If you are like me, you have enough reusable bags at this point to fill up a bus with groceries (by the way, cheers to us! You are most welcome, planet). This continues to work out for me though as I either forget to put my bags back in the car, back in my purse or am just plain forgetful- I have them everywhere to assist me in making the right choice when I shop. Why do I need one more?

So you've decided to make the right choice for our planet (or your local government has given you no choice!), how do you begin?

There are two perspectives you will need to consider- yours as a business and your customers.

Financially, there is no question that any disposable plastic straw alternative is going to cost you more money.  However, this is only if you view this as an eye for an eye scenario.

Many times I chose the bay side-- why?  The horseshoe crabs.  They were everywhere.  Yes, this was early 1980's so lots of amazing things were everywhere- practicing "the move" from Karate Kid on the rocks was no joke.  These Vadar-like moving helmets mystified and terrified me all at the same time.  The way they would clamber over each other, crowd together despite an open expanse of beach around them and their sheer size compared to anything else on the beach was captivating.

I'm not sure I can put a date on when I stopped seeing them everywhere- there was a long gap of time I only chose the ocean side for the social factor and for maturity from playing with the life along the sandy shores to relishing in simple sun bathing.

I have since moved from the Northeast to Florida and when I chose this iconic and nostalgic animal to portray through art, many Floridians also commented that they remember seeing them everywhere and now, not so much. 

Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach, FL is one of a few places studying these amazing animals and has been doing citizen scientist surveys for the last few years.  An easy, local choice for whom to donate the proceeds to for this collection.  I was first introduced to MDC by one of my conservation mentors, Jody Palmer, Director of Conservation for Brevard Zoo.  Jody returned from a night survey of horseshoe crabs in a state of wonder I had not experienced since I was a child back on the beach in Watch Hill. I knew I had to find out more and to help in the best way I could.

MDC's Project H2O Coordinator, Mallory Brooks, tells us more about the what and the why:

"With your purchase from Wendy Barnes Design you will help the MDC buy calipers (the instruments used to take measurements on the horseshoe crab), waterproof paper (as the data sheets tend to get wet during the survey), and headlamps (we survey at night and we need our hands free). All of these tools are essential to our surveys, but being a small nonprofit, these are not always necessities. 

Here are a few quick facts about these awesome animals:

1) Horseshoe crabs are not actually crabs, they are more closely related to spiders and scorpions!

 2) Horseshoe crabs have been around for more than 450 million years, even before the dinosaurs!

 3) We take surveys in the spring, at night, at high tide and during a full or new moon.

4) Horseshoe crabs nest in pairs on the sandy beaches of the Indian River Lagoon. 

5) Horseshoe crab eggs are an important food source for many migratory birds, including the red knot.

 6) Horseshoe crab blood is very important in the biomedical field. It is used to test for bacterial on instruments and in many intravenous drugs.

Thank you for allowing us to continue collecting data to better understand the population of horseshoe crabs in the Indian River Lagoon and to get citizens like yourself involved with hands-on, feet-wet research!"

Why horseshoe crabs?  Because, well, besides being amazing, people are out there doing good work to help them.  Wendy Barnes Design feels a responsibility to demonstrate conservation efforts of any and all animals- horseshoe crabs hold a special place in my heart and memories naturally becoming one of my First Fifty Causes.

Wendy Barnes Design is a catalyst connecting conservation causes to everyday experiences through bespoke wildlife interiors resulting in awareness and action. Join the Environmental Good newsletter to learn about the First Fifty Causes Campaign and more at www.wendybarnesdesign.com. 

Horseshoe crab photos courtesy of Marine Discovery Center

As a business, how do you justify the space you rent?  Your widget alone is simply not good enough anymore in the eyes of countless educated consumers.  What else are you doing?  What makes you stand apart from your competitors and how are you practicing environmental good?

 We share this planet with wildlife and we both rent the space from nature.  Animals do a much better job at caring for their spaces.  Humans, comparatively, are horrible tenants.  Much of this is ignorance and complacency and can be changed- as long as we are willing to do better.

 Opportunities to connect with and appreciate wildlife and nature present themselves daily.  How are you noticing or responding?  Is an entirely man-made world the goal?  Would we not miss the wildlife element?  For goodness sake, what would be the subject matter for all those baby books if giraffes and dolphins were gone?

Preparing for Hurricane Matthew in Florida reaffirmed my perspective.  Days before the storm hit, our family dog was lethargic, skiddish and withdrawn.  Before any wind or rain friends were posting pictures of snakes crawling to the top of signs and buildings for higher ground.  On our way out of town, still before any storming, we passed multiple herds of cattle- all laying down.

 The animals were totally in tune with the storm.  Are we in tune?

Imagine if each business was expected to "adopt" one wildlife species and contributed to its well-being as part of their philanthropic portfolio.  Like a badge of honor or a mascot, each business would achieve a new level of respect by being known for their associated animal and the support they are providing.  Better yet, what if this was the same species their development may have affected and/or displaced?  Development will not stop- development is a version of fit survival.  But we have a debt to nature that we all need to respect.  Let's redefine our necessity for growth as being synonymous with indebtedness to nature.

Wendy Barnes Design is a catalyst connecting conservation causes to everyday experiences through bespoke wildlife interiors resulting in awareness and action. Join the Environmental Good newsletter to learn about the First Fifty Causes Campaign and more at www.wendybarnesdesign.com