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Built a Quarter Mile of Oyster Reef in Mobile, Alabama

Kicking off the first event with chilly, overcast conditions on January 22^nd and 23^rd, over 500 volunteers from Alabama and across the country came together in Mobile bay to foster the beginnings of oyster reefs. 16,000 bags of oyster shells were carefully dispersed along the shore with the goal of building 100 new miles of oyster reefs and 1000 miles of replanted marshlands along the Gulf in Alabama to make Alabama’s coastal areas more resilient to impacts from hurricanes, oil spill accidents, and climate change. The work was the result of a collaboration of more than 20 public and private partners including National Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy and NOAA.

Restored Native Ground Cover at Bald Point State Park

Next, volunteers gathered at Bald Point State Park on Florida’s Gulf Coast.  Park Ranger Kevin Patton introduced us to our work site for the next two days and we successfully worked in teams and planted 5,000 wiregrass plugs and disperse a dozen bags of seed. Bald Eagles and other migrating raptors, along with monarch butterflies use this area to rest before continuing south for the winter.  It is imperative to keep these lands healthy. Additionally, the Florida Wildlife Federation gathered signatures to petition for a constitutional amendment to prohibit oil and gas drilling in Florida’s near-shore waters.

Restored Dunes to Protect Nesting Wildlife at Perdido Key State Park

Next up, dune restoration in Perdido Key, Florida!  Joined by over 75 volunteers including the US Navy and Air Force at Pensacola, combed the beach to protect the critical habitat of residential and migratory nesting wildlife such as turtles and birds!  As the oil washed up on miles of beaches along the Gulf Coast, Perdido Key, home of the endangered Beach Mouse felt heavy impacts. Volunteers worked as temperatures reached the high 80s to rebuild and protect an important dune boundary to help native grasses and habitat for nesting shore birds, turtles, and the native beach mouse.

Conserved Acres of Beach and Recreation Trails

On March 25^th our next event was about 2 hours East of Perdido Key at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. University of California at Berkley students dedicated their spring break time away from examinations and study sessions to engage in hands on restoration work on some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Joined by South Walton Community locals, we were able to accomplish clearing and marking 6 hiking trails, installing signs and effectively roping off over 3 miles of beach to protect the dunes and wildlife who nest there, and remove invasive exotic plant species to allow for native pitcher plant growth.

Restored the Marshes of Mississippi

Over 30 volunteers worked in Ansley Marsh which borders the Gulf and is a haven for migratory birds and many alligators.  Volunteers toiled in the sun with many insect friends to remove debris from Hurricane Katrina, plant marsh grasses and work on the removal of the very invasive Chinese tallow tree (popcorn tree).  The marsh is part of the gateway system protecting the open waters of the gulf from the shoreline homes of MS coastal communities.

Rebuilt Marsh in Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge

Last stop – West to Louisiana!  Tasked with planting over 20,000 grasses over two events (four days), National Wildlife Federation partnered with US Fish and Wildlife Service and  the Louisiana Wildlife Federation to make this goal a reality.  Just outside of New Orleans, Volunteers traveled to Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge to plant marsh grasses to restore lost habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife species.  This event almost fell exactly on the one year mark of the Gulf oil disaster. Ben Weber, NWF’s Oil Spill Response Coordinator for the Western Gulf said “Heightened public awareness, volunteer enthusiasm and support from NWF members is making a big impact.” On April 15^th and 16^th and over Memorial Day weekend, volunteers worked in high water levels on uneven muck and mud to space plants across the water five feet apart.  Mary Swantek who traveled with a group of 15 volunteers weighed in on her experience, “Working in the marsh just outside of New Orleans was a once in a life time experience.  We not only took an air boat ride to get to the work site but were surrounded by all kinds of wildlife, it was absolutely beautiful.  Crawling in 4 to 6 inches of water and planting marsh grasses was a bit intimidating at first but with adrenaline running high we were all there for one reason… to protect these lands and protect wildlife!” Margaret Mead once said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.   Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Having had the opportunity to organize and travel to work hands on at several of these events, this quote takes on a new meaning for me.  The level of commitment, enthusiasm, and dedication to wildlife and wild spaces from volunteers who traveled near and far to work with National Wildlife Federation is astounding.  It is indisputable that our hard work from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, to Florida made a difference to local habitat and wildlife.

UPDATE: On June 25, 50 volunteers planted 1,600 black mangroves in Grand Isle, LA as part of the the Gulf Coast recovery effort.

This Upcycled Piping Plover was made by Michelle Fahmy of Wandering Needles out of three different second-hand sweaters and a cotton shirt.

This week marks the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The ecosystems in and surrounding the Gulf are still being affected by the disaster and will be for years to come. What are you doing about it?

Your small individual contribution may seem insignificant and hardly worth the effort to you, but it’s not. Add all those small donations, gestures, mentions and movements up and suddenly you will see big change.

I believe that one person can make a difference. We can all be that person.

Helping Wildlife Through Crafts

Last year I decided I could make a difference. I started creating and selling eco-friendly bags made from upcycled jeans. I gave half the proceeds from the sales to organizations fundamental in helping wildlife in the Gulf. It was fun and I raised a couple hundred dollars for the organizations, much more than I would have been able to afford otherwise.

Inspired by the small difference I made, I decided to take my project a step further. I was determined that I could get celebrities to donate their pants to my cause. It worked!

This Upcycled Bag was made from actress Alyssa Milano's jeans. Check out the auction on Facebook to place a bid.

Celebrities Donate Their Pants to the Cause

Though Twitter, with a lot of time, patience, and persistence, I managed to catch the attention of Alyssa Milano (Who’s the Boss, Charmed) and Keith Powell (30 Rock).

At the time, both Alyssa and Keith were advocating for the National Wildlife Federation. Alyssa requested that the bags I made from her pants be sold in an online auction to benefit the NWF.

As the time drew near to start planning the auction, I decided there was still more I could do. I started contacting other eco-friendly crafters and asking them to donate items they made to so we could raise even more money for the National Wildlife Federation. Crafters from all over the United States and even a few from Australia sent items to be included.

Place Your Bids! Upcycled Auction

There are 35 items in the Upcycled by Ash auction that is currently running on the Upcycled by Ash Facebook page.  Most of the donations are handcrafted and eco-friendly. Individually these contributions may appear small and insignificant, but when you see them all together as a group, they are quite impressive. It feels good to do good, and it feels great to inspire others to do the same.

Please take the time to visit the Upcycled by Ash auction to benefit the National Wildlife Federation. Whether you place a bid or simply share the link with your friends your action makes a difference. Help us help the National Wildlife Federation today.

• More about the Upcycled by Ash auction
• See the auction on Facebook

The National Wildlife Federation and the national tree-planting and youth education organization, Erthnxt, have combined forces to further environmental literacy, youth volunteerism, habitat restoration, and reversing global warming.  Our joint aim is to provide opportunities for scouting and youth groups across America to learn how they can make a difference by planting and caring for trees.

“Erthnxt and its Trees For The 21st Century program share a common purpose with NWF in confronting global warming, protecting and restoring habitats and connecting people and nature, and we’re thrilled to build on our shared goals,” said National Wildlife Federation President and CEO Larry Schweiger.

Erthnxt’s Trees for The 21st Century program joins a suite of National Wildlife Federation’s educational programs including: Eco-Schools USA, the Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat Program, Campus Ecology, community and backyard habitat certifications, and will be an important part of NWF’s Be Out There campaign to connect children and families to the outdoors.

“This could not come at a better time for both organizations as we work to prepare today’s children for a world in which they will need more environmental skills, civic-mindedness, and an understanding of how even our most difficult environmental challenges can be addressed by individuals” said Bernard David, Chair of Erthnxt, “the Erthnxt program is carefully designed to provide children with understanding and confidence in their own inner power to learn and to make a difference.”

National Wildlife Federation serves some four to five million youth and children annually through its school programs, award-winning children’s publications, including Ranger Rick, online curricula, neighborhood habitat restoration, parents’ education and signature outdoor events.

ERTHNXT has partnerships with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and the service-learning organization, EarthForce, among others. Most recently, ERTHNXT joined forces with New York Restoration Project to launch Scouts for MillionTrees NYC, a youth education, tree planting and stewardship program aimed at engaging New York City’s 80,000 Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to help achieve Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s and NYRP Founder Bette Midler’s shared dream of planting and caring for one million new trees across New York City.