| By SustainableMatt,on September 21st,2011  I recently watched a TED talk by Jeremy Gilley and was quite inspired by his idea for bringing about world peace in a very practical way. I watched the short documentaries about Jeremy’s journey and they show how instead of feeling hopeless about trying to get one country or group at a time to be permanently peaceful,he has started Peace One Day. I think it is an amazing idea to get everyone focussing on peace for a day which is very easy to imagine. It isn’t abstract or difficult to understand.
Like any worthwhile cause,it seems to be a lifelong struggle,but it doesn’t end with one day. I think it will succeed as a widely recognized event and with so many people thinking about how to make peace every year it will grow into even more. I hope you have a great peace day and to celebrate,why not share the news about Peace Day 2012 –A Day of Global Truce with those you know. By SustainableMatt,on April 29th,2011  This documentary created by director Erik Gandini and editor Johan Söderberg in 2003 is an interesting mix of an artistic music video and documentary style interviews.
It makes the comment that where we need to be is so far from where we are and to get there almost all of what we take for granted and see around us (such as the infrastructure of corporate greed) needs to be rethought. It reminds me of why I really don’t want to go back into being a cog for a financial institution just so I can make and spend more money. Although I am not really sure how to wake people up from their everyday lives of consumption and supporting their own destruction,some take the approach of shocking others by doing property damage. I think that this documentary does a better job of waking people up than property damage as proposed by an interviewed author. I don’t actually think that this documentary supports property destruction but achieves the same end by exposing you to what is happening and giving you a background as to why it is done. I keep making one small realization after another which has over the years shaped my view and I recommend this documentary for you to do the same. By SustainableMatt,on April 22nd,2011 Today is Earth Day. I didn’t know it,but Earth Day has been around for longer than I have. I think it is gaining popularity and unlike after some disturbing documentaries when I feel depressed and helpless,I see this as a presenting a myriad of opportunities.  One Percent For The Planet:41 Free Earth Day Tracks There is so much we can do and so many taking action that it is contagious. I know so many people who like to hold on to the idea presented to them by corporations that recycling is somehow enough to be an environmentalist. The catch is the more you consume,the more you recycle so you don’t feel worse about consuming more,and most of the waste is hidden from you. There is an Earth Day 2011:A Billion Acts of Green® campaign and I would like to pledge to both work on further reducing my consumption. While watching a nice little documentary called The Story Of Stuff,I learned that for every garbage can of waste we throw out or put to recycle at the curb,70 times that much waste is produced to make it in the first place. That means I can have a huge impact based on everything I don’t consume. Most of what I throw away is packaging for food so I recently planted a garden and plan to eat more local and vegetarian food to help reduce my consumption. This is the season for gardening,so you can get some seedlings started and eat some of your own organic produce too! Also as members of 1% For The Planet,we found out about their amazing give away. Today only,we are passing on the gift of free music with 41 rare and exclusive tracks to celebrate the 41st Earth Day. Go to 1% For The Planet to get your free tracks today only (use the code “earthday11″). By Marsha Smith,on April 12th,2011 April 8-10,2011
 Class sessions at Trott House - Marine ecosystem Jenga This past weekend,I assisted with a Marine Conservation Workshop hosted by the NHCS Biodiversity Committee in collaboration with Dr. Kathleen Frith, Assistant Professor from the Harvard Medical School,Centre for Health and the Global Environment and Dr. Jennifer Galvin,filmaker,writer and Director of Programs/Trustee of the Henry David Thoreau Foundation. The whole weekend was painstakingly coordinated by Gill Frith and Miriam Knorr my fellow committee members who also kept us well fed with a delicious array of locally sourced meals,and to show how easily it can be done with a little forethought,the workshop was waste free. Cloth napkins were used,dinner plates,glasses and silverware. Participants were also given a refillable water bottle which they were asked to refill throughout the weekend to avoid the use of plastic water bottles.  Educators get snorkel lesson from Kathleen Frith The aim of the 3-day weekend workshop was to provide educators on Nevis the opportunity to further their understanding about the marine environment with a particular focus on coral reefs. It was really an eye opening weekend,especially for some of the participants that had little connection with the marine environment. It’s hard to believe that living on such a small island,surrounded by reefs,there would be such a disconnect but it seems like very few people actually spend time swimming and enjoying the wonders of these underwater environments. The presentations and imagery were great and both instructor’s showed us the films they created,“Once Upon a Tide”and “Free Swim”,but my favourite part was getting out of the classroom and diving right into things. On the Saturday we went to Oualie Beach to get the teacher’s familiar with snorkelling in a safe,shallow waters. A few had never swam before. I tried to help make some of my fellow teachers a little more at ease in the water.  Snorkelling excursion to Majors Bay in St. Kitts
It’s funny,I was asked to help as an experienced diver,I took swimming lessons when I was younger and became a PADI certified SCUBA diver over 12 years ago,yet after several diving vacations I had little confidence in myself as a swimmer. I just don’t spend enough time in the water. The next day we took two boats out to Majors Bay in St. Kitts. Sheltered and only about 16 feet in depth,it was an ideal spot to quell some of my own fears and by the end of the day I actually felt like I had made a difference in helping others to get past those same fears. I realise my problem was not that I don’t know how to swim,it’s just that I had no confidence in myself as a swimmer and limited practice. Something I am determined to change and that is absolutely exhilarating! Thank you for such a great weekend,Kat and Jen! By SustainableMatt,on March 28th,2011  Miriam’s Truck Full of Garbage This morning Marsha and I went to the Bath area to pick up garbage for the clean island sweep. Leading the charge was Miriam Knorr,once again organizing the event and showing up in her pickup truck to take a truck full of garbage herself to the dump. Without her organizing us and the athletes,I know we wouldn’t have the courage to tackle this trash ourselves. It is the epitome of spoiled beauty in Nevis. To look at it you would think it was a garbage dump. There is all kinds of garbage in a very small area ranging from a truck to a bed,boat,toilet and all the usual such as packaging of all sorts,metal,plastic,cloth,paper and tires.  Bath Stream The thing that really bothers me so much and obviously other people involved and leading the effort is that this is a place of extraordinary physical and man made beauty. There is a hot stream,wetland,beach and the ruins of Fort Charles. If even a tiny fraction of the money spent on maintaining the golf course at four seasons (which is painted green) was spent on maintaining this area,it would be a major tourist attraction. They needed the triathlon coming to Nevis to make them tidy up the area,and even with the bath being a regular tourist destination it is dilapidated. Marsha and I both agreed that this area would make for an amazing restoration project as it has such an enormous potential and has fallen so far.  Bed Discarded Near Bath Stream  Triathalete Volunteers By Marsha Smith,on March 27th,2011  Last night we celebrated Earth Hour with family here in Nevis. The kids were looking forward to a special evening by candlelight. At 8:30 we turned out the lights and lit the candles.
Earth Hour is a great tradition to observe. It reminds me of the great blackout of 2004. All it takes is the absence of electricity to put you back in touch with the people around you. We spent the hour just being together and enjoying each other’s company. My grandmother told stories of growing up in Nevis,our two daughters were having a great time and were mesmerized the beauty of the dancing flame while curling up in our laps. This year we made it about being here in the moment,enjoying where we were and appreciating who we were with. At the end of the hour we slowly went to turn on the electricity,and return to our normal pace of life. It is with some irony that at this point we experienced a power outage! Everything was out for at least another hour while the local workers repaired the power lines. By Marsha Smith,on February 26th,2011 Today Matt and I took part in the Nevis House and Garden Tour organised by the NHCS (Nevis Historical and Conservation Society). This is an event where some of the architectural gems of this island are showcased,benefitting the work of the conservation society. We bought our tickets and began our day at the Nisbet Plantation Beach House with tea,sandwiches and desserts. A new room was decorated as a gallery in honor of the late English painter and Nevis resident,Eva Wilkin. 
Cabindish on Yamseed Road by the Airport was the first home we visited. I absolutely loved it. It is the quintessential beach house,like something out of an escapist novel,an architectural beauty with a 10-peaked roof and a design that captures the cross breezes of the Caribbean Sea. This house was built without windows but had lots of screened doors and shutters letting in the natural light and sea breeze. A huge wooden deck surrounds the entire home with built-in benches. This was amongst the homes featured in the book,Blueprint for Paradise:How to Live on a Tropical Island,written by Ross Norgrove in 1988. The house was constructed in 1982 on two acres of land by the nevisian builder,Noral Lescott. 
Our next stop was the newly developed condominiums at Cliffdwellers, where we visited two of the villas: Seaside Villa 1 was the model suite we were shown by the contractor Mel Hanley. Dramatic colours paired with antiques and classic lines makes a very bold statement. I love the decor in this home. The condo also features some beautiful mosaic work from french born artist Patrizia. 
Cliffdwellers Jaggeree is a beautiful modern condominium on a cliffside by the water’s edge. It features a stunning infinity pool with an outdoor poolside kitchen. The whole space has an open feel with the main living space open with a wall of doors that makes your indoor space merely an extension of your outdoor space. The condo interior has ultra chic finishes and both homes are a perfect retreat for the North American city dweller that doesn’t want toabandon the luxuries and conveniences of home. These condominiums although privately owned are available short-term rentals throughout most of the year when their owners are off-island. 
Lantana Cot is a beautiful expression of life made simple. A stark contrast to the condominiums we had just visited. Constructedaround the turn of the 20th century,it was originally situated on Craddock Road in Charlestown before being moved to Braziers by its current owners. It was built with six rooms constructed entirely from southern US pitch pine,considered to be equal in strength to treated lumber. Several of these homes by the same builder are still standing on Craddock Road and have withstood the test of time,heat,hurricanes,and insect infestation quite well. Today the house has been converted to four rooms with an extra wide porch in the rear which is used as an outdoor dining room. The view of Nevis and the southern coast is just as soothing as the constant breezes,however the best part was the garden,seemingly of work of love put together by the owner’s late wife. A landscaped retreat filled with hundreds of flowers,local shrubs,herbs,trees,and bamboo given and gathered from local island friends. I could sit there all evening sipping wine and watching the sun set while the jazz slowly fills the air. 
By the end of the day we were seriously running short on time,so many great homes! Our heads were swimming with ideas for our own architectural endeavour. Based on democratic vote,our final stop was at a home or rather a small resort in Zetlands Estate known as Caribbean Glory. The architectural work of father and son team Ted and David Cox and another example of the fine workmanship of nevisian builder Noral Lescott. The house was a huge villa set on 2.5 acres with beautiful views of the sea. I found this home needed the touch of a landscape artist to breathe some life into it. There was a lot of concrete,it had more of a resort or hotel feel than that of a private residence. It needed some interesting decor and much much more greenery. All things considered the home was up for sale with an asking price of 3.6 million US. 
By Marsha Smith,on November 30th,2010  Well now comes a bit of good news. I just got emailed yesterday morning to say that our doors and windows have finished going through the manufacturing process. Still waiting to see the detailed pics of all the items in the order but at least we’re still moving in the right direction! So far all we have are images of the bedroom windows…yes,so far so good! By Marsha Smith,on September 30th,2010  We’ve taken the plunge and have placed our order for custom windows and doors. We were hoping to go with a local manufacturer but cost and quality were the defining factors here. We wanted something that would provide durability,energy efficiency,impact resistance and style. We found all this with a custom manufacturer. All the windows also include magnetic flyscreens. We’ve gone with aluminum windows and stayed away from PVC. We have also maintained the aluminum colour throughout and opted not to paint the frames. To minimize costs and shipping we are having this one manufacturer fulfill the order for all the windows,doors,and glass shutters in our home. By Marsha Smith,on September 27th,2010  Gallow's Bay Team On September 25th Matt,Clio,Zaidee and I participated in the 2010 Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup here in Nevis. The morning got off to a slow start. As the only SCUBA divers,we were asked to take on the underwater cleanup effort of Gallow’s Bay in Charlestown. On land the local Girl Guides did a great job removing several bags of marine debris washed up by recent storms and left behind by local fishermen and beach goers that frequent this area. The collected garbage was sorted and recorded for Ocean Conservancy Stats.  Our little helper was keeping tabs of the types of garbage we collected The whole event was painstakingly organised by Miriam Knorr who made the over 350 volunteers from around the island feel honoured to be a part of the event. After a great lunch graciously hosted by Coconut Grove,Matt and I turned our efforts to the new neighbourhood in which we plan to be a part of very soon!  One of several masses of fishing rope pulled up from along the beach Down by the quiet crescent beach,we pulled out 5 large (biodegradable) bags of refuse left by beach dwellers and the local fishermen who dock there. While the girls slept,we pulled out several pounds of buried fishing nets,all kinds of plastic bottles and several black plastic containers that we are not sure what they were used for?  - Not sure what these containers were for but we found so many it was worth noting.
We would like to see the beaches and waters surrounding this small retreat of ours to return to a healthy and productive state. Thank you to all those that participated this year and thank you in advance to all those that will join our efforts going forward.  Garbage we collected at our site. | |
