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April 1 - April 30, 2020
Flossie Erben's avatar

Flossie Erben

HP Boise

"Mission Statement"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 557 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    4.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    2.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    9.0
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    2.0
    documentaries
    watched
  • UP TO
    264
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    3.0
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    245
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    5.3
    pounds
    food waste prevented
  • UP TO
    11
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    4.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted

Flossie's actions

Wildlife

Research a Wild Animal

I will spend at least 2 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

Action Track: Building Resilience

Connect While Social Distancing

I will connect with at least 2 person/people a day through phone call or video chat to support mine and other’s mental and emotional health during this challenging time.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

People

Earth Day Action: Share Eco Tips

Through social media or on the Earth Day Ecochallenge feed, I will share my favorite environmentally friendly habit with my friends, even if it’s not an Earth Day action.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Trail Clean up

I will organize or participate in a trail clean up effort.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 3 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Oceans

Learn about Our Oceans

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning about how our oceans support life on Earth by producing oxygen, regulating climate, and providing habitat, food, and jobs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Advocate for Forest Protection

I will contact 4 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and improves their ability to sequester carbon and nourish biodiversity.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by prepping for 2 meal(s) each day, only buying the ingredients I need.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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 15 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Fresh Water

Dishwasher Efficiency

I will scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher and only run the dishwasher when it’s full.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Fresh Water

Water-Friendly Beauty Products

Avoid beauty products with micro beads or harsh chemicals that will feed into the ground and your water supply.

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?


  • Flossie Erben's avatar
    Flossie Erben 4/30/2020 12:40 PM
    As I reflect back on this month and challenge, I realized that this was a good way to find small, daily changes that could make a real difference.  I also was able to get some letters written to politicians, pull my kids into helping and I really enjoyed the sharing.  I wish I would've signed up earlier than half way through the month.  

    Thanks Teresa & Krista! 

    • Teresa Broadus's avatar
      Teresa Broadus 4/30/2020 1:06 PM
      Very cool, Flossie -- I agree, we should've gotten started earlier!  Next year!

  • Flossie Erben's avatar
    Flossie Erben 4/23/2020 9:42 AM
    For my favorite Eco Tip - Attach the leg/foot end of a pair of pantyhose to the water output of your washing machine to help catch microplastics from fabric entering the water systems. 

    • Flossie Erben's avatar
      Flossie Erben 4/23/2020 12:55 PM
      Yes, you can see... it's like any filter, it's all icky.  It catches other stuff too (feathers from my pillowcases, etc).   

      On replacing, it depends on what I'm washing.  We replace it every couple of months, like your furnace filters.  If I'm doing bedding, etc I need to do it sooner. 

    • Teresa Broadus's avatar
      Teresa Broadus 4/23/2020 11:39 AM
      This is crazy --- do you actually see the microplastics when you replace?

    • Debbie Tuckness's avatar
      Debbie Tuckness 4/23/2020 11:03 AM
      How often do you have to replace it?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Oceans Learn about Our Oceans
    What is one way in which oceans support your life on Earth? What is one way you can help take care of ocean health with your actions?

    Flossie Erben's avatar
    Flossie Erben 4/21/2020 2:18 PM
    The ocean influences weather and climate by storing solar radiation, distributing heat and moisture around the globe, and driving weather systems.  It is a huge impact on all human life.  The best thing that we can do is to help reduce our greenhouse emissions... 

    • Debbie Tuckness's avatar
      Debbie Tuckness 4/22/2020 8:12 AM
      We have a monthly subscription with 4Oceans,  My daughter gets bracelet that every month made of beads created from recycled plastic that they pull out of the ocean.  It's a fun easy way to contribute to removing the ocean pollution. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife Support Pollinators
    Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

    Flossie Erben's avatar
    Flossie Erben 4/15/2020 3:48 PM
    Wow...  I was quite surprised to find out that Monarch butterflies, which is a key pollinator for the US only lays their eggs on Milkweed and their larvae feast on milkweed.  

    Guess I'll be looking to see if I can get some planted... 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Weekly Meal Planning
    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?

    Flossie Erben's avatar
    Flossie Erben 4/15/2020 10:40 AM
    I don't think it surprises me, but it's definitely something for us to work on.  I have started meal planning, especially with the shut down as it is more complicated.  

    I'd rather use the money to save for my kids' college.