The First Mile (and a Half) – Mini Project

As we are planning and raising funds for our first larger projects, and while waiting for the weather to improve, I decided to start something smaller.

Mini projects. Mini cleanups. Simple actions that did not require a budget, a permit, or a big plan.

The first one was about as basic as it gets. I walked roughly a mile and a half down the road from my house and picked up trash on both sides of the street.

I underestimated how much trash there would be. I brought two plastic grocery bags and assumed that would be plenty. Both were completely full well before I made it back home.

What surprised me most was not just the volume, but how quickly it added up. A short walk. A small amount of time. A visible difference almost immediately.

This is the kind of work that often gets overlooked because it feels too small to matter. But this first mile and a half reinforced something important. You do not need a massive project to make an impact. You just need to start.

These mini projects are not a replacement for our larger goals. They are the foundation. They build momentum, awareness, and a habit of stewardship. They also remind us that change does not always begin with funding. Sometimes it begins with a walk down the road and two empty bags.