Author: Melissa R Poulin

I'm a poet, writer, and mama.

#100dayproject: Make your own bias tape for handmade masks

Checking in on my #100dayproject and wanted to share this handy trick I learned for making 1/2" double fold bias tape, which works well for mask ties. I'm following instructions for three sizes of masks using this tutorial, which calls for a tie about the width and length of a shoelace. For me, that has … Continue reading #100dayproject: Make your own bias tape for handmade masks →

Silver Linings and Giant Dark Clouds

Last night I had a good long talk with a dear friend over a glass of wine and Google Hangouts. I am still savoring the warm feeling of connection, and gratitude for our friendship. Among other things, we talked about the rollercoaster of emotion we are all riding, and grappling with the challenge of feeling … Continue reading Silver Linings and Giant Dark Clouds →

Libraries Foster Connection and Community Resilience: Speaking to Support Portland’s Library Bond

Today the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to refer a library expansion bond measure to the November 2020 ballot. Along with thirteen other Portland residents, I had the pleasure of participating in a period of public comment before the referral was put to a vote. This is the three-minute statement I spent weeks … Continue reading Libraries Foster Connection and Community Resilience: Speaking to Support Portland’s Library Bond →

Health and Other Worthwhile Things: On The Ecology of Care by Didi Pershouse

Photo of Green String Farm byLyle Poulin A few years after finishing my undergraduate degree in creative writing, I apprenticed and worked on small farms, inspired in part by the writing of Wendell Berry. In an interview in one of my favorite magazines at the time, The Sun, Berry had spoken persuasively about the importance … Continue reading Health and Other Worthwhile Things: On The Ecology of Care by Didi Pershouse →

Future Punk: Why I’m Training as a Community Acupuncturist

Image: Welcome to Aculand, courtesy of Nancy Norman. Sunlight pours onto the funky orange couch in the classroom, and dapples the circle of mismatched recliners around it. A couple of worn, wheeled stools cluster in the center. There are piles of neatly folded fleece blankets in one corner, a bank of folding chairs and tables … Continue reading Future Punk: Why I’m Training as a Community Acupuncturist →