Nov 29, fishermen newsletter on UNA BOCANA LIMPIA Project

Ladies and Gentlemen:


A year ago, I started a project called

http://sites.google.com/site/cleaningupbaja/

Why? Clean up trash, abandoned fridges, stoves and outhouses. I started on my own street and headed south, talking to neighbors along the way. Most were mortified to see the “gringa” cleaning their yards and quickly rushed out to clean alongside me.



Here we are one year later –the website clearly shows all the local involvement: elementary school kids cleaning up arroyos; highschool beachcleaning; church groups, even the delegado finally got some moola and had schools painted. They also arranged two major cleanups lasting 40 days. Many donated plants to beautify the public buildings. With my own pocket money, I paid 2 families to clean the road between Punta Abreojos and La Bocana. I also sponsored parties for all the elementary students who participated in cleanups. And I gave the high school seniors $100 dollars towards their graduation.



Many friends have donated recyclable shopping bags (and the coop is having some made too), fishing caps with our logo on them, Costco trash bags … and much much more. My husband is at the top of the donor list.



Not knowing how to get to the next level of recycling: to create a garbage landfill, American friends suggested garage sales. Well, we started them 2 weeks ago and the success has been stupendous!! I pay locals 100 pesos to hold them, we have around 3 a week at different locations and we now have some cash to pay the garbage guys to pick up the heavy loads as well as cash for fuel. The public library had a bathroom put up in record time, funded by the coop, the architect, and us. The coop will also sponsor a computer expert to maintain all their computers. (9 not working out of 10). The same architect made detailed plans for a cafeteria/stage for the elementary school and we have 2 garage sales a week for this purpose.



Want to help make the world a better place?



I need donations of

Clothes: esp. HOODED SWEATSHIRTS

Jewelery

Fishing hats

Towels

Sunscreen

Bedspreads/sheets/kitchen towels

Telephones/faxes/COMPUTERS

Televisions



We also need money to fund three parts of the landfill:

1. A chain link fence around site;

2. Purchase of a backhoe;

3. Plastic liner for the landfill.



And most importantly: please donate any quality used/new fishing gear for the once a month fishing garage sale that was the biggest hit I have ever seen !



You can drop donations at the coop offices in Ensenada under PANCHO's name at:

Sociedad Cooperativa Progreso, 234 Abasolo,

Colonia Independencia, Ensenada, B.C.



Please send me a quick email to let me know you did it or Pancho might think Santa loves him A LOT.



If you are experienced in landfills or recycling, please let me know.



Thanks so much for any help,

Sincerely, Blanca Portella Heil

UNA BOCANA LIMPIA

Sunday, Nov 29

Rex watching the world from the porch today

I wake up at night (or really, early early early in the morning) trying to solve all my challenges. then after about an hour, and after waking up Les to tell him I am awake (is this terrible or what ????) .... I eventually fall asleep again ....  Its just that there are so many different projects, all important, all involving others, all beautiful. and my personality is such that I want them all moving forward - FAST - at the same time.

Osprey getting ready for next generation

This is nothing new, mind you. I basically completed 3 majors in college because all 3 were so fun.  The official one is psychology. I didn't major in Russian because  they required a Russian politics class and I was only interested in language.  I didn't major in linguistics because they wanted a thesis. all other classes for BOTH Russian and linguistics were fulfilled, and I also worked to support myself and I had a very active social life.

my new cactus addition

I have always joked that God gave me excessive natural endorphins...it is almost impossible to keep me "down". I feel positive 99.999999999 % of the time. so, I consider myself very lucky.

breakfast a la Les this a.m.

Today will be a stay at home day. time to chill and watch TV and well, make a list of what to do tomorrow so I know what to contemplate at 3 in the morning !!!!

My garden is doing well. All recycled water ..

I have tried, once again, to enable comments - so if you can - write me a note to tell me if I was successful!!

So, this afternoon I went to the store to get milk. On the way, I picked up the plastic bags which accumulate in fornt of both baseball fields.

I met with Yickie and she is selling her house. Original price was $14 grand and is now down to $9 grand. I want the house. Need cash ....anyone feeling rich these days ????  I am putting it out to the Universe.

I will buy the house.

Met with a kid who is going ot do all the biosphere telephone calling for me. I want the permit for the landfill. I want the permit from PROFEPA, the environmental agency. I want landfiill plans. They can do it. He is going to make the calls.