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October 1 - October 31, 2025

PCC Ecopanthers Feed

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  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation
    A round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles emits just over 1.5 tons of CO2—per person. That’s a lot of carbon! What can you do to reduce the number of flights you take per year?

    Kim Smith's avatar
    Kim Smith 10/28/2025 8:42 PM
    It has been quite a year for us with air travel, as we are facing increasing health issues in our families. Alas, we do not live close enough to drive within a day (which has its own carbon footprint), so are grateful for the opportunity to fly.

    Yet, we are worried about our carbon footprints. So, we do multiple actions to try to compensate, by purchasing carbon off-sets, planting trees, and maintaining our compost bins and permaculture gardens. It isn't enough, but it makes me feel a little better.

  • Kim Smith's avatar
    Kim Smith 10/28/2025 8:34 PM
    It has been fascinating to have a daily focused action with nature journaling and some deeper dives into one-time actions. While I am often attentive to nature, the nature journaling exercise has helped me be more present and intentional in noticing daily changes.

    One thing that I noticed that seemed rather new in my yard was a vast increase in mushrooms. I love mycelia and the power of all of the interconnections that we can't see, so it is great to have the visible manifestations of growth and transformation.

    • Kim Smith's avatar
      Kim Smith 10/28/2025 8:37 PM
      I am not sure why the picture didn't upload earlier. These were all growing underneath our apple tree.

  • Talliyah Hardnett's avatar
    Talliyah Hardnett 10/28/2025 10:18 AM
    I genuinely cannot believe that we have already completed a month of this EcoChallenge! At first this started as a class activity for me, but as the month went on I can proudly say staying consistent in planning weekly meals and taking the time to meditate for five minutes or more allowed me to save a significant amount of money this month that I was able to put towards other necessities (Like furnishing my new apartment) and just have those moments throughout my days where I was able to take a step back and recenter my attention on the things I see fit.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste
    How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?

    lilah davis's avatar
    lilah davis 10/27/2025 4:56 PM
    One way I have been wanting to incorporate reduce/reuse into my everyday cycle is by purchasing some reusable shopping bags. Although a lot of stores have already stopped using plastic, I think we could go a step further ourselves and get a few reusable bags instead of using paper bags/carboard boxes provided from the store. This way we are not building up a bunch paper as well as plastic.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste
    Choosing two-sided printing can be an easy adjustment on your computer settings. How can you help others make this same switch? Can it be encouraged company wide?

    lilah davis's avatar
    lilah davis 10/27/2025 4:50 PM
    My chemistry class requires 2 weekly lab packets, usually about 10 pages. I used this as a perfect opportunity to switch to double sided-printing and save paper. However, I noticed a lot of my classmates still print one-sided, maybe I can take a minute at the start of class or send out a mass email explaining how much paper we can save and additional benefits if we ALL switch to double-sided. Another idea could be seeing if I could incorporate a near the student printers on campus that encourages double-sided printing if the student can! I have never personally used a printer on campus so I do not know if this is already a thing, but if it isn't that could be helpful.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature
    How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place -- your deep knowledge of and appreciation for your surroundings?

    lilah davis's avatar
    lilah davis 10/27/2025 4:46 PM
    Personally, my walk outside made me appreciate all the small and exciting things that we were naturally gifted. Like the gift of fresh clean air, little critters that make you stop, point, and giggle, the colorful leaves that make you pause in awe, or small successes like stepping on a really crunchy leaf. It made me realize how beautiful our environment can be if taken care of properly, which further inspired me to make an effort to help keep my town clean.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health
    Before you started this challenge, did you think you were 'addicted' to sugar? How do you feel now? What was the most challenging part of reducing refined sugar, and how did you overcome it?

    Jayden Cade's avatar
    Jayden Cade 10/26/2025 9:27 PM
    I did think I was addicted to sugar before this challenge. I feel like I am able to control the amount of sugar I indulge in now. The most challenging part of reducing redefined sugar was the food and I overcame it by treating the food like how I treat sugar drinks, just typically avoiding them as often as I can
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health
    How did exercising each day impact your physical or mental well-being? What activity did you enjoy most, and why?

    Jayden Cade's avatar
    Jayden Cade 10/26/2025 9:25 PM
    Exercising daily has made me think more about the possibilities of what I can do in my career and has made me more confident in participating in the sports I love to play. I love bench press because I improved my 1 rep max of 225 pounds to 6 reps in less then 30 days.

  • Jayden Cade's avatar
    Jayden Cade 10/26/2025 9:22 PM
    I haven't checked in with this challenge daily but I have been participating in my goals. Exercising everyday is something I haven't done since high school but it is becoming easier. As for reducing redefined sugar it hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be considering I love processed sweets.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature
    How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?

    Ruben Frausto's avatar
    Ruben Frausto 10/26/2025 2:34 PM
    Planting trees is an amazing way of starting your connection with nature. Sometimes you don't have the time to tend to a garden, so planting a tree is an amazing alternative for many. It's quick, simple, and rewarding!

    • Janet  Beach 's avatar
      Janet Beach 10/26/2025 5:38 PM
      You plant trees for the future. It’s the ultimate expression of hope.