"To be present in my surroundings, to be mindful of how I live in them, to treat my body better as to what I put into it and the thoughts I keep, to be a better human to others and the planet. "
POINTS TOTAL
0
TODAY
0
THIS WEEK
857
TOTAL
participant impact
UP TO
36
disposable cups
not sent to the landfill
UP TO
536
gallons of water
have been saved
UP TO
107
meatless or vegan meals
consumed
UP TO
120
minutes
spent learning
UP TO
1,708
minutes
spent outdoors
UP TO
1,673
minutes
not spent in front of a screen
UP TO
31
plastic straws
not sent to the landfill
UP TO
11
pounds
food waste prevented
UP TO
22
pounds of CO2
have been saved
Lorrie's actions
Oceans
Say No to Plastic Straws
An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When marine wildlife ingest plastic, they have a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.
COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS
Wildlife
Research a Wild Animal
I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about a wild animal I find interesting, including their life cycle, habitat, ecosystem functions, and interactions with humans (if any!).
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Oceans
Smart Seafood Choices
I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Forests
Use a Reusable Mug
If possible, I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.
COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS
Forests
Explore My Area
I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area while following CDC guidelines for social distancing.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Forests
Forest-Friendly Foods
I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Food
Weekly Meal Planning
I will reduce food waste and save money by prepping for 1 meal(s) each day, only buying the ingredients I need.
COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS
Food
Reduce Animal Products
I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 2 vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS
Action Track: Building Resilience
Spend Time Outside
I will replace 60 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside that follows CDC guidelines for preventing disease spread.
COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS
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
WildlifeResearch a Wild Animal
What interesting facts did you learn about the animal you researched? What are some of your favorite things about this animal?
I researched Peregrine Falcons as I have access to viewing a falcon cam regularly. It is amazing the speeds at which they fly (up to 200mph), can live up to 20 years old and they can migrate > 15k miles annually. I reviewed the database to see how the fledges from Rochester, MN have faired over time, as I had watched several of them from eggs to fledging. I love that they return to the same nest - often engaging in fierce territory battles to maintain their nest and mate. Orton, pictured below, sporting battle scars from a recent territory battle that spanned ~ 1.5 hours.
Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?
I downloaded the Seafood Watch app and looked up advisories for my region, as well as those to which I have recently traveled. It's pretty easy here in a coastal region to follow the guidelines, as there are abundant choices. I check the app regularly now when shopping for fish.
I have a Yeti with a reusable straw that I have substituted for disposable products - for some reason, I drink water more frequently if I drink from a straw. I have started using more reusable storage containers over plastic bags. I'm also mindful of whether or not I need a plastic produce bag or leave them loose when shopping.
I think once you start exploring your area and appreciating what is there, you have more neighborhood and civic pride. Once you start to care, you will start to be more mindful of how you and others treat that space, so you will begin to be an advocate and perhaps actively support maintaining that space in some way.
Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?
About the time we began having the benefit of an incentive for bringing our own mug at work, 2 things happened, 1. I stopped drinking coffee during the week to cut down on my caffeine consumption and 2. I had work experience with Infection Prevention and Control and wondered how they would view it on a large scale and then COVID happened. So I don't know what that will look like when things return to normal. I will continue not drinking coffee during the week and if I have green tea, I will use a reusable mug. What about everyone else???!!! PS On weekends, I will still have a Starbucks :) in a plastic cup :(
I would think people living in richer countries have more choices and more access to meat. There is often lush land that allows for plentiful grazing areas. In a way, needing the pastureland for raising livestock may save some land from other types of development.
Action Track: Building ResilienceSpend Time Outside
Rachel Carson said that we need the beauty and mysteries of the natural world for our spiritual and emotional development. Does that ring true for you? What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time indoors?
It has been interesting that this challenge fell during the pandemic. I think people have craved being outside more than ever and when I spent time outside during breakfasts, lunches, dinners, or for exercise, I saw so many more people doing the same. With families, with pets, with headphones. People I had never seen before getting out and being friendlier - at a distance - hopefully that friendlier part will continue.
Love riding my bike when the work day is done and seeing others on the sidewalk (from an appropriate distance)! I think people are craving that interaction with strangers you pass on the street - light and with no expectation and richly rewarding. And then you see them the next day and maybe next week and the world becomes a little smaller and a lot brighter.
An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Does this surprise you? Where would you rather use this money?
Sadly, I am vey guilty of wasting food. I have been trying to do better at meal planning and the COVID quarantine has really helped me plan meals and use the food I've already purchased. In the past 3 weeks, I have only shopped for groceries once, with a second quick trip for fresh fruit. I am using what I've purchased and feel really good about it.
