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Often individuals have to seek a creative new ways to inspire their local community to take action for local environmental issues cause that they are passionate about. The employees and customers of Dallas’s Mockingbird Whole Earth Provisions are attempting to do exactly that. They are using their creative spark to really galvanize our local community by building a trash barge. What exactly is a trash barge you may ask? I talked to Whole Earth Provision’s employee Ryan Oldreive to find out more.
It turns out that for over 3 years the employees of the Mockingbird store have been deeply involved in the “For the Love of the Lake” non- profit that strives to keep White Rock Lake clean and trash free for everyone to enjoy. Whole Earth Provisions have been such passionate supporters that they have even officially adopted a piece of shoreline on the North West side of the lake. Every month employees gather to clean trash from adjacent parking lots that collects in the lake. Ryan informs that because of the wind flows and water currents, their particular stretch of shoreline is a real trash magnet. Additionally, it’s a difficult area to keep clean because the water level is well below the edge of the bank. However, the Whole Earth Employees are creative and passionate, so they simply use their kayaks to grab a hold of trash from the water instead of trying to just collect trash from standing on the bank.
But their passion and creativity does not stop there. When one of the employees heard an NPR story about an Island made out of trash, he was inspired to build a trash barge. The employees are gathering trash (mostly plastic bottles) that they find when cleaning the lake and trash that has been donated by employees, friends and customers. They will use this trash to build a barge they can tow with their kayaks when they are cleaning their adopted portion of White Rock Lake’s shoreline. The barge will not just be made out of trash and recycled products, but it will be used to help clean up the lake, showcase the trash that is being found in the lake and perhaps most importantly inspire others to get involved and keep White Rock Lake a little cleaner. For information about the trash barge stop by or contact Whole Earth Provisions located at 5400 E Mockingbird Ln # 110, Dallas, TX 75206-5381.
