Amma's Plastic Project - Seattle

In 2007, a volunteer in Amma's Amritapuri ashram began a project making craft items from waste plastic in an attempt to prevent the non degradable product from entering garbage landfills. Amma has said of this project: "You may think that it is only a small gesture but through projects like this the hearts of individuals blossom and others are inspired to follow. This can lead to significant changes in society."

A Seattle volunteer who visited the Amritapuri ashram towards the end of that year was so inspired by the Plastic Project that she asked to learn some of the weaving techniques they were using. When she returned home, she invited Seattle satsang volunteers to start a similar project. Since Seattle satsang had once crocheted hats and scarves as part of a project for the homeless, she knew that they would be able to make crocheted items with the plastic as well as woven ones.

Simultaneously another Northwest volunteer, one who is a professional weaver, had been looking at how to she could adapt her knowledge of weaving to plastic. When the Seattle project began, she offered to teach weaving techniques to anyone interested in learning.

Now some volunteers are learning to weave, some are crocheting and some are making the yarn for those who are crocheting. Others are contributing by gathering soft waste plastic of all kinds. Some volunteers are working alone; others attend work parties as they occur.

We have been delighted to discover the wide array of colorful and durable pieces that can be made from waste plastics. Among the materials we are using are strap from lumber yards and bank paper bundles, snack bags of all kinds, newspaper wrappers, shopping bags, coffee bags, and netting from bags of oranges and apples.

Crocheted items are made from patterns on www.myrecycledbags.com. Those patterns are copyrighted, but the artist has graciously given permission for us to sell products made with her patterns provided the funds go towards Amma's charities. The items we make will be sold at Green Fairs and during Amma's Summer Tour. All proceeds will go to Amma's charities.

If you would like to participate in this project or start one of your own, contact Karuna at karunap108@comcast.net or 206-722-0878.

Comments from project participants:

"Last year I was staying at the San Ramon ashram when a friend returned from India and told me a woman in Amritapuri was weaving with plastic. We both immediately began to gather different plastics. I was excited when I heard Karuna was starting the project in Seattle since I also live in that area. I have a deep respect for weaving traditions from all over the world and am excited to see that others might develop more knowledge and respect for weaving as a result of this project. I am eager to apply what I have learned from Native elders and am excited about learning and creating new things. Items woven from plastic are colorful and durable, and we certainly have a lot of it in the world today!" -- Neeraja

"This project has done so much to open my eyes. When I first returned from India, I thought that we didn't have nearly the amount of plastic here that India does. I soon discovered that it is everywhere. Some of it is so beautiful, but the thought of how much of it goes to landfills is disheartening. While it isn't possible to eliminate all plastic from my house, it is exciting to be able to put so much of what I have to good use, and to help others do the same. It has also stirred my creativity. I get ideas for two or three new projects before I finish one. I laugh when I find myself forgetting what I went to a store for because my attention has been caught by some piece of plastic on the floor or in the garbage bin. I once got so excited when a friend handed me a beautiful blue piece of plastic. I thought she was giving me the plastic for the project, but it turned out she was just showing me the ingredients of food she was offering me!" -- Karuna

"My daughters and I have always been tree huggers, but with our recent awareness that plastic bags can end up in the oceans we love and can get tangled up with the fish, we've taken steps to eliminate or reduce the number of bags we take from the stores. When I found out about this project, I was inspired and asked my co-workers to bring me their used bags. The girls and I are cutting plastic into strips and making "plarn" out of them. We may try to knit a few things too, or give our plarn to the project for others' use in making fabulous reusable bags and other things." -- Shirley

"When I heard two Satsang members talking about the idea of crocheting with plastic, I was intrigued. After I learned more, I was very excited about a project that would combine a passion for the environment and a passion for crocheting; passions that I'm sure many of us share. I have been cutting plastic and making plastic yarn in preparation for making my first bag. I have had the chance to share this concept with a lot of people and it is fun to see how interested people are. I have people saving plastic bags for me as far away as California. Many people have expressed an interest in learning how to work with the plastic. It is heartening to see how many people want to find ways in which they can make a difference. I am grateful for Amma's words about this project and the reminder that it is through our small actions that we make a difference in the world." -- Bhavya

Plastic Project - Seattle
- karunap108@comcast.net
- 206-722-0878

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