Ecochallenge.org

The People's Ecochallenge 2022

October 5 - October 26, 2022

Sandy Halvorson

Columbia Bank

"Making the world better one step at a time"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,230 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

advocacy action

completed
UP TO

2.0

donations

made
UP TO

12

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

135

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

200

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

385

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

5.0

pounds

waste avoided
UP TO

1.0

water footprint

calculated

Sandy's actions

Balancing Consumption

Repair a Broken Item

I will repair at least one item that is broken, but is repairable. This might be items like garden tools, sewing machine, small appliances, electronics, clothing, and more.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nourishing Food

Forest-Friendly Foods

I will spend 20 minutes learning about palm oil, coffee, cocoa, and other products known to contribute to deforestation, and replace or remove them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Enacting Equity

Learn About Trans, Femme, and Nonbinary Experiences

I will spend 45 minutes learning about the experiences of trans, femme, and/or nonbinary people.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Enacting Equity

Learn About Accessible & Equitable Voter Registration

I will spend 60 minutes learning about voter access and equity. And if applicable, I will register to vote, ask someone I trust to help me register, or help others register.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nourishing Food

Eat Plant-Based Meals

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 0 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Regenerating Nature

Explore My Area

Each day, I will spend 30 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood, which might include a park, water body, trail, etc.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Balancing Consumption

Needs Vs. Wants

Each day, I will practice a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Enacting Equity

Shop at BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Disabled, & Women-Led Businesses!

I will shop at a small business owned or staffed by underrepresented members of my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Cultivating Communities

Donate Blood

I will donate blood in my community to make sure there are adequate supplies for routine medical services and emergencies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nourishing Food

Donate Food

I will find out what food programs are in my area and donate food and/or other items that they request.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Balancing Consumption

Less Screen Time

I will replace 30 minute(s) of screen time each day with other activities.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Balancing Consumption

Develop a Work-Life Balance

During the work day, I will schedule time for breaks to practice work-life balance.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Regenerating Nature

Calculate My Water Footprint

I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

Sandy Halvorson 10/26/2022 5:19 PM

The greatest challenge I had was shopping at a small business owned by a member of an under-represented population. I had thought it would be easy to find lists of them in my area but it's mostly word of mouth. And then I was balancing that challenge with my daily challenge to buy only needs and not mere wants. I continue to patronize a female, minority-owned small business sole prop and I am making more of an effort to support local over large chains.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Enacting Equity Learn About Accessible & Equitable Voter Registration

Why is voting important to creating a just, sustainable, and thriving world? In what other ways can you actively participate in important decision-making?

Sandy Halvorson 10/24/2022 9:15 PM

When voting is suppressed, our voices are suppressed. Additional ways to participate in decision-making are to contact elected representatives about important issues, volunteer with campaigns, and encourage voter registration.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nourishing Food Forest-Friendly Foods

How did you figure out ways to remove foods that are not forest-friendly?

Sandy Halvorson 10/24/2022 8:18 PM

Look for Rainforest Alliance certifications on coffee and chocolate and eat more Brazil nuts.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Balancing Consumption Repair a Broken Item

What did you fix and how did it go? Share a few pics if you can!

Sandy Halvorson 10/24/2022 8:03 PM

I had a couple sweaters with moth holes. I mended them so that I can keep wearing them and avoid shopping for new ones.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Enacting Equity Shop at BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Disabled, & Women-Led Businesses!

In your community, how can you work to address systemic racism, sexism, ableism and additional forms of exclusion in the businesses?

Sandy Halvorson 10/24/2022 7:50 PM

I will work to address systemic forms of exclusion in businesses by seeking to support and promote marginalized population artists, restaurants, and small business owners.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Regenerating Nature Calculate My Water Footprint

What is one way you will reduce your water use? What is a practice you already have that helps you reduce your water use?

Sandy Halvorson 10/24/2022 7:47 PM

Recycling is something I already do that reduces water use. I still need to work on shortening those long showers.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nourishing Food Donate Food

Why do you donate food? How does it connect to your values?

Sandy Halvorson 10/24/2022 7:34 PM

I donate food because no one should go hungry. Adequate nutrition is a human right.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Enacting Equity Learn About Trans, Femme, and Nonbinary Experiences

How is equality for trans, femme, and nonbinary people important to a just and sustainable society?

Sandy Halvorson 10/24/2022 7:33 PM

What a bizarre question! Would you ask why equality for women is important? You might as well ask why equality for people -- any or all people -- is important. Let's just say that equality for any underrepresented minority is important to a just society, and absent eqality, there is no justice.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Regenerating Nature Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place? Was there a new place in your region that was exciting to learn about and visit?

Sandy Halvorson 10/23/2022 10:16 PM

Hiking the trails around Waughop Lake was beautiful, on a wonderfully crisp fall day.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Balancing Consumption Less Screen Time

What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time inside and on screens?

Sandy Halvorson 10/21/2022 1:52 PM

Social media could more accurately be described as anti-social media. Virtual interaction interferes with meaningful, direct interaction. Even when we get out, we're absorbed with taking selfies and getting likes, rather than being present in the moment.

Read More
- Mary Hanks 10/23/2022 2:38 PM
  
  Sandy, I couldn't agree more. Instead of enjoying experiences, so many people spend all their time taking photos they may never look at...or will just use to try to impress others on social media. It's sad.
  
  Read More