Adventures in Powell River: What is trash bashing, and how can you get involved?
I’m a little addicted to picking up trash, and before you say I’m a little strange, I’m not the only one. Recently, a group of us set out to scour the coastline of Okeover Inlet and beyond for debris washed up over the winter. It’s an annual event sponsored by Active Malaspina Mariculture Association (AMMA).
Early in the day and we’ve already found a pool!
We spent the day on the water and on the beaches, gathering and loading, collecting and hauling.
André knows a good eye and a bucket make for good beachcombing.
We went to great lengths trying to retrieve what’s been left behind.
It was a good effort by Chris but this pulley system will have to be retrieved another day.
Natural beauty and treasures were among our discoveries.
Patterns of nature.
With surprises if you looked closely.
Lily-of-the-Valley found in an abandoned garden in Okeover.
And time for a little fun.
A zunga in the wilderness!
At the end of the day, everyone returned home safely, muscles tired but with laden boats.
Home after a long day.
Once the cargo was sorted and anything re-usable set aside, we all enjoyed a hearty BBQ hosted by AMMA. It was a satisfying and worthwhile day.
Re-usables among the refuse.
Much like Trash Bash. Trash Bash, organized by Let’s Talk Trash team and supported by local governments, service groups, and businesses, is the day every year when an army of volunteers fans out across the Powell River region and hauls back garbage dumped where it has no business being dumped. This year was the 10th annual Trash Bash and for the first time, people were encouraged to bring in their own unwanted residential items like mattresses, fridges, tires, etc.
This year, the day started out wet as rain misted down and made everything heavier. Some volunteers scoured city streets, others ventured out into the back country. Bob and I kept within city limits, focusing on the pole line and roads that connect residential areas. We encountered others like us, and exchanged a nod and a wave–a shared bit of camaraderie among Trash Bashers. Passersby honked and waved in encouragement. We even met a herd of goats on the border between Cranberry and Townsite. That was a first!
Goats!
Soon after the goat sighting, the skies cleared to gift us with the perfect spring day. The highly-organized Willingdon drop-off site was buzzing with activity as army cadets directed traffic and site volunteers helped unload and sort.
A steady convoy lines up at Willingdon.
Ecossentials prepared a free lunch of steelhead trout, carrot coleslaw, and kale soup for volunteers.
A healthy lunch hits the spot.
It’s hard work but the community spirit is especially strong on these days. It shines in the faces of the people who all share a common love for this area, this place we call home.
Angie Davey
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