About
I grew up in the fine state of New Jersey and currently reside in Washington, DC. My academic background (h/t to Dickinson College) is in environmental studies and history—that is, I find myself drawn to ways of thinking that insist upon nuance as they examine interconnectedness.
I am enamored by plants. On my windowsills I have an orchid, an oxalis, a Christmas cactus, an aloe, a prayer plant, and a pilea. I look forward to one day tending a vegetable garden again. For now, I name aloud every tree, shrub, and flower that I recognize on walks around the neighborhood.
Other important things: I identify as queer (Let’s hear it for the aces!). The Holy Spirit is my favorite part of the Trinity. I am low-key zealous about the goodness of beans.
Photo credit: Suzanne McCarthy
Embroidery credit: Caly McCarthy
FAQs
(Click for a whole bevy of information to unfold)
Q: What is your favorite legume?
A: I love many of them, but chickpeas have claimed a special part of my heart. I also have a real fondness for lentils.
Q: What are your pronouns?
A: she/her
Q: What are you doing right now professionally?
A: I serve as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for Fairtrade America.
Q: Whose words of poetry have captured your spirit?
A: Time and again, I find myself returning to Wendell Berry and to Mary Oliver. I also really appreciate how Ross Gay crafts his essayettes in The Book of Delight—they’re prose, but they have a lyricism and a deep seeing of the ordinary, which, by me, is the essence of poetry.
Q: What is your position on dog-earring books?
A: I used to think that it was desecration, but now I consider it the highest form of compliment, especially when paired with thoughtful marginalia (the OG asynchronous conversation).
Q: What brings you joy?
A:
1. Washing my dishes by hand with the assistance of two basins that fit just so in my sink. While scrubbing and rinsing, I sing along to a CD by John Mayer, or Lizzo, or Rachael Weasley, or Andrea Bocelli. It works quite well because running the faucet is loud, but once the basins are filled, that’s a moot point. All at once I’m singing, bringing order, and feeling the goodness of warm water.
2. Being surprised by people’s thoughtfulness (like when I got sick, and my elderly parents walked thirty minutes to bring me a pint of Phish Food ice cream).
3. That very first moment when I realize that one of my houseplants is beginning to bud after a quieter season of dormancy.
Q: Are you on Instagram?
A: Intermittently, yes--at the handle: @caly_mcccarthy.
Q: Where have you contributed your energy in the past?
A: I have worked and volunteered in a beautiful array of places, including but not limited to: an organic CSA, a college archive, a Smithsonian curatorial department, a locally owned hardware store, a biodynamic seed company, a global forest research network, a progressive church, and an independent card and gift shop. Curious about the nitty gritty timeline and task breakdown of my work experience? I refer you to my LinkedIn profile.
Contact
Please feel welcome to be in touch (greetings.caly@gmail.com) for any of the following reasons:
- You resonate with my words and want to help me share them more widely.
- You are desperate to cook more beans but don’t know where to start.
- You’d love to collaborate on a project.
- You heard that I have a soft spot for conducting oral histories and would like to talk more.
- You have a question that you think I can answer.
- You are a person of goodwill who would like to say hello.
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*Practical note: I am actively submitting pieces (both poetry and prose) to be considered for publication, and as I am successful, I will post them here. Also, rejection is the name of the writing game. Which is to say, fear not, I won't be spamming your inbox.