Teri Arnold

I've enjoyed participating in this event again this year.  One thing I did notice different than the last time - while participating did heighten my awareness of the use of plastics and their damage to our environment, it also heightened my dread at how pervasive they are and the huge task ahead of us to change the way we live on this planet.  It takes a team - a BIG TEAM, grateful to be part of a small team that is part of the BIG TEAM.  Go Team!

One more day to go.  It has been good to participate in the challenge this year. Keeps me mindful of my eco-footprint.

Headed to the beach for a morning walk - beach clean up! 

I Reeeally wanted to pick up a straw at the Essential yesterday.  Instead I remembered that I had a permanent collapsible one in my bag - SWAG compliments of North Carolina Zoo from a meeting my husband had attended. The straw is in the bottom of the pic - not fully extended and the top of the pic is the little case for storing. You can see the clip for easy attachment to something!   

 

It's a stay-home-day today so picking up garbage/plastic on my beach walk.  Delighted that I am finding less refuse and less small bits of plastic.  That's good for Resurrection Bay.  

Watched a Nat Geo episode Sunday on TV about the Celebes Sea. It's a piece of an ancient ocean basin that formed 42 million years ago.  About 20, 000 feet deep. The crew was filming at 10,000 feet on a ledge - there was excitement as the narrator explained the importance of the abundance of plankton in this sea and that it maybe the birthplace - incubator for many species that are dispersed over the worlds oceans.  Exciting as the camera roved with lights on at the 10,000 depth to see what critters they might find....and then the total dismay to the crew as they discovered a large garbage pile there - believed to be piled up in that particular spot by a current carrying it there and settling it on the bottom.  They said there is likely a pile like that on the bottom of the ocean outside of every major population hub on the planet.  I'm grateful to those who are sponsoring this plastic free eco-challenge and grateful to be a participant. 

I went to town today to check out the new Taqueria.  Simple but nice and food the same quality as we've come to expect at The Cookery.  Cool thing is all of the eco-friendly take-out containers they are using.  I saw Stacey and she told me they worked with Sustainable Seward Group when in the planning phase.  High Five to Stacey and Kevin and we welcome this new option in town!  

Walking the beach today and picking up litter and little pieces of plastic in the tide line.  

I had a reply to my question posted yesterday. In her response Krystina mentioned a group called "Buy Nothing."  Does anyone know if we have something like this in Seward.  It sounds like it's a place where you can take things to be re-used (other than a typical second hand shop like we have), like the large collection I have of rubber bands that I mentioned in my previous post. 

I joined because it is a team effort and while I always strive to be eco-conscious I know it is much easier, and at times more rewarding to be part of team sharing.  I chose the actions I did because it looked like an easy place to start and I wanted to be successful in this effort and gain the encouragement to continue that goes with that.