Ellen Qualls
@ellenqualls.bsky.social
Offering an awkward blend of democracy and nature content.
I do this: quallscommunications.com.
I do this: quallscommunications.com.
American split screen this Thanksgiving:
Macy’s crowd goes wild for the Sesame Street float … while fewer children will get to see it as the evil dictator’s cuts to public stations hit home.
We all need Big Bird energy this year!
Macy’s crowd goes wild for the Sesame Street float … while fewer children will get to see it as the evil dictator’s cuts to public stations hit home.
We all need Big Bird energy this year!
November 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
American split screen this Thanksgiving:
Macy’s crowd goes wild for the Sesame Street float … while fewer children will get to see it as the evil dictator’s cuts to public stations hit home.
We all need Big Bird energy this year!
Macy’s crowd goes wild for the Sesame Street float … while fewer children will get to see it as the evil dictator’s cuts to public stations hit home.
We all need Big Bird energy this year!
We spend 90% of our time indoors, and unhealthy air is making us sicker and dumber than we need to be!
All humans who 🌬️breathe air 🌬️should listen to these great ideas.
Thanks for giving this topic some oxygen @volts.wtf and his guest Georgia Lagoudas of @pandemiccenter.bsky.social.
All humans who 🌬️breathe air 🌬️should listen to these great ideas.
Thanks for giving this topic some oxygen @volts.wtf and his guest Georgia Lagoudas of @pandemiccenter.bsky.social.
What's the deal with indoor air quality?
Podcast Episode · Volts · 11/19/2025 · 1h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:10 PM
We spend 90% of our time indoors, and unhealthy air is making us sicker and dumber than we need to be!
All humans who 🌬️breathe air 🌬️should listen to these great ideas.
Thanks for giving this topic some oxygen @volts.wtf and his guest Georgia Lagoudas of @pandemiccenter.bsky.social.
All humans who 🌬️breathe air 🌬️should listen to these great ideas.
Thanks for giving this topic some oxygen @volts.wtf and his guest Georgia Lagoudas of @pandemiccenter.bsky.social.
Reposted by Ellen Qualls
An underrated part of our misinformation problem: It's not just that we're awash in deliberate propaganda from ideologues and hacks. Huge, huge numbers of people are primarily getting their political news from morons. They're not deliberately lying; they just pull stuff out of their ass on stream.
There are nearly 40,000 people watching Asmongold stream about the Epstein files vote right now.
Wild reading chatters ask him questions like how long it will take to see all the files... and he pulls "6 months" out of nowhere... just bonkers stuff.
Wild reading chatters ask him questions like how long it will take to see all the files... and he pulls "6 months" out of nowhere... just bonkers stuff.
November 18, 2025 at 8:26 PM
An underrated part of our misinformation problem: It's not just that we're awash in deliberate propaganda from ideologues and hacks. Huge, huge numbers of people are primarily getting their political news from morons. They're not deliberately lying; they just pull stuff out of their ass on stream.
Saturday morning sunshine: Detroit has 1,400 urban gardens, growing food for communities ... and peppers for hot sauce!
Fun story on the rise of 🌱agrihoods🌱 from @bibathediva.bsky.social.
Fun story on the rise of 🌱agrihoods🌱 from @bibathediva.bsky.social.
From urban gardens to agrihoods: The rise of agricultural neighborhoods in Detroit | One Earth
How The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative is using regenerative agriculture to improve food insecurity and community investment.
www.oneearth.org
November 8, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Saturday morning sunshine: Detroit has 1,400 urban gardens, growing food for communities ... and peppers for hot sauce!
Fun story on the rise of 🌱agrihoods🌱 from @bibathediva.bsky.social.
Fun story on the rise of 🌱agrihoods🌱 from @bibathediva.bsky.social.
Reposted by Ellen Qualls
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
New: The FBI is quietly urging ICE agents to properly ID themselves in the field.
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves
In a bulletin to law enforcement agencies, the FBI said criminal impersonators are exploiting ICE’s image and urged nationwide coordination to distinguish real operations from fakes.
www.wired.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Ellen Qualls
Maybe dumping poop on voters from an airplane is not a surefire electoral strategy
November 5, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Maybe dumping poop on voters from an airplane is not a surefire electoral strategy
Totally digging this new 📺 series (yaasssss that was a garden 🌱pun). TY @rebeccalovesplants.bsky.social
@edwinagurl.bsky.social
for the personal and inspirational tours. #NativePlants #EcologicalGardening
@edwinagurl.bsky.social
for the personal and inspirational tours. #NativePlants #EcologicalGardening
October 31, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Totally digging this new 📺 series (yaasssss that was a garden 🌱pun). TY @rebeccalovesplants.bsky.social
@edwinagurl.bsky.social
for the personal and inspirational tours. #NativePlants #EcologicalGardening
@edwinagurl.bsky.social
for the personal and inspirational tours. #NativePlants #EcologicalGardening
If you don’t have any Northern Sea Oats near a window, get one in the ground or a container now! 🌱 They provide 365 days of zen.
Also the larval host for 3 Skipper butterflies and seed provider for birds and small mammals.
Also the larval host for 3 Skipper butterflies and seed provider for birds and small mammals.
October 19, 2025 at 6:23 PM
If you don’t have any Northern Sea Oats near a window, get one in the ground or a container now! 🌱 They provide 365 days of zen.
Also the larval host for 3 Skipper butterflies and seed provider for birds and small mammals.
Also the larval host for 3 Skipper butterflies and seed provider for birds and small mammals.
Reposted by Ellen Qualls
Your Prime Day reminder that Amazon...
-Provides cloud services that help fuel ICE's deportation machine
-Donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund
-Scrapped plans to display tariff costs after pressure from Trump
-Shelled out $40M for a documentary about Melania Trump
-Provides cloud services that help fuel ICE's deportation machine
-Donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund
-Scrapped plans to display tariff costs after pressure from Trump
-Shelled out $40M for a documentary about Melania Trump
October 7, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Your Prime Day reminder that Amazon...
-Provides cloud services that help fuel ICE's deportation machine
-Donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund
-Scrapped plans to display tariff costs after pressure from Trump
-Shelled out $40M for a documentary about Melania Trump
-Provides cloud services that help fuel ICE's deportation machine
-Donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund
-Scrapped plans to display tariff costs after pressure from Trump
-Shelled out $40M for a documentary about Melania Trump
I love a good carved pumpkin, but if people spent 1/10 of what they spend on “seasonal decor” and “lawn maintenance” on planting and watering a few native 🌳shrubs and trees🍃, imagine the 🌱biodiversity paradise we’d live in.
October 7, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I love a good carved pumpkin, but if people spent 1/10 of what they spend on “seasonal decor” and “lawn maintenance” on planting and watering a few native 🌳shrubs and trees🍃, imagine the 🌱biodiversity paradise we’d live in.
Clarity:
The one thing that should be in any budget deal to end the government shutdown should be ending the Trump administration’s illegal power grab of Congressionally mandated spending.
Any other deal is Congressional “suicide.”
The one thing that should be in any budget deal to end the government shutdown should be ending the Trump administration’s illegal power grab of Congressionally mandated spending.
Any other deal is Congressional “suicide.”
The Quiet Shutdown Becomes Loud
Appropriations rupture exposes the constitutional stakes
open.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Clarity:
The one thing that should be in any budget deal to end the government shutdown should be ending the Trump administration’s illegal power grab of Congressionally mandated spending.
Any other deal is Congressional “suicide.”
The one thing that should be in any budget deal to end the government shutdown should be ending the Trump administration’s illegal power grab of Congressionally mandated spending.
Any other deal is Congressional “suicide.”
In my first real year of identifying volunteer native plants that I won’t “weed,” this bushy 🌱 plant that I think is a Small White Aster grew and grew, and finally bloomed this past week with what must be 800 tiny flowers.
I just counted about 8 different species of pollinators 🦋. It’s rockin’!
I just counted about 8 different species of pollinators 🦋. It’s rockin’!
October 1, 2025 at 7:03 PM
In my first real year of identifying volunteer native plants that I won’t “weed,” this bushy 🌱 plant that I think is a Small White Aster grew and grew, and finally bloomed this past week with what must be 800 tiny flowers.
I just counted about 8 different species of pollinators 🦋. It’s rockin’!
I just counted about 8 different species of pollinators 🦋. It’s rockin’!
Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware collects, develops, and tests particularly good-looking cultivars of useful plants to make sure they’re still useful to nature.
One of their standouts is Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’. We planted these 2 years ago.
And all the 🐝 bumblebees say yasss. 🌱
One of their standouts is Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’. We planted these 2 years ago.
And all the 🐝 bumblebees say yasss. 🌱
September 26, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware collects, develops, and tests particularly good-looking cultivars of useful plants to make sure they’re still useful to nature.
One of their standouts is Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’. We planted these 2 years ago.
And all the 🐝 bumblebees say yasss. 🌱
One of their standouts is Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’. We planted these 2 years ago.
And all the 🐝 bumblebees say yasss. 🌱
Reposted by Ellen Qualls
There is so much in the news cycle these days that the complete dismantling of the Forest Service -- so *our* forests can be auctioned off to Big TImber -- is unfortunately getting little air play. But if this happens, US landscapes may be almost unrecognizable in a decade, and never coming back. 🌍
Using an emergency declaration, Trump’s timber production executive order would ease environmental protections so as to greatly expand logging in the national forests.
A report from our friends at @highcountrynews.org:
A report from our friends at @highcountrynews.org:
The dismantling of the US Forest Service is imminent
The public has less than a week remaining to comment on the administration's plans.
www.motherjones.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:53 AM
There is so much in the news cycle these days that the complete dismantling of the Forest Service -- so *our* forests can be auctioned off to Big TImber -- is unfortunately getting little air play. But if this happens, US landscapes may be almost unrecognizable in a decade, and never coming back. 🌍
The internet suggests this is Sparassis spathulata growing under our giant Chestnut Oak. First time I’ve seen one here. 🌱
We knew the forest has a brain, but this is just showing off!
Source: ultimate-mushroom.com/edible/221-s...
We knew the forest has a brain, but this is just showing off!
Source: ultimate-mushroom.com/edible/221-s...
September 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The internet suggests this is Sparassis spathulata growing under our giant Chestnut Oak. First time I’ve seen one here. 🌱
We knew the forest has a brain, but this is just showing off!
Source: ultimate-mushroom.com/edible/221-s...
We knew the forest has a brain, but this is just showing off!
Source: ultimate-mushroom.com/edible/221-s...
They’ve come for the ice cream.
Also, we are all now left wondering what that flavor was going to be named.
Also, we are all now left wondering what that flavor was going to be named.
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has stepped down from the ice cream maker after nearly 50 years.
Greenfield dubbed the decision “painful,” but said that the Unilever had silenced the company’s ability to speak up on global issues, including the conflict in Gaza.
Greenfield dubbed the decision “painful,” but said that the Unilever had silenced the company’s ability to speak up on global issues, including the conflict in Gaza.
Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield quits over social activism row with Unilever
Greenfield dubbed the decision "painful" but said that the Unilever had silenced the company's ability to speak up on global issues.
cnb.cx
September 17, 2025 at 1:21 PM
They’ve come for the ice cream.
Also, we are all now left wondering what that flavor was going to be named.
Also, we are all now left wondering what that flavor was going to be named.
August 21, 2025 at 10:44 PM
DC Uber driver: It’s awfully quiet. Not many cars at all.
Me: Why?
Driver: Ain’t no federal workers no more. And no one coming here.
Feels like the pandemic.
Me: Maybe a political pandemic?
Driver: Ha, you could say that. He’s a mess.
Me: Why?
Driver: Ain’t no federal workers no more. And no one coming here.
Feels like the pandemic.
Me: Maybe a political pandemic?
Driver: Ha, you could say that. He’s a mess.
August 9, 2025 at 1:53 PM
DC Uber driver: It’s awfully quiet. Not many cars at all.
Me: Why?
Driver: Ain’t no federal workers no more. And no one coming here.
Feels like the pandemic.
Me: Maybe a political pandemic?
Driver: Ha, you could say that. He’s a mess.
Me: Why?
Driver: Ain’t no federal workers no more. And no one coming here.
Feels like the pandemic.
Me: Maybe a political pandemic?
Driver: Ha, you could say that. He’s a mess.
This feels very Homer Simpson.
Climate change makes winter less cold. We use less natural gas to heat. So Washington Gas bills us more so we're not shocked by paying less. D'oh!
www.washingtongas.com/billing-and-...
Climate change makes winter less cold. We use less natural gas to heat. So Washington Gas bills us more so we're not shocked by paying less. D'oh!
www.washingtongas.com/billing-and-...
Virginia Weather Normalization Adjustment - Washington Gas
The Weather Normalization Adjustment is designed to reduce the volatility of your natural gas bill due to changes in weather conditions.
www.washingtongas.com
July 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
This feels very Homer Simpson.
Climate change makes winter less cold. We use less natural gas to heat. So Washington Gas bills us more so we're not shocked by paying less. D'oh!
www.washingtongas.com/billing-and-...
Climate change makes winter less cold. We use less natural gas to heat. So Washington Gas bills us more so we're not shocked by paying less. D'oh!
www.washingtongas.com/billing-and-...
“‘Ignorance’ Is Most Pressing Issue Facing Ocean Conservation”
Baller ocean scientist Sylvia Earle blends snark, wisdom, and hope into a tight message about saving life on 🌎. 🌱
Baller ocean scientist Sylvia Earle blends snark, wisdom, and hope into a tight message about saving life on 🌎. 🌱
'Ignorance' Is Most Pressing Issue Facing Ocean Conservation, Says Sylvia Earle
The ocean conservationist on hope, and why, on the cusp of her 90th birthday, she keeps diving.
time.com
July 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
“‘Ignorance’ Is Most Pressing Issue Facing Ocean Conservation”
Baller ocean scientist Sylvia Earle blends snark, wisdom, and hope into a tight message about saving life on 🌎. 🌱
Baller ocean scientist Sylvia Earle blends snark, wisdom, and hope into a tight message about saving life on 🌎. 🌱
This is a terrible thing but really good communication about it
July 18, 2025 at 4:28 PM
This is a terrible thing but really good communication about it
A Rorschach test for the 🌱 gardening feed!
If you’re gardening for nature, this is welcome proof that letting the volunteer redbud spring up in that bed was a good thing. 🐝🐝🐝
If you’re gardening for nature, this is welcome proof that letting the volunteer redbud spring up in that bed was a good thing. 🐝🐝🐝
July 1, 2025 at 1:21 PM
A Rorschach test for the 🌱 gardening feed!
If you’re gardening for nature, this is welcome proof that letting the volunteer redbud spring up in that bed was a good thing. 🐝🐝🐝
If you’re gardening for nature, this is welcome proof that letting the volunteer redbud spring up in that bed was a good thing. 🐝🐝🐝
There’s so much we can do! 🌱
The world’s tough on #insects, but a few simple steps can turn your space into a much-needed bug haven:
🌼 Plant a native flower
💧 Leave shallow water bowls
🌙 Turn off outdoor lights
🍂 Keep leaf litter & compost
🦋 Create balcony or window gardens
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
🌼 Plant a native flower
💧 Leave shallow water bowls
🌙 Turn off outdoor lights
🍂 Keep leaf litter & compost
🦋 Create balcony or window gardens
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Insects are dying: here are 25 easy and effective ways you can help protect them
From turning out the lights to letting leaves rot, these small steps can create big changes at home or in the wild
www.theguardian.com
June 19, 2025 at 1:59 PM
There’s so much we can do! 🌱