Blog

I've been blogging since 2010, with different blogs for different topics. With this one, I'm bringing everything together, gradually moving posts here from older blogs, which is why you see long past publication dates on some of them.

If you click on the ALL POSTS button at the top of this page, you'll see, in chronological order, all the posts on this site.

If you you click on a tag at the bottom of an individual post, all other posts with the same tag will appear here.

Marie McKinsey

6 days ago
1 min

Grow Fresh Herbs Indoors Year Around

Imagine having fresh basil, mint, and cilantro growing near your kitchen in the middle of winter!

Marie McKinsey

Nov 25
3 min

A Few Words About Affiliate Marketing

Lately, I've questioned whether it's worth the trouble to run ads at all. But as I thought about it, I began to realize that I had more of a

Give Your Lawn an Environmental Make-over

Marie McKinsey

Nov 6
2 min

Give Your Lawn an Environmental Make-over

From an environmental point of view, what it takes to maintain a typical lawn is a nightmare.

Marie McKinsey

Nov 5
2 min

Leave Those Leaves!

The biggest lesson we have to learn from climate change is that we can't keep doing things the way we always have been

Marie McKinsey

May 21
2 min

Coloring Music

Early in my landscape design career, I learned that adding color to drawings was important if I wanted to sell my work.

A Bit of West Seattle Garden Tour History

Marie McKinsey

May 8
3 min

A Bit of West Seattle Garden Tour History

In the spring of 1995, a group of West Seattle gardeners brought us the first West Seattle Garden Tour (WSGT).

My Comments on Sound Transit's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

Marie McKinsey

Apr 24
9 min

My Comments on Sound Transit's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

I am posting my comments here for two reasons: 1) According to "the rules," comments submitted by April 28th that address specific sections

How Many West Seattle Businesses Will We Lose Because of Sound Transit's Light Rail?

Marie McKinsey

Apr 16
3 min

How Many West Seattle Businesses Will We Lose Because of Sound Transit's Light Rail?

Sound Transit's light rail extension to West Seattle will mean the closure or relocation of many businesses. How many and which ones?

"Because We Said So" - The Latest Episode of West Seattle Bridge Drama

Marie McKinsey

Apr 10
5 min

"Because We Said So" - The Latest Episode of West Seattle Bridge Drama

When I posted last week's article about the new season of West Seattle Bridge Drama, I thought, "Hey, that's it now, I'm going to go do some

Welcome to a New Season of West Seattle Bridge Drama

Marie McKinsey

Apr 2
8 min

Welcome to a New Season of West Seattle Bridge Drama

now that 700 people in West Seattle have received letters advising them that their properties are in the path of an oncoming train.

Marie McKinsey

Apr 1
6 min

The Bridges of West Seattle

When the West Seattle Bridge, which links the peninsula of West Seattle with mainland Seattle, was closed suddenly in March of 2020, it left

West Seattle's "Walking on Logs" Sculptures

Marie McKinsey

Mar 26
2 min

West Seattle's "Walking on Logs" Sculptures

Remember these kids? When the West Seattle Bridge was open, we passed them every time we drove into the neighborhood. Sometimes they were dr

Marie McKinsey

Feb 5
5 min

When It Comes To Transit, Think Small

Think Small. This simple ad, which ran in the 1960s, was part of one of the most successful campaigns of all time. It was clever.

Marie McKinsey

Dec 4, 2021
5 min

Why You Should Have A Commuting Budget

A commuting budget looks at both the amount of time you allocate for going to and from work each week, and what that commute costs you.

Three Ways Political Parties Poison Democracy

Marie McKinsey

Nov 20, 2021
6 min

Three Ways Political Parties Poison Democracy

I want to begin by reminding you that the Constitution makes no provision for political parties.

Find Out by Zip Code How Much CO2 Your Neighborhood Emits

Marie McKinsey

Sep 24, 2021
2 min

Find Out by Zip Code How Much CO2 Your Neighborhood Emits

We've heard for decades that increasing population density is good for the environment. The theory is that it discourages suburban sprawl,

WTF Is a Woonerf? And Where Can We Put One in West Seattle?

Marie McKinsey

Sep 19, 2021
2 min

WTF Is a Woonerf? And Where Can We Put One in West Seattle?

Woonerf, a Dutch word, is translated as "a living yard." It is a street where car use is limited in favor of green space and room for pedest

A Fresh Look for the Arboretum at South Seattle College

Marie McKinsey

Sep 11, 2021
2 min

A Fresh Look for the Arboretum at South Seattle College

I was a landscape design student at South Seattle College in the early 1990s. The Arboretum was our outdoor classroom, where we took classes

Marie McKinsey

Jul 23, 2021
4 min

The World's Oldest Pearl Jam Fan

I've been called the world's oldest Pearl Jam fan. But it isn't true.

Life at Alki Beach: Pirates and Pole Vaulters - Aaaargh!!

Marie McKinsey

Jun 11, 2021
2 min

Life at Alki Beach: Pirates and Pole Vaulters - Aaaargh!!

It appears that the Seafair Pirate landing at Alki Beach is cancelled this year because of lingering issues from the pandemic. This photo es