On a lazy Sunday afternoon, I lay in a hammock as the clouds drift by over the island. As I finish my book, I look up at the two amazing trees supporting me. Not only are they holding my weight above the ground, but are also giving me fresh oxygen to breathe. They reduce the erosion of the island where I work. Even deeper, they challenge my mind and my being to think in new and creative ways. They stand as testaments to time and wisdom.
Plastisphere: The Newest Biome
On my many walks along the beach of Thompson Island in the Boston Harbor, I feel both separate and connected to the population on the mainland. Our boat only travels to the island a few times a day and since I can't walk across water, going into the city is not part of a daily ritual. On the other hand, we share the same water. In just a short time the water from the mainland will travel past me on the island and out to sea. Along with that water will be an unwanted gift: trash.
I could easily pick up a full garbage ball full of trash every time I walk on the beach. While it is depressing to see and live in trash every day, I read an article many years ago that gave me hope about life on this planet: Life in the "Plastisphere."