S.E. Smith

S.E. Smith

S.E. Smith is a writer, agitator, and commentator based in Northern California, with a journalistic focus on social issues, particularly gender, prison reform, disability rights, environmental justice, queerness, class, and the intersections thereof, with a special interest in rural subjects. International publication credits include work for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, and AlterNet, among many other news outlets and magazines. Assisted by cats Loki and Leila, smith lives in Fort Bragg, California.

An on demand water heater. Photo by s.e. smith for Networx.

Considerations When Choosing a Water Heater

Posted by S.E. Smith | Oct 10, 2012

When choosing a water heater for your home, you may want to consider the number of appliances you have, size of the household, environmental concerns, and economic factors before making...

We agree: Save the honey bees! (kimberlykv/flickr creative commons)

Tips for Producing Honey at Home

Posted by S.E. Smith | Oct 03, 2012

Here at Networx, we’re big fans of bees and other pollinators because they’re great for the environmentnand great for the garden. In the case of bees, there’s a...

Breibeest/flickr

Household Uses for Vinegar

Posted by S.E. Smith | Sep 24, 2012

Vinegar is a ubiquitous pantry item, and savvy householders know that it has many uses beyond salad dressing. It’s also an excellent all-purpose cleaner, deodorizer, stain remover,...

Buying food in bulk and storing it in used jars is a great way to reduce the amount of packaging that you throw away. Photo by s.e. smith for Networx.

Easy Tips for Greening Your House

Posted by S.E. Smith | Sep 10, 2012

Sometimes it seems like greening your home requires a master’s degree, a lot of money, and endless amounts of time. Fortunately, there are actually some very easy ways to green...

For smaller trim painting projects, you might be able to get free or discount paint. (Photo: Kevin Rosseel/morguefile.com)

Tips for Saving Money on Paint

Posted by S.E. Smith | Sep 06, 2012

Painting can get expensive, especially when you opt for high-quality, lasting paints with good coverage that will stand the test of time, which you definitely should. It’s tempting...

Building a cold frame or mini greenhouse extends your growing season. (Bev Lloyd-Roberts/sxc.hu)

DIY Tips: Building a Mini-Greenhouse

Posted by S.E. Smith | Sep 05, 2012

So you want to grow some out of season plants, but you don’t have a lot of room. It’s mini greenhouse (also known as a cold frame) time, and fortunately there are a lot...

Still life with hands and broccoli. (Photo: Samuel Mann/Flickr)

Tips for Growing Delicious Broccoli

Posted by S.E. Smith | Sep 04, 2012

Broccoli can be a finicky crop, but in the right conditions, it can be a pleasure to grow and eat. It, along with other members of the brassica family, offers great nutrition, with...

Does this mass of phone chargers look familiar to you? (Photo by s.e. smith)

Green Ways to Get Rid of Cell Phones and Chargers

Posted by S.E. Smith | Aug 29, 2012

With the death or upgrade of every cell phone comes the inevitable question of what do to with the old phone and its accouterments. It’s easy to end up with a drawer full of tangled...

The California Condor is endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. (Photo: elvis santana/sxc.hu)

Habitat Fragmentation is for the Birds

Posted by S.E. Smith | Aug 28, 2012

Of approximately 10,000 bird species worldwide, an estimated 13 percent are threatened with extinction. Human pressures on their habitats are a significant contributing factor to their...

Avocados have so many uses, from facial cleanser to pie filling. (Photo by s.e. smith for Networx.)

Clever Uses for Avocados

Posted by S.E. Smith | Aug 06, 2012

Avocados may be delicious, but these versatile fruits have many other uses beyond their role as a guacamole ingredient or toast topping. As an extra benefit, Florida or California avocados...