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April 1 - April 30, 2020
Elizabeth Dunham's avatar

Elizabeth Dunham

SEEDS Ecology & Education Centers

"Excited about composting, recycling, and turning off my lights! #LetsDoThisThing"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 766 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    29
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    36
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    15
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    855
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    855
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    28
    pounds
    waste composted

Elizabeth's actions

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate

Local Climate Issues

I will spend at least 15 minute(s) a day researching climate issues or climate solutions in my local area and share with others through my team feed, social media, or conversations with my peers.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate

Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Plant Trees

I will plant 4 native tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

UNCOMPLETED
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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

People

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

Fresh Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Wildlife

Support Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators, including monarch butterflies, to produce fruit. I will spend 30 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 0 vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

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?


  • Elizabeth Dunham's avatar
    Elizabeth Dunham 4/30/2020 9:49 AM
    EcoChallenge review event today!

  • Elizabeth Dunham's avatar
    Elizabeth Dunham 4/27/2020 10:54 AM
    I put in a misdig request so I can start planning my garden in earnest :)

  • Elizabeth Dunham's avatar
    Elizabeth Dunham 4/24/2020 3:32 PM
    Beautiful day today! Feels like spring!

  • Elizabeth Dunham's avatar
    Elizabeth Dunham 4/20/2020 6:17 PM
    Now that I've been composting for a few weeks, it really is wild how much food scraps I produce! Maybe more now than usual, since I am cooking at home more.

    • Toby Salzman's avatar
      Toby Salzman 4/21/2020 9:33 AM
      I had the greatest volume of food scraps when I belonged to the CSA at the MSU Organic Farm - that's when I set up my compost bin. All the extra bits that stores tend to take off were now coming into my house. By comparison, we have very little food waste now. If I wanted to gather bags of trimmings and bits for making stock I'd have even less, but it would accumulate so slowly at the rate I create it that I have never started doing this. Part of what works for me is that I don't have spoilage; I manage to use what I buy.

  • Elizabeth Dunham's avatar
    Elizabeth Dunham 4/17/2020 8:11 AM
    Our recent snowfall in Kalkaska already melted! I'm very excited for my walk today, it looks like it's going to be beautiful out.

  • Elizabeth Dunham's avatar
    Elizabeth Dunham 4/13/2020 10:03 AM
    While  following the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order, many of us are spending more time at home. That means our homes are using more water, more electricity, more natural gas and more propane. Do you know how this is impacting your carbon footprint? But, we are driving less. Does burning less gasoline in our cars make up for your increased home utility use?

    We challenge you to use this simple calculator from the EPA to figure out your  carbon footprint. https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/

    What do you think? Is your carbon footprint increasing or decreasing? What can you do to reduce your energy use, reduce emission and help heal the planet? How much can you reduce your carbon footprint in a month or year? 

    To complete this challenge you'll need to gather your utility bills (electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, propane) to calculate your average use over a year. You can go  fueleconomy.gov to  find your car's rated fuel efficiency. 


  • Elizabeth Dunham's avatar
    Elizabeth Dunham 4/09/2020 1:59 PM
    I have been missing my time outside, I am looking forward to better weather!

  • Elizabeth Dunham's avatar
    Elizabeth Dunham 4/07/2020 8:27 AM
    I signed up for Consumer Energy's renewable energy options, which is basically subscribing to solar blocks. I am interested to seeing how it goes. In the meantime, I will turn off lights I am not using!

  • Elizabeth Dunham's avatar
    Elizabeth Dunham 4/06/2020 2:11 PM
    I've been looking into pollinator plants for my yard, I have not purchased or planted yet though I am getting excited!

  • Elizabeth Dunham's avatar
    Elizabeth Dunham 4/03/2020 1:07 PM
    I began working on my challenge to support pollinators. I started by watching this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8uI_wLRW-8&feature=youtu.be
    I plan on enhancing on my flower beds with pollinator friendly plants.