We all want to save Mother Earth from further destruction.Our current environmental state is like Earth is crying for help. Pollution, deforestation, and the likes – all these contribute to the deterioration of our planet. Don’t we all want to help?But helping can be a huge challenge.
Following the 3Rs – reuse, reduce, recycle – doesn’t seem to be enough anymore. We need to do more than that; we have to take action somehow. And we found the perfect story to draw inspiration from.
Meet Shadow and his little “Nowhere Island,” where he lives for the past 17 years.
SOURCE: INSTAGRAM|SHADOWSNOWHEREISLAND
He built this incredible floating island out of reclaimed material or out of things that were thrown away. Some of them are trash that he found floating in the water. That way, he saved the river and its inhabitants, and he saved the trash and reused or recycled it to give it a second life.
Everything about Shadow’s home is an effort to save the environment.
SOURCE: YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT|EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE
Not only does he pick up trash and upcycle it for his home, but he also makes sure that everything that comes in and out of his island is safe for the environment. Overall, his little island in the middle of Widgeon Slough, BC, Canada, is part of the ecosystem.
His island is divided into four areas.
SOURCE: INSTAGRAM|SHADOWSNOWHEREISLAND
He has a two-story home that features a kitchen, pantry, workshop, entertainment room, bedroom, and a Shaman room where he sits and reads cards for healing and protecting the area.
But the fascinating part of his house is his toilet.
SOURCE: YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT|EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE
His toilet is a composting one. This means that it turns waste into usable soil. It has a little detachable bin so he can take it to the composting area. That way, there’s no waste going into the water.
Aside from his home, he also has a separate area for composting.
This is where he keeps food and other waste to turn into compost. He has different bins for them and a separate area for fresh waste and compost that’s already broken down for eight months. This is what he uses for his garden.
His garden is composed of a variety of plants, most of which are edible.
SOURCE: INSTAGRAM|SHADOWSNOWHEREISLAND
He notes that he’s working on sourcing his food. He also has a separate area for his chicken coop, a layer of different plants and husks as a natural filtration system for his gray water.
His entire island runs in solar energy.
SOURCE: YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT|EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE
Shadow attached separate solar panels for each structure on his island, so there’s no need to wire them from one area to another. It’s also future-proofing his island, ensuring that if any storm hits his way, electricity won’t cut off if one part is separated from the island.
Shadow said the government tried to evict him multiple times.
SOURCE: INSTAGRAM|SHADOWSNOWHEREISLAND
But he is committed to protecting the area. As long as there is a threat in the ecosystem, Shadow believes his work is not yet done. With constant threats from poachers, the local government, film crews, and private entities who want to build within the area or turn it into a park, Shadow and his Nowhere Island will stay.
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