October 2025: nature-based solutions
Each month, we break down our topic into four weekly modules. Catch up on previous editions here.β
This week's module: CONNECT
- π― CONNECT | Conversation prompts on nature-based solutions
- LEARN | What do nature-based solutions look like in practice?
- ACT | How you can advocate for a climate-resilient world starting with your neighbohood
- REFLECT | Art, poetry, and commitments
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Here's what we'll learn today Reader
I don't even know where to begin today.
Yesterday marked the two-year anniversary of a live-streamed g3nocide. Our nervous systems are not built to metabolize this, and our souls are at risk if we look away.
I've learned a lot about my values in the past two years. Where I'll see "the other side" and where I'll draw my lines; when I need to walk away and when to engage; when to turn to community or when to cry in my closet.
Last night, biking home from Soapbox Seattle, Nathan (hi) and I were talking about happiness vs. joy, because I shared that I don't really think I'm a happy person, but I'm a joyful one.
To me, joy is similar to what Matthew on Twitter said about hope in 2022.
People speak of hope as if it is this delicate, ephemeral thing made of whispers and spidersβ webs. Itβs not. Hope has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, the grit of cobblestones in her hair, and just spat out a tooth as she rises for another go.
I don't have much more to say, just that we must claw out our joy whenever we can. We must keep our whimsy. We must hold tight to visions of the tomorrow we want, not just the past we're running from.
And I suppose we must let our hearts break fully to let something new take its place.
These are some thoughts I'm holding as we go into our very first gala, HARVEST OF THE FUTURE, next Friday. I'm proud of what our community has done this year, and I'm glad to know you.
Thank you so much for being here, for following along, and for forging the new world.
Let's send our love and our actions towards healing--in Palestine, in Sudan, and in our very own neighborhoods, because we don't have to cross an ocean to do some good.
On that note, October's topic is nature-based solutions, and I have nothing more to add, so let's get into it.
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We can't do this without you Reader
A wee lil note: if you enjoy getting these Changeletters and you would like to make a gift of reciprocity, a $9 contribution would go such a long way. Especially if you make it monthly! 100% of this work is me sitting behind my keyboard stressing about if anyone cares about this stuff, so encouragement and financial support is so greatly appreciated!
Thank you Vinay for supporting this month!
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Your bite-sized action plan Reader
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CONNECT with these conversation prompts
Every CONNECT module, youβll get up to four prompts to connect with yourself, others, spirit, and systems.
Your mission is to take whatβs in these Changeletters and bring it into one of those dimensions.
These are great conversation starters for friends who don't consider themselves "climate people," which is wild to me, because if you like going outside and breathing air, are you not a "climate person?"
- When you have a problem in your life that requires a creative solution, where do you go? (this can be nature, a friend, the internet, but get specific) What types of settings make you feel most joyful, hopeful, or creative?β
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- Imagine this: It's 100 years from now. The climate crisis has gotten worse in predictable ways, but our solutions have far outpaced it. Nature, art, and technology are working together in a solarpunk future.
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What does that look like? What are some of the things you're seeing/not seeing?
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What are some examples of nature-based solutions you've seen in the places you've been?β
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- How can the concept of nature-based solutions reframe your relationship with humanity as being part of the solution, not just the problem? β
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- What are the tradeoffs you are willing to make (money, time, energy) to continue coexisting with nature? What will you start, stop, or continue doing?
Those are your four questions for today! I hope you have some fruitful discussions with humans in your life. As always, report back with anything you'd like to share.
Yesterday at Soapbox Seattle, we learned that Seattle's uniquely eco-engineered seawall uses 190 tons of discarded shells and we talked about sprinkling native plants (like milkweed) on golf courses so that protected species (like monarch butterflies) may feast on them, and who knows, the golf course may have to shut down :)
Tell me what you come up with as you take these conversations out of your inbox β¨
Team earth forever,
Nivi
Upcoming Soapbox events
βOur entire events calendar for ALL locations + virtual can be found here.
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