New Year’s resolutions also seem to discount the new start I get each and every day of my life. A bad day doesn’t mean a failed resolution for the year; rather, it’s the opportunity to repent and start over with the grace of a new day. This perspective is rooted in my Lutheran th