In the Îles de la Madeleine, little separates us from the sea. In fact, I like to say that salt water runs in our veins. Our hair is puffed up by the sea breeze, and our damp skin always carries the scent of our last swim. As much as this closeness to the ocean is dear to us, we must realistically protect ourselves from it. Because the sea is as beautiful as it is powerful: just live through storm season in autumn and winter. It's the cliffs and dunes that keep us dry and grounded. Dynamic barriers, they are shaped by the elements, and by our own intrusions.
Ammophila, or the sand lover
With the tips of my fingers, I stroke the ammophila. I've always loved hearing it whisper in the wind. Not everyone knows how important it is. Yet it's the equivalent of mortar holding bricks together, with its endless roots anchoring the tons of sand grains that make up the dune. Its long, sharp shape even captures windblown sand and funnels it down to its base. That's why we keep planting it in areas affected by erosion. Check it out, there might be a dune grass planting activity near you! I notice a granola bar wrapper stuck along the base of a plant.
Leftover harvest
Almost every day, I walk down to the beach. Each time, if I'm paying attention, I find new washed-up or abandoned litter. I collect and sort it. Bits of rope, styrofoam buoys, and hard plastic in every color. Tampon applicators. Forgotten toys. I hope they don't have feelings and don't feel abandoned like in the *Toy Story* movies.
I find aluminum cans. Plastic and glass bottles, some shattered. I keep the polished green glass shards in a separate mason jar: they shine like emeralds. Shotgun shells and fishing debris like colorful tags and lobster traps. Some waste tells a story. And then there's the less lovely trash: endless plastic films, wipes, and food wrappers. You can still make out some of the brands, faded and ghostly. Speaking of ghosts, I try not to think about the nearly invisible litter: the microplastics scattered everywhere.
Getting involved in the cause
I've noticed more and more people doing the same thing, armed with a trash bag and bent over the beach. The collective effort reassures me. The beaches are more beautiful. Together, we won't let ourselves be buried under waste. Studies are underway to better understand and solve the issue. New allies are constantly joining our cause. We will make a difference. We'll clean and strengthen our dunes, and they'll protect us, again and again. I repeat it like a mantra, sliding ammophila and fishing line between my fingers like prayer beads.
