The idea of GES started long before it’s formal beginnings in 2019. It started with the younger version of this person climbing trees and enjoying their fruits thinking that everyone must know the feeling that comes with such a closeness to the earth only to realize, as she grew up and went out into the world, that far too many do not.

As I worked in popular destinations and my own opportunities for travel arose, there was always a prevalent pattern that appeared throughout, waste. Most specifically surrounding the places that people tend to gather the most to take some time off to play or recharge. Places with beautiful beaches, rivers and forests or small towns boasting the most delightful meals and atmospheres while also boasting overflowing trashcans of to go containers and other single use items.

The straw that broke me (no pun intended) was a special trip I had planned to Kauai for my little family to learn about the endemic species of the island. The three of us were over the moon for such an opportunity! We had signed up for a beach cleanup with Surfriders one afternoon early on in our trip and as we arrived, my heart sank as the reality set in. The amount of trash on that beach we met at was astounding. “Cruise ship trash” is what some said as we found ocean worn toothbrushes by the dozens, dental floss, broken up plastics from a million different items mixed with every grain of sand. Just down that same beach, a Monk seal was resting on shore, a sign and a makeshift fence of sticks around them to remind visitors not to come too close. Spoiler alert, it didn’t keep people away from that animal. Paradise in the Pacific covered in trash, impossible to fully clean up, generated largely by tourism. It didn’t stop with that cleanup of course. The juxtaposition of witnessing some of the most endangered species on this planet trying to survive while being engulfed by waste and ignorance was jarring. It sprung my family into action without the need for discussion. every morning and evening we were cleaning the beach outside of our hotel. So many plastic cups from the beachside bar left in the sand. So many food containers, wrappers and plasticware. I had a strongly worded conversation with more tourists at another beach ignoring signs for selfies with Green Sea turtles and later that week shipping and boat traffic between islands came to a halt as a giant garbage patch moved between the islands. It was mapped and tracked the same as a large storm. Needless to say, I needed to do something bigger than just endlessly cleaning beaches. The act of bailing water, so to speak, without turning off the spigot.

I took some time to look deeply into what turning this spigot off would have to look like. After all, we all know it’s not as simple as the turn of a handle to solve problems like these and no one person would be able to do it alone. I’m happy to see so many taking up the task in their own ways, but we need more.

In 2019 I had a plan and was working to launch in the spring of 2020. Oh the spring of 2020…there was no way, not a chance, that I was going to approach any establishment about their use of single use items. In many cases it was required by law to do so and necessary for safety at the time. Everyone was concentrated on surviving and rightly so. I put Green Eats and Sleeps on hold for a few years and in the meantime expanded my knowledge in areas of the service industry that I hadn’t had firsthand experience in. The last few years I’ve dabbled in facilitating important connections to see what might be possible for these industries and met some wonderful likeminded people along the way. Now here we are, six years later, ready to launch! Are we in ideal conditions? Heck no, but we need to get started now more than ever. I’d be grateful to have you all with me along the way.

I believe that in the act of interweaving visitors, community including indigenous cultures/peoples/practices and the love of our beautiful spaces together, we all will win.

Biography

Sheena spent her first 30 years growing up near Morrison, CO with an ever-expanding love for all of the -ologies, a healthy curiosity of social sciences and a never-ending drive for problem solving. After spending some time in the PNW dialing in her technical skills in jewelry design, she moved home to CO but the beauty of the PNW pulled her back. She has landed here in the islands of Washington state now hoping to do something bigger and help businesses, communities and wildlife thrive on this beautiful planet together.

She has worked for four decades within the service industries as well as fine arts design and production generally averaging two to three jobs at any given time, though she slowed down this last stretch to fully embrace being a present parent and family member to those who needed support. The slowdown brought her to this turning point as she realized the combination of her gifts and experience would best serve widespread rather than a handful of businesses. Her decades of observation and implementation have ultimately led her to the conclusion that it is possible to live in comfort with minimal impacts to our environment if we take the time to listen and make the changes needed that are already available to us. While it’s been challenging to balance work, family and business, Sheena remains committed to the mission and foresees it to be a lifelong journey.

In her spare time, you might find her walking the trails and beaches, playing ball with her kiddo, snuggling her doggo and rabbit (not quite at the same time yet), writing a letter to a representative, dancing and singing in her car, at home creating something silly or something divine, at the tree fort tinkering like a mad scientist or engineering and spreading joy as those are some of her favorite things to do.