I will contact 1 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests, improves their ability to sequester carbon, and supports biodiversity.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Balancing Consumption
Know My Waste & Recycling Services
I will spend 30 minutes finding out how to recycle in my region, where landfills and/or waste sites are situated in my region, and which communities are most impacted by these sites.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Enacting Equity
Research Indigenous & First Nations Communities
I will spend 30 learning about the past and present indigenous or first nation communities in my regions impacted by colonization, and what I can do to be supportive.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Nourishing Food
Weekly Meal Planning
I will reduce food waste, excess carbon and save money by planning my daily and weekly menus so that I only purchase the ingredients needed.
COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS
Nourishing Food
Make Zero-Waste Meals
I will cook 3 meal(s) with zero-waste each day.
COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS
Nourishing Food
Research the Benefits of Agricultural Biodiversity
I will spend 30 minutes each day researching how agricultural biodiversity positively impacts the food I eat.
COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS
Nourishing Food
Compost Food Scraps
I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill per day by composting my food.
COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS
Regenerating Nature
Spend Time Outside
I will replace 30 minute(s) per day typically spent inside and often with electronics with quality time outside walking, exercising, enjoying the sunrise/sunset, gardening, journaling, observing nature, or practicing gratitude for nature.
COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS
Enacting Equity
Watch a Documentary about Racial Injustice
I will watch 2 documentaries about racism and racial injustice.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Cultivating Communities
Stay on the Ground
Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. digital/virtual attendance, vacation without air travel).
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
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 30 minutes learning about palm oil, coffee, cocoa, and other products known to contribute to deforestation, and replace or remove them.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Regenerating Nature
Support Local Pollinators
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 pollinators and plant a few in my area.
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?
REFLECTION
QUESTION
Nourishing FoodForest-Friendly Foods
How did you figure out ways to remove foods that are not forest-friendly?
An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four in the US spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Does this surprise you? Where would you rather use this money?
It is surprising, how much food is thrown out. I'd rather this money went to food banks or charitable organisations to assist those in need or education programmes to help inspire and encourage families and communities to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
During the July Plastic Ecochallenge I learnt a lot about soft plastic recycling and microplastics which I wasn't aware of. I recall the shock and dismay at suddenly seeing plastic in many of the products I purchase. Since then, there's been moments of surprise and delight seeing some brands remove or significantly reduce their plastic content. I find this hopeful and applaud the brands that make it a little easier for us to contribute together to a healthier planet, plants, animals, humans.
Alot more conferences are hybrid these days providing the option to attend in person or the virtual experience. The virtual experience allows for a wider audience to connect with the added benefits of saving on travel times and costs while reducing your carbon footprint.
Birds, bees and butterflies in no particular order. It's crucial to take care of our pollinators, they're essential for the reproduction of plant species and for the growth of fruit and vegetables as an edible food source. Many of our pollinator populations are on the decline due to the impacts of climate change, pollution and the use of pesticides so it's more important than ever to be finding ways we can contribute to creating safe and healthy habitats where our pollinators can thrive.
As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? How will you use your compost once it is ready?
My compost heap is a simple method of dig a hole, add fruit and vegetable peelings, eggshells and tea leaves then cover with soil, leaves or grass clippings. A relationship of reciprocity, we feed each other. Any seedlings that naturally sprout, get transplanted into the vegetable garden and at the end of each season, I'll replenish the garden with soil from the compost teeming with worms and other microorganisms.
Spending time outside observing and reflecting in nature.Radiating yellow these dandelion beauties bring sunshine to the lawn. Often referred to as a weed, they're actually a fantastic source of food and medicine. Petals can be added to salads or steeped as tea, leaves can also be used in salads and the root can be dried to make dandelion coffee. I still get a little whimsical from time to time, plucking a flower, that's gone to seed, making a wish, watching in awe as seeds take to the air on their path to regeneration.
