It’s a beautiful, hot, sunny day here on Martha’s Vineyard…and before we head to the beach, we wanted to share some tips on how to be environmentally conscious in the sun and surf. When we treat our Earth well, it affects every plant and creature on the planet…from the dandelions to the rainforests, from the people to the bonobos.

1. Carry in, carry out! It is so important that we don’t leave trash on the beach. Trash, including plastic bags and food wrappers, are dangerous to both beach creatures and humans. Beach creatures can try to eat them or get caught in them which can either injure or kill them, and humans can step on trash and be injured as well. Of course, a trash covered beach is just unpleasant - no one wants to spend their day outside surrounded by garbage!

2. Don’t feed the animals! Natural feeding patterns can be disrupted when humans start to intervene. Sea birds were made to eat fish and bugs, not your peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Not only is human food harmful to their health, but nature does a wonderful job of keeping balance, and when humans disrupt the balance, long term and devastating effects can occur. For instance, if the seagulls stop eating the small fish, they will overpopulate, eating all of the tiny fish. Now there will be no small fish to eat the sea algae and it will overgrow until the shore line is smothered with algae, making it difficult for small creatures living by the shore to survive…and on and on. Get our drift?

3. Use natural sunscreens and bug repellants. Whatever products you put on your body will be left in the ocean when you jump in, so using products that are non-toxic and biodegradable is the best solution (for your own health too!).

One natural sunscreen is pure, virgin coconut oil - just put it on when you get out of the shower. If you are going to be in the sun at the height of the day, we recommend Aubrey Organic sunscreen as a body and environmentally safe answer.

As for bug spray, stay away from DEET - a known environmental and health hazard. Our highest recommendation goes to an herbal bug repellent made here on Martha’s Vineyard! Check out Island’s Own where you can order your spray (and they make a great poison ivy remedy as well).

4. Pay attention to posted signs! Signs posted by beaches, towns and environmental groups often block off areas of the beach that protect nesting birds. When humans walk through these areas, the natural habitat of birds can be ruined. Also, many beach signs warn people to stay off of cliffs or leave clay in its place to protect the natural environments from erosion.

5. Be a good neighbor. Part of being green means being part of a community and treating the people, the creatures and the land around you with total respect. Beaches can be crowded…you have the power to make the beach a safe and fun place by being considerate and kind to those around you.

HAVE FUN!!!

Update: One of our favorite readers has pointed out that using coconut oil affects the palm oil crisis that is hurting our orangutan cousins. We certainly did not mean to save the bonobos while hurting the orangutans. We are looking to see if choosing organic, unprocessed coconut oil harvested by small companies (often family owned and committed to the environment) is still damaging to the earth and/or the orangutans. If anyone finds this information before us, please let us know and provide proof! Thanks, BK

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