To care for the earth, Annabelle and I grabbed gloves, a biodegradable trash bag, and my camera . . . I figure I better catch her on film now–while she’s still young and enthusiastic about picking up garbage in our neighborhood and park. First we made our way up to the neighborhood park where to my delight and surprise, we saw little garbage. We then trekked across a large field and out to the road where, along the sidewalk, much debris was to be found.
Annabelle insisted on carrying the bag.
Then she needed to figure out how to keep her gloves on . . .
still working on the gloves . . .
Gloves on! Now to find some trash . . .
Found some! In the bag it goes . . .
And that was how we spent our morning caring for the earth. Annabelle was so excited to have picked up trash that when her dad came home, she told him all about it, and then, later that evening, while on the phone with her grandma, she proudly exclaimed, “I picked up garbage today!” I can only imagine what my husband’s mom thinks when she hears I have my 2 year old working outside on summer days, searching for trash. But honestly, she loves it! Not only did she insist on holding the bag but she insisted on picking up each piece of debris we found (though I stepped in when it came to glass and cigarette butts).
I’m kind of thinking that picking up trash, which is a favorite past time of mine, could become our new thing . . . sort of like a scavenger hunt where the treasure is a cleaned up earth. Now that’s my idea of good fun.
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I couldn’t think of a cuter uniform for trash pickup!
I was thinking about this the other day as I drove in to SCSU. I saw so much trash on the sidewalks, and I know it’s going to get washed into storm drains and right into the ocean. Picking it up is a great start, but I was really thinking about how to prevent it. Anti-litering campaigns haven’t seemed to work. I guess it’s just a consumerist thing. We live in such a throw away society that people don’t seem to care about tossing things out. I guess change starts at home, right?
If you do this again, we’ll come with you!
this is so inspiring.
Abbie, to be honest, the neighborhood and town we live in is so active in keeping our grounds clean and working towards a healthy environment (google Reston, VA and you’ll find lots of info on various environmental programs we have here. In fact, NWF is in my backyard and many, many families have devoted their yards to the NWF). I’ve considered working with our town to adopt a spot though I like the informal commitment of simply picking up trash around our townhouse community and neighboring streets. So far as S.C.S.U. goes, why not contact the student environmental group about setting up an anti-litering campaign? I remember last year I made a consistent effort at our YMCA that I was not happy that they did not recycle; after several weeks of receiving notes from me, they finally implemented a program that makes me smile every time I walk by it. One person can make a difference . . . at least, I’m pretty certain of that.
Melody, for sure!
Prasanna, um, who do you think inspired me to start picking up trash in the first place? You and Annabelle of course!
Great idea! There’s a local stream that could use a clean-up, you’ve inspired me to load up my crew.
And I love the costume Annabelle is wearing. :)
Amber and Abbie, we’d just come home from Annabelle’s ballet and tap class, so she just wanted to wear that to pick up garbage, :-)
Also, I think it’s a great thing for us and our kids to get them involved in earth care clean up. They’re just naturals at it.
I just started reading beyond the You Capture post. How sweet that you’re doind a whole month of Days of You & Me. My 5 yo loves to do this on the way to pick up big sister from school. Also I love all the shots of the painting!
Dcan, glad to be in the company of others who like to pick up garbage. Fun stuff, isn’t it?
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