I have participated in courses over the years, so I know that these can help bring change. We get to see things through new eyes, which helps us rethink our priorities and how we can make changes for good (positive good) and for long-lasting good!

I'm not a spring chicken, and I grew up being outdoors every chance I could. It's more difficult for me to get around these days so I spend a lot of time binging Britbox/PBS and knitting, but the challenge has encouraged me to get back outdoors - even if it's only for a little bit each day.

I enjoyed trying new dishes. I'm not fond of beef and have wanted to do this for a long time!

I've canned fruits and veg in the past, but I'm trying my hand at pickling the leftover green tomatoes in the garden (I'm also going to fry some green tomatoes, too... something my dad did in the past).

I try to fit too much into my day, so by I average about 5.5 hours of sleep - prior to the challenge. Some things that have helped me were the mindfulness challenge, and I'm not getting an average of about 6.5 hours (still low). Focusing on mindfulness helped me sleep better and not wake up quite as often. I still have a way to go to get enough sleep, but it is a small step forward!

My car was totalled (no injuries, just an old car) and we have to consider getting another car or continuing to share one. My spouse's car gets much better gas milage (it's a hybrid) than mine did, has only had him as an owner, and has a very reliable system.

In researching cars we decided that we would prefer to get an electric car if we do get a second car, and that we would buy used. Used cars in general are better for your personal carbon footprint, as it can reduce demand for new car manufacturing, saving the environment quite a lot of impact. We also live in an area with plenty of charging stations, including some at his and his client's workplaces.

We also want to consider the limitations of our current car, and what our future holds. For example, we enjoy skiing and camping, and would like to have a family, so any "new" car we get should have all-wheel or 4-wheel drive, a good range, and be at least a hatchback.

We saw many good options while researching and will actually be taking some time this weekend to test drive different EV's in our area to get a better idea if we want to go forward with getting a new car!

I used to only care that the sugar and flour I bought were organic, and mostly due to the fact that it would guarantee they were produced in a vegan way. After watching "The Seeds of Vandana Shiva" in a Food and Culture class, I was enlightened to the cultural and environmental impact of GMO foods. I now buy much more of my food organic, as to be certified organic it cannot contain GMOs. Some of the most common GMO crops are Soy (used in many processed foods and a staple protein for plant-based eaters), Corn, Potatoes, and and Canola (often the basis for vegetable oils and one commonly used in the restaurant industry).

While I still don't necessarily believe that an Organic apple and a non-organic, non-GMO apple have any perceivable difference in taste or nutrition, and I know that I am lucky and privileged to be able to switch to mostly organic groceries, I am a firm believer in doing what you can to better the environment and preserve culture.

I have been trying to get better at freezing my produce and bread before it starts to go bad! I live with one other adult and sometimes it can be hard to find food in quantities that we can easily get through before they start to turn, so after 4-5 days I'll pre-slice the remaining bread (we try to buy whole loves from a local bakery) and put it in the freezer. I also try to sort through, wash, and prep fruit for the freezer when it starts to get a little overripe.