Sammy Burke

This week, I chose the challenge to reduce plastic waste. I have been camping at the beach for the past week, and have kept an eye out for plastic that I could pick up to save it making its way into the sea. I was happily surprised to only see/ pick up three pieces of plastic the whole week! I was also conscious to reduce my own plastic intake. When I am at home, it is fairly easy to reduce plastic- I have a system of bringing reusable bags to the store, always carrying a reuasable waterbottle and thermos cup, buying package free items at the bulk grocery store or farmers market etc. But living out of a van this week meant that it has been more difficult to be as diligent with these practices. I found myself making choices such as buying bulk food items such as nuts or dried fruit, instead of packaged bars and crackers etc. We also realized that, although more expensive, one of the best ways to reduce waste was to support local cafes and restaurants (eating in- not takeaway!) for food. This meant that we didn't buy as much packaged food for snacks or cooking with. Not only did eating and drinking in cafes reduce our plastic use and waste, but we also made much more meaningful connections and had wonderful conversations with locals, as opposed to just going to the supermarket and cooking in the van all the time.   

This week I was focusing on community. I have had a very interesting few months learning to be unafraid of putting roots down in a community. I have moved around a lot, and I noticed that I was getting so afraid of commitment that I was forcing away any opportunity to be a part of a community that came my way. I wanted to make connections with people, but something inside of me was making me shy away. I tried to figure out what that could be- what little fear was making me make decisions that isolated me... I realised (as we talked about this morning in class/ small groups) that because we moved so much as a kid, and I also moved a lot after high school (to canada, portland, and back to NZ during covid) and even though I didn't know it then, ripping your roots away is a painful experience. I notice that since I got back to New Zealand last year, I was so bitter about the fact that I was forced to leave my Portland community, that I was not at all ready to make a community for myself in Wanaka (my hometown where I lived from April-October 2020). It has only been since moving to Dunedin, that I have figured this all out, and allowed myself to start assimilating into a community without being fearful of having to leave it/ it being taken away by an external force. So, for my challenge this week, (volunteer in the community) I contacted a woman who offered me a volunteer opportunity in June of last year, that I declined at the time, due to reasons described above. She wanted me to be a mentor for high school students who also compete in high performance sports (mostly snow sports). This requires 2 hours a week on zoom, where I help a group of kids complete their study for the day/week. I contacted her yesterday and said that I would love to volunteer, and she said I can start right away! My first sessin is next week, and I have volunteered my time this week by writing up a curriculum and agenda for the term that I will use in the sessions.  

This past week I had a five day trip planned that would take me a couple hundred miles up the coast and back, to apl ce called Kaikoura. I had been debating all week whether I should go or not, becuase it is a lot of driving (Co2! and petrol!) for a purely selfish journey, when I could surf and be by the sea all week without driving any where. I decided on Monday that I wouldn't go, becuase my internal debate told me that it is was unecessary, and wasteful for the environment- I would surf and snorkel here in Dunedin instead; where I could bike or walk to the sea. 
But... I still really wanted to go on a mission/ adventure, so I decided that I would make no weekend plans, and see if any opportunities came my way. 
On Tuesday, I was running with a girl whom I had just met- and she told me that she had planned to go to Kaikoura (the place I had wanted to go but decided against!) for an adventure race, but her teammate was sick so couldnt go, meaning that she didnt have anyone to carpool with. She wondered aloud to me if it was worth her going, and expending all that petrol for just one person. Did I hear serendipity?! We both wanted to go to the same place, but both had the same environmentally conscious problem. I told her how crazy is was that she had the exact same thought as me- and that we should carpool together! Even better is that her car is much more fue efficient than mine, so I felt even better about driving. 
I was very happy about this turn of events, and that the universe came through and provided me with the best of both worlds decision, because I was patient enough to wait for the chance to come to me. :)

This week I realised that the main source of fruit I have been buying and eating are bananas- and I realised that they are from ecuador, and there are plenty of fruits grown within minutes from where I live such as apples and feijoas. I was quite perplexed that I had never thought about this, so I decided to get all of my fruit as local as possible this week. This was pretty easy because it is fall, so there are ripe fruits everywhere- perfect for foraging! I picked apples from a tree after my run a few days ago, and I collected a bag of golden peaches from our tree at my parents house to bring back for my room mate and I this week. I also visited a road side stall to get eggs for both me and my family so that we would be eating eggs from a small local farm where the chickens are free range and happy. 

This week I wanted to be more conscious about the time that I spend outside, and how I am using it to strengthen my relationship with the Earth. I believe that if I and we can develop a deep connection to the earth, and our own microenvironment that we live in, we will feel a much stronger need to protect our earth and our corner of it. It is hard to make sacrifices in our lives if we don't care about the outcome- for example it is hard to ask people to reduce their waste, if they have little connection or respect for the ocean and the land that is being affected. 
So, I am lucky that I spend many hours outside per day- I run, swim, surf, bike and walk outside daily, and I have always used this time to think and reflect on life, but also be onnected to the land around me. But the thing that I wanted to work on for at least 45 mins per day, is be more aware of how my connection to the elements and the earth effects my will to be more sustainably conscious, and what I can do about it. Also how I can inspire and lead others in the same way with my actions. Today I ran in the pouring rain and wind, along the peninsula. there was a deep part of the estuary where the river meets the salt water, and there were about 8 seals swimming in it. they were all pairs of mother and baby, and I stopped running for a second to be near them and say hello. The babies swam to the edge to be close to me, and they looked at me with huge, imploring eyes. It was definitely a deep moment of connection for me, and in reflection, I thought that the best thing to do about it, was to share it so that other people whom I trust can also share in that connection to nature. I sent long messages to some of my friends describing the moment, and why I wanted to share it with them. I believe that intertwining nature with myself and the people around me is a great way to bring people closer to the earth and therefor create a nurturing society that cares for and respects the planet more so than we do now. 

This week I explored a new cliffside trail along the sea. I have been focusing my eco change and eco challenges as well as over all awareness on the ocean, because I recently moved minutes away from the beach and also have spent the whole summer doing ocean related activities which is new for me as I have always lived in the mountains. Finding this new trail on my run today was a way to connect more with my area of the beach and sea, and it was so beautiful! I looked below and saw seals in swimming in the blue water. I took time to look at the swell and think about more ways I can be sustainable in relation to the ocean.