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Mavala Sanchez 10/20/2025 10:48 AM- Exercise Lover 🤸
I just started canning some of my food. I did get a chance to read up on the USDA guidelines, and it is easy to follow.
Shawna Troyer
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 699 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0locally sourced mealconsumed
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UP TO270minutesnot spent in front of a screen
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UP TO6.0donationsmade
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO625minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO210minutesspent learning
Shawna's actions
Health
Go Get a Check Up
Regular health check-ups help prevent problems before they start. I will schedule or attend a medical, dental, or mental health check-up to take care of my well-being.
Food
Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty
I will watch 1 documentaries about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.
Take the Pre-Survey
Take the Pre-Event Survey
I’ll take a short pre-survey to share what motivated me to join — and earn 15 points! (If I already took the survey by email, I’ll just mark this action complete to get my points.)
Nature
Explore a New Trail or Nature Walk
I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.
Nature
Learn to Grow Plants My Way
Growing plants can be rewarding and can create habitats big and small for wildlife. And, we can grow things almost anywhere! I will spend 10 minutes researching options for growing plants either inside or outside.
Nature
Learn How to Save the Bees
At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 30 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.
Nature
Spend Time Outside
I will replace 30 minutes each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.
Nature
Practice Gratitude for the Earth
I will spend 10 minutes per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and my natural surroundings.
Waste
Go Paperless and Opt Out of Junk Mail
I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.
Food
Plant an Herb Garden
I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.
Food
Buy From a Farmers Market
I will shop at a farmers market or food co-op to support local farmers and businesses. By doing so, I may be able to learn more about who produces the food I eat and goods I buy.
Energy
Upgrade Heating and Cooling Units
I will replace inefficient heating and cooling units with energy saving units.
Simplicity
Declutter My Home
I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home.
Food
Try a New Way to Prep
I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.
Food
Donate Food in My Community
I will find out what food programs are in my area and donate food and/or other items that they request.
Health
Reduce Refined Sugar
Cutting back on refined sugar can improve energy, mood, and overall health. I will limit my intake of sugary snacks and drinks by reducing refined sugar in meals or snacks each day.
Participant Feed
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Shawna Troyer 10/31/2025 1:33 PMThank you, everyone that joined me on team Engie - Activate! I hope everyone had fun with this, learned new things, and possibly found some useful changes to carry forward, or ones that you maybe weren't so successful at but will keep trying (side-eye at cutting refined sugars). Hope you all had a great October! -
Shawna Troyer 10/29/2025 5:19 PMI almost checked that I am getting nothing done today... but I'm going to transplant my tomato plant cuttings (it worked! They grew roots! At least 1 of the 3 plants did). And work on getting rid of excess belongings and try to start re-organizing my apartment.-
Mary Hanks 10/29/2025 6:38 PM- Pet Parent 🐾
That sounds like a really productive day to me. Congratulations on your success with the tomato plants! And as for organizing and decluttering...that's tough, and any progress is a significant achievement.
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Shawna Troyer 10/27/2025 8:06 AMOne of my friends taught me how to make her sauerkraut a week ago... it's still going. I'm not sure mine will turn out? But I'm crossing fingers. At worst: it's closer to turning out than my first attempt years ago without hands on instruction. I've also been researching recipes for using up abundance in tomatoes (my plants never ripened enough, but a friend gave me a box full of green tomatoes. I got half to ripen to red, and half I can use green). Today is processing day. -
Shawna Troyer 10/25/2025 11:41 PMI finally made it to a farmer's market! The one still open is about 25 minutes away from me but I enjoyed my time there. Bonus: I remembered to reach out to a friend (she recently moved back to town and I keep forgetting) and we went together. Spent 30 minutes walking around outside, meeting different vendors, and bought ingredients for numerous meals. Might go again next week ... an older gentleman had dried comfrey and raspberry leaf and I talked myself out of them.-
Glenda Harrison 10/26/2025 1:17 PM- Earth Advocate 📣
Farmer's Market's are great, and it's nice to get to know the vendors. I hope you can make it back next week for the comfrey and raspberry leaf - I've talked myself out of things like that in the past and have also regretted it! -
Nathalie Alaves 10/26/2025 10:19 AM
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Shawna Troyer 10/23/2025 8:42 PMI swear there used to be an edible food map ... Spokane Edible Tree Project (which I had saved) seems to only be about linking orchards/etc with food banks, and not about sharing where one can harvest at will. Falling Fruit is a global map. Somebody posted a guava tree in Egypt (South of Cairo/Giza area I think?) Some countries have little to no participation, some have tons. I'm not sure how current it all is. -
Shawna Troyer 10/20/2025 9:48 PMI just finished watching Regaining Food Sovereignty. Despite the reminder that fry bread is NOT traditional I still love fry bread (and yeah, not healthy either, but... fry bread *heart*). I multi=tasked while watching and found Northwest Meadowscapes Native Seed. I plan on a combination of planted bulbs, container garden, and scattered wildflower seeds for my small garden patch. And as usual, if all I grow are weeds... at least something is growing! (I told neighbors that's why I let the "weeds" stay). ohhhh... i wonder, if I ask, if Indigenous Eats will make me a heart-shaped fry bread. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodCanning and pickling food is a great way to have delicious summer fruits and vegetables all year round. Just make sure to follow the canning and pickling guidelines from the USDA or another trusted source. What are some foods that you would like to preserve and enjoy later in the year?
Shawna Troyer 10/20/2025 8:31 AMThis fall it's all about apples, tomatoes (both ripe and green), and cabbage. Thanks to friends with excess. -
Shawna Troyer 10/20/2025 7:40 AMWanted to share a photo from Friday when I went apple picking. This was picked from TWO trees, in about 20 minutes. Golden delicious (hidden bottom half) and whatever these red ones are. Woman with the orchard isn't sure what kinds of apples she has "granny smith, red delicious, I don't know the rest". She has a ton of golden delicious, one granny smith, some red delicious, some Jonathan or Jonagold (we suspect) and while SHE thinks the only has 4 kinds of apples, I feel she has 5 because there's one that's almost more pinkish (The prior owner has reached out to her son who planted them to see if he remembers, but she never heard back). The two trees I picked from look barely touched. I then went around to other trees and filled another mixed box, plus one bag of goldens and one bag of granny smith. Gave apples to mom, three friends, little free pantries, random strangers, three more friends are getting apples today, and mom messaged me last night that she wants more. So I'll probably go picking again.
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Kerry Keck 10/20/2025 4:30 PMWhat a great way to combine outdoor exercise and filling your larder with fresh, nutritious fruit.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodWhy do you donate food? How does it connect to your values?
Shawna Troyer 10/17/2025 10:25 AMA friend once called me a "broke philanthropist" and that the only time I was ever truly happy was when I was helping others (or sometimes reading a good book). So... this is why? But today I'm picking apples from a local AirB&B that happens to also have an orchard. "donations appreciated, not required" but I'm giving her a little $. And the apples are going to be given to a few friends, family, and at least 3 little free pantries in the area. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONSimplicityHow can you prevent yourself from accumulating more things in the future?
Shawna Troyer 10/14/2025 7:30 PMFind a friend to go with you who is NOT into whatever it is you're shopping for, so they can tell you no or slap your hand as needed. Have a one in, one (or more) out strategy. Share with friends/neighbors/community. Re-use, Re-purpose, or do without.-
Keila Miller 10/14/2025 7:51 PM- Book Lover 📚
Great ideas! I use the one in and one out strategy as often as possible. Lately, I’ve been replacing items after they break or when they are obviously near their end.
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