August 28, 2015 - Beach Cleanup #381

beach cleanup #381
tower 26 - Santa Monica, CA
trash collected for 20 min.
5.3 pounds
1,405 pounds total

After talking to someone yesterday about speaking at the Long Beach Aquarium for a private event in October, I got a bust of energy to go out for a beach cleanup. 

It had been awhile since I felt the inspiration to go out. Not that I don't love The Daily Ocean, I do. But juggling motherhood, and writing doesn't leave me with a lot of juice to go down to the beach around sunset. I emphasize doing what you can with the time that you have. And perhaps I have to accept that in the last year and a half (my daughter is 19 months) I haven't felt like donating a lot of time to this. That has to be okay. It's over six years ago now that I started this beach cleanup project. My life has changed a lot in six years. How about yours?

When I think it's been pretty quiet for awhile in The Daily Ocean area of my life, someone will contact me about my work. It's just the energizing force I need. I am reminded that I love doing this. 

Five people stopped to thank me last night as I did my cleanup. One woman had a little pile she'd collected that she was going to throw away later. I added it to my bag for her. People care. It's a great feeling when I'm reminded of this. 

If you live in Southern California, it's too darn hot this week. Why not pack a reusable water bottle rather than a plastic one when heading to the beach this weekend? It's one simple, clear way to make a difference. 

Beach Cleanup and Biodiversity Project Windward High

On May 16th I met students from Windward School at the Venice Beach Pier for a cleanup.

Their project is Plastic Pollution in the biodiversity of Los Angeles. 

We found the usual suspects.

(Ava, Juliana and Zander)

Halfway through our cleanup our bags were pretty full. 

Our total was 17 pounds collected from the beach 

in 30 minutes by 8 people. 

Meet "Trashy the Turtle" made from about 200 pieces of trash off of Venice Beach. 

They presented their biodiversity projects today and invited me to come check it out. I was happy to come by to support their thoughtful and inspiring project. Thanks for including me! 

(Sophia, Mirabelle, Ava and Juliana)

Congratulations on a job well done. Thanks for adopting a beach. See you at the next beach cleanup!

April 25, 2015 - Beach Cleanup #380

beach cleanup #380

tower 26 - Santa Monica, CA

trash collected for 20 min. 

.5 pounds

1,399.7 pounds total 

30 MPH WINDS

The winds were whipping over the sand. I didn't expect to find a lot of trash. I was right. This is my kind of beach cleanup. See the small plastic-looking round shapes with blue along the bottom? These are By-The-Wind Sailors jellyfish, or Velella velella's. More on the mass stranding of them below...

All along California's coast there are thousands of these little jellies littering the sand. Here's a National Geographic article with beautiful photos of the BILLIONS that have washed up along the United States West coast over the last several weeks. This happens every three to six years says their article. 

The Daily Ocean featured on KCRW radio

The KCRW radio interview link 

Brigid Kelly produced this radio piece about The Daily Ocean that aired on our local NPR station last week. I'm so grateful for the thoughtfulness and humor she highlighted. She did a fantastic job. Here's more about Brigid. Thank you!

Mary's Community Count Beach Cleanups!

My friend Mary chose The Daily Ocean to fufill community service requirements for her college course. You can do this too! Just let me know and we'll arrange it. 

THANK YOU MARY!

Thank you for inspiring me to do beach clean-ups. I'm so glad you created The Daily Ocean. It was such a learning experience. My favorite things are when people would say thank you and we would share a moment as complete strangers over the love for the Earth and Ocean. 

I loved when me picking up trash would inspire other people to join in. 

Just like how you have inspired me. Good is contagious.

The hardest parts were finding a way for it to fit into my schedule, but the 20 mins always gave my mental mind a break. It's just 20 mins! 

I am much more conscious of trash in general now, and I do not think I will stop doing these mini beach clean-ups. I think they are very good for the soul. Even during midterms and working 30+ hours a week while going to school full-time. When I'm stressed out about classes, etc it would just feel really good going home knowing that I did something right that day.

Sometimes the world can be overwhelming and its hard to stay open when seeing all of the Ocean's pain because I love it so much. It is such a relief to know I am able to do something, even as small as it is to ease a little of the weight.

Total weight cleaned up:

33 pounds!!!!

Here are my notes on them:

Daily ocean

1. Miami- 4lbs

2. Emmamar- 2lbs

3. The point- 1 pound 12 ounces

4. The pier- 1.75 pounds

5. Surfers point- 1 lbs

6. Surfers Point- 17 oz

7. Solimar- 13.5 lbs

8. Surfers point- 1lbs

9. Surfers point- 1lbs

10. State beach- 3 lbs 12 oz

11. Surfers point: 2 lbs

12. Malibu- 1lbs

Jan. 9 - First Cleanup of 2015

beach cleanup #379

tower 26 - Santa Monica, CA

trash collected for 20 min. 

3.1 pounds tonight

1,399.2 pounds total 

Our daughter Willow did not pick up any trash. She hung out with her Dad while I picked up our loot. 

We found the usual suspects….

and some more of the same...

But being together out on the beach at the beginning of the year doing a cleanup was wonderful. 

We were a little busy last year. If you have ideas for how The Daily Ocean could grow beyond beach cleanups please contact me.

@thedailyocean on twitter

the daily ocean - fb

or leave a message below. 

Happy New Year to you all! May it be a healthy and happy new year for our oceans too!