We should all be proud of ourselves that, as a nation, we have set aside one day every year to celebrate the Earth and hopefully do a small thing to help keep it clean and livable.

For approximately the past eight weeks, my 10-year-old daughter and I have been walking a half-mile stretch of our street (a heavily-trafficked corridor) picking up trash and recycling. For one reason or another, Ferry Road generates a steady supply of both (see pictures of this week’s haul). There is always more to collect, even when we think that we are done.

Giving an hour a week to our street cleaning gives us a sense of ownership over our small part of town; we keep our eyes open all week for new wrappers, takeout boxes, and liquor bottles, stockpiling a mental list of the next cleanup, gathering our dedication, and savoring our sense of protection.

Our cleanup gives us time to spend together, fresh air and tired legs, and the idea that accomplishment doesn't have to cost as much as we fear it will. We give an hour and get a clean street, even if it is for just a week.

We are not zealots; there are times when we look outside and stay put, maybe because it’s too cold or maybe we tell ourselves the street looks clean enough and can wait.

We all have busy lives, and it's unrealistic to expect everyone to spend an hour a week picking up trash along the road. If you can’t, please consider something helping out in other ways; wait until you find a trash can or recycle your waste if possible. Yes, this is a town *for* all of us, but it’s also a town *by* all of us. My daughter and I keep our street clean. What can you do?

Lucas and Penny Farrell
Bristol