Welcome to Wrightsville Beach, the first smoke-free beach in North Carolina!!! We worked hard to make it happen and we're "thumbs up" happy about it! I'd like to express my personal gratitude to everyone who took the time to write the NC legislature asking them to oppose SB703 and preserve our smoke-free outdoor spaces. Thank YOU so very very much!!
Ok... so onto last night's record low clean up... what? wait... what's that? Yup, I said it (again). Record low cigarette butt count. My friend Tracy and I did a 20 minute beach clean up while our kids played. The two of us together picked up 14 cigarette butts at Access 39.
Curious about how this compares to past clean ups at Access 39?
I have always believed that smoke-free beach ordinances help reduce cigarette litter... but to see it happening already... I'm thrilled!!
On another note, sea turtle nesting season is upon us again! (yay!) That means the WB Sea Turtle Project Volunteers will be spending their early mornings walking the beach in search of turtle tracks. As they walk the beach, many volunteers pick up litter. Since 2009, they have removed 2,284 bags of trash from Wrightsville Beach. You can follow along with them on their blog WB Keep It Clean
When Tracy found that piece of coral it made me think about how it's a lot more fun finding beautiful mementos of nature than it is to find plastics and other trash. As my friend Ginger says:
"A clean beach means a healthier ocean in which sea turtles and other life can swim and live and play freely."
20 minutes on May 16, 2013 at Access 39
Litter by weight: 3.7 oz
Cigarette butts: 14
Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 185 days:
On Earth Day, I hesitantly went to Wrightsville Beach to do an Earth Day Beach Cleanup. I say "hesitantly" because the weather here had been really warm (almost summer-like), but over the weekend cold weather settled in with a chill. But as uncomfortable as I was with the lack of warmth... Earth Day is the day to get out, explore, rethink, and do more. So with my hoodie pulled tight to keep my ears warm, I began walking the beach and remembering my commitment.
Just as the New Year is a time to make resolutions, Earth Day is a day to resolve to do more to help protect and restore the world we live in. It's important to take the time to remember (or even to learn) that we are all connected on this planet... and that what is bad for the planet is bad for us. And what is inherently bad for us is bad for the planet. Nothing is separate. The air we breath is connected to the water we drink and the water we drink is connected to the earth on which we stand.
One thing that I haven't shared much about (or at all) on here is the local effort to help protect our air, water and children from the development of a cement plant in my area. It's a grassroots effort that has been going strong for 5 years now and it's important that our community continues to stand strong stopping Titan for the health of our children, our families, our air and our water.
On Sunday, April 28 @ 2:30pm come join the Stop Titan community at Tidal Creek Coop. There'll be live music, speakers and good company. For more info about the event:
"Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better place?' It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is 'How can I make it better?' To that there is an answer."
~ Leo Buscaglia
20 minutes on April 22, 2013 at Access 29
Litter by weight: 1 lb
Cigarette butts: 23
Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 184 days:
At the beginning of March, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to help kick-off "No Impact Week Greensboro" by giving a joint presentation on plastics and plastic-free living with Beth Terry and Bonnie Monteleone. I have yet to share about the experience here... but I will soon because it was an amazing experience for me on so many levels. One of the best parts of sharing what I do is connecting with like-minded people, inspiring them to do more and making new friends. On Friday, (thanks to that event in Greensboro) I met Marie with her baby on her back and her 2 year old daughter in hand!
Marie was visiting Wilmington over the weekend and had emailed me to see if we could meet at Wrightsville Beach to do a beach clean up. ABSOLUTELY! I can't say enough how much I love having company with me at the beach. Doing a beach clean up together is a great way to connect and make new friends. Which by the way, all of the friends that I've made is my most favorite thing about having started these beach cleanups.
I'm also grateful for the insight that doing beach cleanups has given me about my own purchasing habits and the power I have to help create change. Fed up with seeing the same products strewn all over Wrightsville Beach day after day, I've made personal changes to become part of the solution. Plastic isn't so fantastic when it's used for mere minutes and thrown out. There's an easy solution to plastic straws. My personal solution is to say: "No straws please". It takes practice, but it's really that easy. Another solution is to use reusable straws. Check out GlassDharma and Strawesome
Teaching future generations to care for our planet is another solution.
Kids of any age can help clean up our world. Teach them to care for the places they love by doing a little clean up at their favorite park or beach.
Cleanups are an easy way for kids to get involved in making a difference in our world.
...and that's exciting to be a part of.
20 minutes on April 19, 2013 at Access 16
Litter by weight: 1 lb 1.7 oz
Cigarette butts: 100
Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 183 days:
The temperatures pushed past 80˚ today and as my kids spent their afternoon at Airlie Gardens doing their science class... I made my way to our adopted beach access at Wrightsville Beach. It's been what seems like forever (January 15) since I've been to Access 36 as I'm usually pretty tight on the amount of time I have... but today I had an abundance of time!
There's some big changes happening at Wrightsville Beach including the rebuilding of the weather-worn Crystal Pier. Since the pier has been a part of Wrightsville Beach for over 70 years, I'm super happy that the pier is being repaired and rebuilt even though I'm not a fan of the litter that blows off the pier from Oceanic restaurant. (hoping this year will be different!)
At least one thing will be different this year... and not to get excited too early... but today I had a record low cigarette butt count!! 25 cigarette butts in 20 minutes! Ok... ok... I know peak season isn't here just yet... but I'm happy nonetheless. Only time will tell if the smoke-free beach ordinance continually helps to significantly reduce cigarette litter at Wrightsville Beach. I'm optimistic :)
20 minutes on April 9, 2013 at Access 36
Litter by weight: 1 lb 6 oz Cigarette butts: 25
Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 182 days:
This morning, I met Ann aka Beach Chair Scientist with her husband and daughter at Johnnie Mercer's Pier. It was 46˚ and there was a brisk breeze... but the sky was a beautiful blue and the best part was that we had the beach to ourselves!
Since the weather isn't really reflecting the spring season yet... brrrr.... the beach still isn't getting a lot of beach goers (yet). So at first glance, the beach didn't really seem to have much litter at all. Little bits here and there, but nothing really noticeable... that is... until we really started looking.
As always, the majority of everything we found was plastic. In fact, out of the over 2 and a half pounds of litter we picked up, nearly all of it went into the trash and only 2 things went into my recycle bin-- a glass bottle and a plastic water bottle. It's important for me to say: If there's something you want to do to make a difference in our world, I would like to suggest taking the time to pay attention to the products you buy. Make a conscious decision to try something different. Rethink and refuse plastics....
The truth of the matter is, no matter who we are or where we live we are connected to each other and we are inexplicably connected to the ocean. The ocean may be this vast expanse... and like outer space... it's really another world that deserves exploration. The more we learn about the ocean and how we impact it, the more we will take steps to protect it... starting with ourselves. Beach Chair Scientist has a fantastic blog on all things ocean from facts about sea potatoes to watersheds to inspiring people who making a difference for our oceans.
Well... it's been another long stretch between clean ups... again. On some level, I used to feel guilty for not doing a beach cleanup at least once a week. But as I'm committed to doing 365 non-consecutive beach cleanups at Wrightsville Beach... I know that sometimes long stretches between cleanups are going to happen... and it's ok.
I also know that sometimes I need a little motivation to get me back on the beach. And there's no better motivation than sharing what I do with others. On Monday, Beth Terry of My Plastic-Free Life joined me at the south end of Wrightsville Beach for a 20 minute beach clean up before our Living Plastic-Free Presentation at UNCW!
Beth is a fantastic example of what one person can do to be a positive force for change. She's living a life with less a lot less plastic to show what is possible.... and I'm continually inspired by her. Let me get this out there: I love Beth because she leads by example, is super encouraging and never judges. Yup, she's my plastic-free hero that helps motivate me to do more!
During our 20 minutes, Beth and I stepped on sand spurs, picked up mostly plastics and chatted with the WB Park Ranger. We got to talking about Kehoe Beach (in Northern California) and the amount of plastics that wash in makes it impossible to truly "clean" the beach. If you're unfamiliar with Kehoe Beach, it's worth watching this video:
Anytime I am reminded of beaches where plastics are washing in from other places... I am also reminded that Wrightsville Beach is not suffering that same fate (yet). What we find at Wrightsville Beach is local. What's great about that is that WE can fix that locally. Two things I do to help are: change my personal shopping habits and beach cleanups.
Remember:
Solutions to global problems start at the local level.
20 minutes on March 11, 2013 at Access 43
Litter by weight: 10.7 oz Cigarette butts: 180
Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 180 days:
Eyes closed, smile... Best. Breakfast. Ever. No joke, it was so yummy that I could eat it every single day of my life. (this is not an exaggeration)
Berry Breakfast Bowl
1 banana
2 TBSP- 1/4 c almonds
handful (about 1/4 c) frozen strawberries*
handful (about 1/4 c) frozen blueberries*
handful (about 1/4 c) frozen blackberries*
1/4 - 1/2 cup apple juice (use less and add as needed to blend)
Ice cubes (optional, add to thicken)
Put all ingredients into a high speed blender (such as Vitamix). Blend until completely combined. Pour (err.. scrape) into a wide bowl or deep plate. I ate mine topped with granola, sliced banana, hemp seeds, chia seeds and chocolate chips. One serving.
*Plastic-free frozen berries? Yes. I picked the blackberries last summer, bought the blueberries from the farmers market last summer. I froze both the blackberries and blueberries on sheet pans and store in glass jars in my freezer. And Tidal Creek Coop now carries bulk frozen strawberries, raspberries and blueberries
For the past several years, I have been striving to reduce the amount of plastic that my family uses, recycles and throws away. It's something that I was motivated to do after reading the article "Our Oceans are Turning Into Plastic... Are We?". And then once I began doing consistent beach clean ups and documenting the (mostly plastic) litter I found on my local beach, my commitment to eliminating plastics strengthened even more. I've been sharing bits of what I do to reduce our plastic usage and this week, I will be sharing my story and personal tips to using less plastic at two different presentations-- Greensboro & Wilmington, NC-- with author Beth Terry and plastic researcher Bonnie Monteleone!
About the presentations:
Author Beth Terry will share her journey from self-confessed plastic addict to empowered plastic-free activist and explain why we can't just recycle our way out of this mess. She'll be joined by Wilmington mom Danielle Richardet, whose own quest to live a more plastic-free life led her to become involved in a successful campaign to keep cigarette butts off her local beach. Danielle will tell her story and share tips on ways to get kids involved in reducing plastic use. Special guest Bonnie Monteleone will briefly share her findings and experiences from traveling nearly 10,000 nm collecting over 200 ocean surface samples looking for plastics in four oceans. With scientists and activists, her research looks at plastics floating in some of the most remote regions in the world and why it matters. Beth Terry's book, Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too will be available for purchase and signing at the end of the event.
Ready to learn what one person can do to be part of the solution? Join us!
Also, the opening reception for Bonnie's art exhibit What Goes Around, Comes Around is on March 8 from 7-8 at Guilford College in Greensboro. I saw Bonnie's exhibit back in 2011, and was completely in awe of what she created. Read more here.
Have you ever opened an email, read it and thought to yourself, "This is important. I need to be there. Sign me up!" That's what immediately popped in my head back at the beginning of January when I opened the first email from 350.org about the Forward on Climate Rally in DC. My immediate desire to want to be there stemmed from this quality that I have about believing in the difference we can make together versus being one person. As individuals sure we can do a lot, but together... that's where amazing stuff happens.
Going to the Forward on Climate rally was a chance to let President Obama truly see how passionate and committed we are about him rejecting the Keystone Pipeline and moving our country away from dirty energy to clean renewable energy sources.
So on February 15, my family and I made the 5 1/2 hour drive to Washington, DC because we knew it was important for us to be there. Having never been to Washington, DC we spent Friday and Saturday going to museums, ice skating and touring our nation's capitol. Then on Sunday, we made our way to the Washington Monument to join the largest climate rally in history!
Walking to the Washington Monument was a sight to behold... people were streaming in from all directions... all headed to the same place-- Forward on Climate.
The temperatures hovered around freezing, the wind was biting and my kids were definitely affected by it all.... and expressing it. As we were crossing the street, a random act of kindness was bestowed upon us. A man overheard my kids say they were cold, reached in his pocket and as he gave me some hand warmers he said, "for your kids. hopefully they'll help warm them up." Unfortunately, the hand warmers or hot chocolate just couldn't get my kids past their cold feet. :( My husband decided to do the best thing for our three kids and took them to some museums to warm up while I stayed at the rally.
There I was in the middle of over 40,000 people...
I'll be honest, I was a little nervous when my family first left. Then just like that, I quickly realized that not only were these 40,000+ people passionate about our environment and clean energy... they were also SUPER friendly. The energy was unbelievable. The speakers were inspiring and moving... there's something about hearing someone else say what you've been thinking AND hearing those words loud and clear over a speaker system. You ever had that feeling where it feels like your heart is smiling? My heart was smiling. Being at the rally felt like everything was exactly as it should be. People coming together... really coming together for a common cause.
One thing that I often say about the issue of climate change is that it has no barriers. This movement is about everyone. Being at the rally, it was easy to see that this movement goes beyond race, religion, ethnicity, age, nationality... we're all connected in this great big beautiful world. And at the Forward on Climate Rally it really showed.
I saw first hand that there are a whole lot of people who care. People who want to make the world a better place. People who care about the future of our planet.
Were you at the rally? What did you think?
Oh yeah... check out this highlight video and be inspired.
We told Obama how we feel about the climate. Now he needs to hear it from our Senators, too!
This weekend, thousands will descend upon Washington DC to rally for the climate. To let President Obama know that together WE care about the future of our planet. That the threat of global warming is real and needs to be addressed with more than words...
We talk about being the change we wish to see in this world, but we all know that talk can only get us so far. In order to create change, we have to put what we talk about into action. Now is the time to do something. To stand up for something that matters. We can't do it alone and we can't wait for someone else to do it for us. We have to do it together.
On Sunday, my family and I will join 350.org, The Sierra Club, and many other groups for the Forward on Climate Rally in Washington, DC because I have no doubts that together we can help create real meaningful change...
What kind of difference can we make together versus being just one person?
