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They/Them. Freelance writer, editor, producer 💚TRAVEL, SCIENCE, FREEDIVING. Formerly: Features editor @DiscoverMag, Travel Editor @MidwestLiving, @dmregister.
Articles by Tree Meinch
Discover 100 Main Street Shops, Fall Treats, and a Charming Halloween Parade In This Illinois Small Town
Shops and restaurants along Galena’s Main Street. Credit: David Nevala Galena was named after a precious lead mineral abundant beneath the town’s surface. Several decades since the last mine shut down, a movie set-perfect Main Street makes this northwest Illinois town a perfect fall getaway. Main Street spans 140 mostly 19th-century buildings housing 100-plus shops, restaurants, and independent inns. After mining the shops, escape to the country for hiking, biking, and the leafy riches of autumn.
20 Incredible Midwest Glamping Destinations
Starry summer nights and crisp fall evenings beg for campfire chats and waking beneath a canopy of leaves. But then again... there are the downsides. It might be too hot, too cold, too buggy, too muggy. You don’t have the gear. You’re not that outdoorsy. And that’s where glamping comes in. Sure, you’ve been able to rent a yurt here or there across the Midwest for years, but fancy camping is a heck of a lot fancier these days.
El agua es el ‘oro blanco’ en los pueblos costeros que se secan en Baja
Nota de la editora: Este es el tercer artículo de una serie sobre la vulnerabilidad hídrica relacionada con el clima en México. Lee el segundo artículo aquí. Poco antes de las 10 de la mañana de un viernes, Ramón Rafael Sanders abre otra Tecate Light en la cabina de su enorme camión cisterna. Con el tanque vacío en la parte trasera, el camión espera encendido bajo el abrasador sol del desierto a las afueras de la ciudad de La Paz, en Baja California Sur, México.
Water is ‘white gold’ in Baja’s drying beach towns
Editor’s note: This is the third story in a series about climate-related water vulnerability in Mexico. Read the second story here. Just before 10 a.m. on a Friday, Ramón Rafael Sanders cracks open another Tecate Light in the cab of his massive water truck. With an empty tank on the back, the truck idles under the searing desert sun just outside the city of La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico. “If there is no water, there is no life,” Sanders said in Spanish. “Beer can disappear.
15 Can't-Miss Garden Centers Totally Worth the Drive
Family-owned Gethsemane Garden Center has been serving the Chicagoland area since 1977. Credit: Courtesy of Gethsemane Garden Center There’s nothing quite like the thrill of discovering a great garden center—especially one worth the extra miles. As a garden writer, I admit to planning my travels around must-visit nurseries, mapping out the best plant destinations.
2.000 pequeñas represas están volviendo verde un rancho mexicano
Nota del editor: Este es el segundo artículo de una serie sobre la vulnerabilidad hídrica relacionada con el clima en México. Se puede leer el primero aquí. En una tarde de enero, un tramo de colinas sobre San Bartolo, en Baja California Sur, luce especialmente verde. Las mariposas volaban entre los rayos del sol. La hierba verde se extiende entre la casa del rancho y los cobertizos. Los árboles brillan con limones amarillos y naranjas pequeñas.
More than 2,000 tiny dams are turning a Mexican ranch green » Yale Climate Connections
Editor’s note: This is the second story in a series about climate-related water vulnerability in Mexico. Read the first story. On a January afternoon, one patch of foothills above San Bartolo in Baja California Sur looks extra lush. Butterflies flit through rays of sunshine. Green grass unfurls between a farmhouse and garden sheds. Trees glow with yellow lemons and mini oranges.
¿Puede este estado mexicano resolver una crisis hídrica? » Yale Climate Connections
Este artículo es el primero de una serie sobre el recurso de agua en Baja California Sur. El agua ha sido una fuerza casi divina que ha determinado la vida y la muerte durante siglos en la árida península de Baja California, en México. Y hoy, los factores de estrés climático, el auge del turismo y el crecimiento urbano están convirtiendo el agua en un recurso aún más preciado en el estado más seco del país. “Las acciones del cambio climático son graves aquí en el estado”, dijo María Z.
Can this Mexican paradise navigate a water crisis? » Yale Climate Connections
Water has been a godlike force determining life and death for centuries across Mexico’s arid Baja California Peninsula. And today, climate stressors, a boom in tourism, and urban growth are making water an extra precious resource in Mexico’s driest state. “The effects of climate change are serious here in Baja California Sur,” said María Z. Flores López, a hydrologist and director of the Integrated Water Management Program at the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, speaking in Spanish.
Sandhill cranes settle into the Platte River as the sun sets at Rowe Sanctuary. Credit: Courtesy of Nebraska Tourism Commission Beyond the slow water and sandbars, I spot the first wisp of movement on the horizon. From my perch by the Platte River, bundled alongside birders from across the country, I grab my binoculars. A lump forms in my throat as the stippled skyline wisp becomes a mass of wings, beaks, and gangly legs headed for our stretch of water at Nebraska's Crane Trust.
This Tiny Stretch of Nebraska Hosts the World's Most Underrated Wildlife Spectacle—Here's How to See It
Sandhill cranes settle into the Platte River as the sun sets at Rowe Sanctuary. Photo: Courtesy of Nebraska Tourism Commission Beyond the slow water and sandbars, I spot the first wisp of movement on the horizon. From my perch by the Platte River, bundled alongside birders from across the country, I grab my binoculars. A lump forms in my throat as the stippled skyline wisp becomes a mass of wings, beaks, and gangly legs headed for our stretch of water at Nebraska's Crane Trust.
This Midwest Destination is the Best-Kept Secret for Skiing, Saunas, and National Parks
Deadwood is a town in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and it's gorgeous when blanketed in snow. Photo: Dana Halferty When snow dusts the Ponderosa pines of the Black Hills, the area becomes a quiet sanctuary. Mount Rushmore tourists dissipate, taverns become cozy dens, and a rugged stillness settles over the western rim of the Midwest. The crisp air awakens your senses, yet the hospitality is warm enough to melt away the winter chill.
Mi experiencia con el dengue fue insoportable. Lo que resulta aún más aterrador es la rapidez con la que se está propagando. » Yale Climate Connections
Cuando los escalofríos, los temblores corporales y el dolor de cabeza punzante se apoderaron de mi cuerpo por primera vez, estaba a 30,000 pies sobre el océano Pacífico, a mitad de un vuelo de 14 horas hacia Manila, en Filipinas. Mi hogar en Baja California Sur, México, quedaba a unos 5,000 kilómetros detrás de mí. Y no tenía idea de qué patógeno se había escondido en mi sangre antes de mi partida.
My brush with dengue was excruciating. What’s even scarier is how fast it’s spreading. » Yale Climate Connections Original
When the chills, body shivers, and pounding headache first hijacked my system, I was 30,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, midway through a 14-hour flight to Manila in the Philippines. My home in Baja California Sur, Mexico, was some 5,000 miles behind me. And I had no clue which pathogen had stowed itself away in my bloodstream before my departure.
Find Fall Treats, More than 100 Shops, and a Huge Halloween Parade in This Illinois Small Town
Stroll down Galena's Main Street to discover shops, boutiques, and cozy cafes. Photo: David Nevala Galena was named after a precious lead mineral abundant beneath the town's surface. Several decades since the last mine shut down, a movie set-perfect Main Street makes this northwest Illinois town a perfect fall getaway. Main Street spans 140 mostly 19th-century buildings housing 100-plus shops, restaurants, and independent inns.
This Midwestern Town is a Real-Life Stars Hollow
Stroll down Galena's Main Street to discover shops, boutiques, and cozy cafes. Photo: David Nevala Galena was named after a precious lead mineral abundant beneath the town's surface. Several decades since the last mine shut down, a movie set-perfect Main Street makes this northwest Illinois town a perfect fall getaway. Main Street spans 140 mostly 19th-century buildings housing 100-plus shops, restaurants, and independent inns.
Architecture and urban planning student draws up plans to make a difference
Architecture has always been an area of interest for UWM master’s student Dulce Carreno, but in high school, she didn’t consider it a viable option. Instead, after graduating from her Las Vegas high school, Carreno served in the U.S. Air Force for six years, preparing and maintaining aircraft for military use.
UWM instructor’s Nonprof-IT brings alumni support full circle
Adam Hudson, a lecturer in UWM’s School of Information Studies, knows the value of partnerships that benefit everyone involved. That’s what led him to found Nonprof-IT, an internship program that connects students with local nonprofits. What he didn’t expect was the response from alums, many of whom return as Nonprof-IT mentors. Their involvement creates a snowball effect, growing a web of professional connections for students.
What can individuals do about climate change? Find community. » Yale Climate Connections
Xiye Bastida was just 15 years old when she spoke at her first international United Nations gathering in 2018. That same year, the Otomi-Mexican climate activist won the U.N. Spirit Award for her youth leadership and tenacity. She then partnered with Greta Thunberg in 2019 to lead climate strikes that made a lasting ripple effect around the globe.
15 Can't-Miss Garden Centers Totally Worth the Drive
Family-owned Gethsemane Garden Center has been serving the Chicagoland area since 1977. Photo: Courtesy of Gethsemane Garden Center There’s nothing quite like the thrill of discovering a great garden center—especially one worth the extra miles. As a garden writer, I admit to planning my travels around must-visit nurseries, mapping out the best plant destinations.
Sustaining community gardens with climate-smart solutions
Approximately 18 million U.S. households experienced food insecurity at some point in 2023, representing more than 13% of the population.
‘How can ordinary people push the government of Mexico to follow the Paris Agreement?’ » Yale Climate Connections Original
One of our readers asked us, “How can Mexicans pressure the federal government to follow the Paris Climate Agreement?” Yale Climate Connections contributor and journalist Tree Meinch, who lives in Mexico, answered this question for us. Here is their answer: In terms of international treaties and cooperation, today’s climate goals and objectives are facing significant resistance in North America. On his first day back in office on Jan.
¿Cómo los residentes mexicanos pueden presionar al gobierno de México para que cumpla con el Acuerdo de París? » Yale Climate Connections
Uno de nuestros lectores nos preguntó: ¿Cómo los residentes mexicanos pueden presionar al gobierno de México para que cumpla con el Acuerdo de Paris? Pedimos a Tree Meinch, quien vive en México, que respondiera a esta pregunta para nosotros. Aquí está su respuesta: En términos de tratados internacionales y cooperación, los objetivos climáticos actuales enfrentan una gran resistencia en América del Norte.
Coffee by Day and Cocktails by Night: Try These Hybrid Cafes
Bartenders at Truce embrace specialty ingredients such as date molasses and ginger-turmeric syrup. Photo: Garrett Sweet Coffee-to-cocktail venues are figuring out they can have the best of both worlds: drinks that draw both morning and evening traffic. Start the day with a latte or ethically sourced coffee at your favorite neighborhood spot, then swing by after work when it becomes a bar with the same chill vibe—but a different menu. Prefer non-alcoholic options in the evening? No problem.
¿Cuáles son las consecuencias que se han visto en México por el cambio climático? » Yale Climate Connections Original
Uno de nuestros lectores nos preguntó: ¿Cuáles son las consecuencias que se han visto en México por el cambio climático? Me gustaría saber qué tipo de animales, especies o vegetales se han estado extinguiendo estos últimos años en México. Pedimos la ayuda de Tree Meinch, un colaborador de YCC que se encuentra en La Paz, México, para contestar esta pregunta. Esto es lo que encontraron: En el mundo de la conservación de especies, “extinción” es un término difícil de precisar.
'What are the consequences that have been observed in Mexico due to climate change?' " Yale Climate Connections
One of our readers asked us: What are the consequences that have been observed in Mexico due to climate change? I would like to know what types of animals, species, or plants have been going extinct in recent years in Mexico. We asked YCC contributor Tree Meinch, who is based in La Paz, México, to help us answer this question. This is what they found: In the world of species conservation, ‘‘extinction” is a slippery fish.
Life in the Appalachians once felt ‘untouchable.’ Then Helene struck. » Yale Climate Connections
You could say James Guill has been running from hurricanes for his whole life. The New Orleans native was just two years old when Hurricane Katrina swallowed his city in 2005 and became the most costly hurricane in U.S. history, claiming 1,833 lives. During and after the storm, Guill’s family evacuated and sheltered in Virginia for two months. Then they returned, salvaged their house, and spent nearly two more decades – enduring other life-threatening storms and evacuations – at sea level.
From Trauma to Triumph: How Naples' Jordan Dunin is Revolutionizing Wellness Coaching
When was the last time you asked for help? Jordan Dunin had little choice in the matter in the summer of 2016, after he dove off a boat into the shallows of Ontario’s Lake Muskoka, breaking his neck and suffering a traumatic brain injury. During his recovery, Jordan was so debilitated he had to drop out of college.
Climate Change and the Reality behind False Claims about ‘Criminal Migrants’
This interview originally appeared at Yale Climate Connections. For nearly three decades, Arizona-based writer and journalist Todd Miller has immersed himself in the real-life people and policies defining the U.S.-Mexico border. When the Department of Homeland Security took over immigration and enforcement after Sept.
Él tenía la carrera de sus sueños, pero no era sustentable » Yale Climate Connections
Algunos niños ven un partido de fútbol profesional y sueñan con convertirse en atletas profesionales cuando crezcan. Felipe Morales Ramírez quería construir los estadios que hacen posible el juego. También soñaba con hospitales, autopistas y grandes infraestructuras urbanas. “Desde niño quise construir cosas grandes”, dijo Morales Ramírez. “Era bueno dibujando y sólo quería saber cómo construirlo”. Persiguió ese sueño durante su adolescencia y más allá.
The reality behind false claims about ‘criminal migrants’ » Yale Climate Connections Original
For nearly three decades, Arizona-based writer and journalist Todd Miller has immersed himself in the real-life people and policies defining the U.S.-Mexico border. When the Department of Homeland Security took over immigration and enforcement after Sept. 11, 2001, he was crossing the border multiple times a week with BorderLinks, a community-based organization dedicated to education and social justice in the borderlands between Arizona and Chiapas.
He had his dream career. But was it good for the climate? » Yale Climate Connections
Some kids watch a professional soccer game and dream of becoming a pro athlete when they grow up. Felipe Morales wanted to build the stadiums that make the game possible. He also dreamed of hospitals, highways, and major urban infrastructure. “Since I was a kid, I wanted to build big things,” Morales said. “I was good at drawing and I just wanted to know how to build it.” He chased that dream through his teen years and beyond.
Los combustibles fósiles y la infraestructura aislada sofocan la adopción de energías renovables en Baja California Sur » Yale Climate Connections
Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, Alejandro Flores Márquez se tomó en serio la idea de realizar mejoras para ahorrar energía en su casa en La Paz, México. Como consultor profesional de sostenibilidad, conocía múltiples soluciones que podrían reducir su factura eléctrica mensual y beneficiar al medio ambiente. Los paneles solares ocupaban un lugar destacado en su lista de mejoras planificadas.
What Happens After You Create One of the World's Most Successful Marine Preserves?
Along the southeastern edge of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, a long and plain dirt road leads to the surreal azure shores of Cabo Pulmo. This small, former fishing village nestled along the Gulf of California has no grocery stores or gas stations, but it does have over a dozen active dive shops and outfitters. That's because the town of less than 200 residents also lays claim to one of the world's most successful marine preserves: Cabo Pulmo National Park.
Fossil-fuel-friendly energy policy and isolated infrastructure stifle renewable adoption in Mexico’s sun-filled Baja Peninsula » Yale Climate Connections
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alejandro Flores Márquez got serious about making energy-saving improvements in his home in La Paz, Mexico. As a professional sustainability consultant, he knew multiple go-to solutions that could both lower his monthly electric bill and benefit the environment. Solar panels were high on his list of planned improvements. But as he pursued the option, he encountered troubling, prohibitive regulations in his state of Baja California Sur.
This hidden Eden in Mexico won’t stay undiscovered forever
Las Pozas is a surrealistic garden tucked into the jungle in the city of Xilitla. (Credit: fitopardo/Moment RF/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) (CNN) — The mashup of diverse landscapes begins rolling past your car window within 30 minutes of departing San Luis Potosí, the capital city of the Mexican state of the same name. Sturdy pines grow tall beside desert cacti, poking through a blanket of fog adorning the Sierra Madre mountains.
This hidden Eden in Mexico won’t stay undiscovered forever
(CNN) — The mashup of diverse landscapes begins rolling past your car window within 30 minutes of departing San Luis Potosí, the capital city of the Mexican state of the same name. Sturdy pines grow tall beside desert cacti, poking through a blanket of fog adorning the Sierra Madre mountains.
La Huasteca Potosina es una joya natural escondida en México que no permanecerá oculta mucho tiempo
(CNN) -- A los 30 minutos de salir de San Luis Potosí, capital del estado mexicano del mismo nombre, la mezcla de paisajes diversos empieza a ser notoria desde la ventana del auto. Los pinos robustos crecen altos junto a los cactus del desierto, asomando a través de un manto de niebla que adorna las montañas de la Sierra Madre.
This hidden Eden in Mexico won’t stay undiscovered forever
(CNN) — The mashup of diverse landscapes begins rolling past your car window within 30 minutes of departing San Luis Potosí, the capital city of the Mexican state of the same name. Sturdy pines grow tall beside desert cacti, poking through a blanket of fog adorning the Sierra Madre mountains.
This hidden Eden in Mexico won’t stay undiscovered forever
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.
Un alojamiento ecológico en Baja California Sur enseña a vivir de forma sostenible. ¿Sobrevivirá a la subida del nivel del mar y a las tormentas? » Yale Climate Connections Original
Cuando conduces hacia el Centro Ecológico La Duna, normalmente te pierdes la señal celular antes de desviarse de la Carretera Federal 1 de México. En el camino, seguramente se cuestionará algunos giros y tomará una o dos bifurcaciones equivocadas en la carretera que serpentea entre altísimos cactus cardón que buscan el cielo. El rústico letrero de bienvenida de La Duna y las casitas coronadas de palmeras permanecerán invisibles hasta que llegue al centro.
An eco-lodge in Baja California Sur teaches guests how to live sustainably. Can it survive rising seas and storms? » Yale Climate Connections
Driving to La Duna Ecology Center, you typically lose cell connection before turning off Mexico’s coastal Highway 1. You’re bound to question some turns and follow one or two wrong forks in the road weaving between towering cardon cactuses that reach for the sky. La Duna’s rustic welcome sign and palm-frond-topped casitas remain invisible until you arrive. Once inside the gate, you’re tucked into a lumpy blanket of shrubs, earthy shelters, and the namesake wall of dunes.
Tea Lovers Flock to this Estero Shop
Growing up in Bulgaria, photographer and Estero Bay Olive Oil & Tea shopkeeper Diana Todorova viewed her backyard as a medicine cabinet. Within a big field of tomatoes, potatoes and other produce, wild herbs grew freely behind her family’s house. Little plants and thistles—the sort that might get weeded out of Westerners’ gardens—served a purpose: optimizing health.
Don’t sleep on soot » Yale Climate Connections
Somesh Roy was about 10 years old when he discovered a history book depicting ancient cave paintings. The images captivated him. Inside his home in West Bengal, India, which lacked electricity, he used candlelight to gawk at the pages after dark. “I knew I was going to be a historian when I grew up,” Roy says, flashing a smile to acknowledge his unconventional path.
Naples Cheer Revolution Takes SWFL By Storm
At the start of summer 2022, 10-year-old Emily O’Flinn had never stepped onto a competitive cheer mat. That’s hard to believe when you watch the tween land a stunt today—gracefully in the hands of her cheer-mates—or stick the landing of a back handspring. It’s all a testament to one season of proper training at the year-old Naples Cheer Revolution, the city’s only competitive cheer studio.
No One Owns Outer Space, But Could Space Mining Change That?
If you landed on the moon today and conducted a thorough survey of the landscape, you would encounter multiple U.S. flags and a single Chinese one upon its dusty surface. These national symbols, however, bear little weight when it comes to land claims and territorial jurisdiction in this realm. That's because international terms have established that no nation can claim land in outer space or upon any celestial body - no planet, moon or asteroid.
Solutions for Solar Panel Waste Are Just Beginning to Surface
That's because solar technology effectively went mainstream around the turn of the millennia, with units that have an estimated lifespan of 25 to 30 years. Now that we're well into the 2020s, millions of modules that were commissioned in those early days are entering retirement. But where will they go? The simplest answer: lots of different places, including many landfills, based on the immediate infrastructure and policies in place. But there are other options as this new problem unfolds.
What Has Been Found in the Deep Waters of the Mariana Trench?
The ocean is unfathomably deep. To try to fathom it, picture trekking from sea level to the top of the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest. If it was inverted above the Mariana Trench, the submerged tip would come more than a mile short of the seafloor. This deepest region known in our seas — a crescent-shaped canyon near Guam and the Mariana Islands — is located in the western Pacific Ocean. How Deep Is the Mariana Trench?
How Far Have We Gone Under Earth's Crust?
When Jules Verne published Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1864, multiple unsubstantiated hollow Earth theories were alive and well, speculating about what might exist deep beneath our feet. That's because, by many measures, we know less about Earth's interior than we know about outer space. Still, we can confidently say it is dense and made up of multiple compact layers that humans have failed to reach, despite multiple attempts.
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