Our Daily Ocean: Day 208

The past couple of weeks, I have been rocking out beach cleanups and moving forward with my goal to complete this beach cleanup project late next summer.  BUT... With rain and having a rib out (OUCH!) last week, I didn't make it to the beach once!  

So I'm working on getting back into the swing of things... and on Sunday, my husband and I did our first cleanup together in a very long time!  Turns out that even after him taking a long break in picking up litter on the beach... he still has an eye for it.  Though... good news!.... once again, there wasn't much to find! 

Interesting/disturbing fact:  During the 2013 International Coastal Cleanup... volunteers removed 958,893 caps/lids!  That's 958,893 times that people had the opportunity to do the right thing and instead way too many times that people got it wrong.  It makes me wonder why with all the data for just one day, that this whole Ocean Conservancy ICC hasn't become a HUGE catalyst for creating major change especially when it comes to extended producer responsibility.  Hmmm... 

Curiosity is ruling me right now.  

20 minutes on October 13, 2013 at Access 23

Litter by weight: 1.1 oz

Cigarette butts: 41

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 208 days:

56,108

Our Daily Ocean: Day 207

Plastic.  It's the most ubiquitous type of litter that I find.   It doesn't matter if I pick up 10 pounds or less than an ounce of litter... plastic is always there.  From wrappers, to cigarette butts to wine corks and on... plastic is the number one thing I find over and over again.

In the early stages of doing consistent beach cleanups, it was this reality that pulled at me to create personal changes to use less plastic.  Starting then and continuing to my now... I continually ask myself 

"How can I be part of the solution?  How can I contribute and help solve this problem?"

One of the best ways I have found that I can contribute is by living by example.  Making changes to live using less plastics and in turn showing others what is possible.  Not long ago, my friend Beth and plastic-free hero asked me to write a post for her blog My Plastic-Free Life on how I ask for what I want.  Take a peak inside my refrigerator and pantry... and read how I speak up to use less plastic here: 

Advice from Danielle-- How to Ask for What You Want 

20 minutes on October 4, 2013 at Access 25

Litter by weight: .7oz

Cigarette butts: 15

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 207 days:

56,067

Our Daily Ocean: Day 206

My family and I were supposed to go camping this weekend... but, with the government shutdown and subsequent closure of national parks and forests (humph) we rescheduled our plans for another weekend.  So on Thursday, instead of sitting around a campfire at our new favorite campsite, we hung out at our favorite spot at Wrightsville Beach.

Of course, we did a beach clean up.  And what is seeming to be the norm for my most recent beach cleanups... there wasn't much to pick up.

What there was a lot of on the beach were jellyfish.  Moon jellies to be exact.  They were washing up onto the sand as we walked and played.  My kids kept yelling, "Look!  Mom!  Plastic!"  ...and then they would laugh as if they had tricked me.  But then something amazing happened.  My youngest son picked up a small moon jelly up and threw it back into the ocean.

Then my daughter joined in.  And as we walked by a group of people and they saw what my kids were doing... they too got brave and with a t-shirt they picked up a jellyfish and threw it back into the ocean.  I felt like I was witnessing the starfish story with my very own eyes and it made me one proud mama.

20 minutes on October 3, 2013 at Access 39

Litter by weight: 7.3 oz
Cigarette butts: 41

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 206 days:

56,052

Our Daily Ocean: Day 205

Having done over 200 beach cleanups, I'm always grateful for the days when I can walk the beach relaxed.... eyes focused on the sand and not find much to pick up.

I found the piece of plastic (pictured above) very intriguing.  Through my eyes, it looks like someone took the time to tie the plastic so it wouldn't blow away in the wind... yet, it got left on the beach.  Hmmm.....

Want to help clean up our world?  It's easier than making sure your trash gets thrown away.  The best way to help clean up our world is to not make so much trash.

One word: Refuse

20 minutes on October 1, 2013 at Access 15

Litter by weight: 1.1 oz
Cigarette butts: 22

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 205 days:

56,105

Our Daily Ocean: Day 204

As I'm moving forward with my goal to complete my 365th beach clean up on August 9, 2014... I'm finding myself settling back into my beach cleanup groove.  AND, I'm really enjoying it.  I realize that earlier in the year I truly needed a break... but now... it feels so good to be back.

Sometimes what we see on the surface is only a small fraction of the issue.  Case in point, this seemingly small piece of plastic I picked up at Wrightsville Beach on Monday.  As I pulled, I realized that the majority of the plastic was underneath the sand.... and it turned out to be a bag that once held ice.

Did you know that there is a way around plastic bags of ice?  I mean besides making your own... which if you need to fill a large cooler may take a long time.  There's a company called "Ice House America" that has bulk ice machines.  Take your cooler and fill with ice... no plastic bag to throw away!  Want to see if there's a bulk ice machine near you?  Check out their website here.

20 minutes on September 30, 2013 at Access 29

Litter by weight: 5.4 oz
Cigarette butts: 46

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 204 days:

56,083

Our Daily Ocean: Day 203

I have no doubts of the powers of the ocean.  Whether I'm in the water or on the shore... just being near the ocean has such a positive effect on me.  It always just feels good...  

"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul." ~Wyland

I'm grateful that 14 years ago, we made the decision to move from landlocked St. Louis and find our way to this beautiful coastal town.  There's no place I'd rather be... 

Find a place you love.  Cherish it.  Protect it. 

20 minutes on September 29, 2013 at Access 40

Litter by weight: 1.3 oz

Cigarette butts: 26

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 203 days:

56,037

Our Daily Ocean: Day 202

Back in 2010, months before I started this beach cleanup project, I  became aware of a local nonprofit called Ocean Cure that did free charity surf camps for at risk youth and those who are medically fragile.  Impressed by the idea, I (along with my husband) quickly signed up to volunteer.  We didn't know the founders... we didn't know anyone else volunteering.  But it was something that we felt so inspired by that we knew we wanted to support Ocean Cure in any way that we could.

A few months after our first volunteering experience with Ocean Cure, we became fast friends with the founder-- Kevin.  We quickly learned that Kevin is the type of person who gives without expectation... and he gives so much of his time and energy to helping those who normally couldn't get in the water the opportunity to do so.  AND... his nonprofit Ocean Cure does it for free.

Ocean Cure measures their success by the smiles they create.  And let me tell you... they are definitely succeeding!   

But, they don't just do free surf camps for those in need!  They also participate in and organize beach and waterway cleanups!  I love that Ocean Cure understands and acts on the knowledge that in order to enjoy our beaches and oceans, we need to keep them clean, protect them and nourish them!  Because Ocean Cure encompasses philanthropy and environmentalism... they are definitely my favorite local nonprofit!  If you'd like to volunteer, participate, donate or just learn more about Ocean Cure... please take the time to check out their website and go "like" them on Facebook.

Also, my friend Kim of Big Strong Girl Designs will donate $10 to Ocean Cure with purchase of this "together we are an ocean" copper cuff from her etsy shop.

20 minutes on September 24, 2013 at Access 39

Litter by weight: 2.3 oz

Cigarette butts: 49

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 202 days: 

56,011

Our Daily Ocean: Day 201

On Monday afternoon, while my daughter was at dance, I set out to Wrightsville Beach to make good on my personal goal of doing a beach cleanup as often as I could.  Wanting to do my 365th beach cleanup on August 9, 2014 is going to take focus, planning and commitment. 

Something I rarely mention is that the commitment is about more than just doing a beach cleanup.  Anyone who has taken the time to document beach cleanups, knows what I'm talking about.  The commitment for me involves a 20 minute drive to the beach, 20 minute cleanup, 20 minute drive home and the time to weigh, sort, and document.

  This is not a once a year beach cleanup. This is a portrait of a beach.... through the days, weeks and months of the year.  These small beach cleanups are how a lightbulb effectively got switched on for me.    My friend Harry (aka The Flotsam Diaries) just wrote a fantastic piece for the Portland Press Herald blog titled, "The International Coast Cleanup-- Bigger Isn't Better".  He writes:

"...have everyone get down in the sand, picking every last piece of garbage they can, til nobody can pick up one more scrap. Get in there with them. Make the beach spotless. Make it shine. Take a picture to remember how it looks spotless. Smile.

Then, gather your group at the same beach not in a year, but in a week.

There is nothing more jarring to the system than seeing a place you broke your back caring for, trashed again while the soreness of your effort is still in your limbs.

There’s nothing better to drive the point home that it’s time for a change."

Coastal Cleanup Day was on Saturday and I did this cleanup on Monday.  This is reality. 

It's time for change.

20 minutes on September 23, 2013 at Access 36

Litter by weight: 7.3 oz

Cigarette butts: 137

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 201 days:

55,962

Our Daily Ocean: Day 200

This is a true story.  I almost bailed on International Coastal Cleanup Day.  It's not an inspiring truth, but it's the truth nonetheless.  As volunteers were cleaning Wrightsville Beach this morning, I was contemplating my going to the beach.  It was raining and there was a triathlon going on.  And I wasn't feeling like braving either, so I gave myself a pass.  Then synchronicity happened.  I ended up talking to a friend and through our conversation I remembered why I should go to the beach.  Some friends are just so amazing that they help us see things clearly without even trying ;) 

So my 3 kids and I went to do our 200th 20 minute beach cleanup at Wrightsville Beach on Coastal Cleanup Day, on the last day of summer.  Admittedly, I'm a little sad to see summer go... but I'm feeling like the change of seasons is the perfect time to seize the opportunity for change.  Transition into creating a goal for myself.

Last year, I made the decision to continue this beach clean up project all the way to 365 non-consecutive beach cleanups.  With this being my 200th... I have 165 more to go!  I've been thinking about when I'd like to have the project completed... and as my friend and I were talking about this today and doing some math... look out now! ... I've decided to put it out there that I am going to refocus my energy and am setting a goal to complete my 365th beach cleanup on August 9, 2014.

I realize this goal means that I'm going to have to hit the beach more regularly (like 3-4 times a week) and honestly I don't even know how possible that will always be.  But.... one thing that I do know is that I will never know if I don't try.  FILDI

20 minutes at Access 16 on September 21, 2013

Litter by weight: 6 oz

Cigarette butts: 57

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 200 days: 

55,825

Our Daily Ocean: Day 199

Friday evening, my family and I planned to go to Wrightsville Beach and for the first time in a long time... our plans didn't get interrupted by rain!!  Blue skies and the sun was shining bright!!  So, of course, we took a picnic dinner and spent our evening surfing, swimming, snorkeling and relaxing at Wrightsville Beach!

Because we love where we live SO much... we take time while we're enjoying the beach to give a little back.  Picking up litter for 20 minutes doesn't take much time, but (as I've learned over the course of this project)... it's just enough time to make a difference.

While we not only pick up litter off the beach to help keep it clean... we also (in the case of things like beer caps) save fellow beach goers feet some potential pain.

One of my kids' favorite things to find during our beach cleanups is the little army men.  I've never bought any, but thanks to finding one every now and then... my kids have themselves a nice little collection.  And to add to their collection... a first for us.... a pirate!  Arrgh!

Oh and a reminder:  When trying to make the world a better place, don't get lost in the enormity of whatever it is that you're attempting to do...

Always make time for fun. :)

20 minutes on August 23 at Access 38

Litter by weight: 1 lb 8.3 oz
Cigarette butts: 94

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 199 days:

55,768