Gross Gross
"Doing my part to beautify just a little piece of the Earth."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,116 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO50minutesspent learning
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UP TO2,545minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO2,545minutesnot spent in front of a screen
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UP TO691pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO68plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO27poundswaste composted
Gross's actions
Fresh Water
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
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.
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 120 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.
People
Spend Time Outside
I will replace 1 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside that follows CDC guidelines for preventing disease spread.
People
Keep My Community Clean
I will pick up 15 piece(s) of litter each day while following the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.
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?
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Gross Gross 4/30/2020 4:30 PMI am sad to see the end of this challenge. Being stuck in the house during covid-19, it is easy to get frustrated. But then, there was this challenge that encouraged me to take a walk and be productive. There's a lot of uncertainty and scariness surrounding this virus, but I am glad I had the opportunity to reflect on becoming closer to the Earth starting with my backyard and my community. The end of the challenge, but not the end of my personal journey. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFresh Water Use a Reusable Water BottleUsing the links provided, investigate the bottling practices of water corporations. There have been many cases where the water rights of the local people have been violated or even completely disregarded when a corporation decides to bottle water from a particular water source. How can you advocate for those who have been harmed - both humans and wildlife - by this bottling process?
Gross Gross 4/29/2020 6:12 PMWow, I learned a lot about how much water goes into the beverages I drink (water in pumping oil, making labels, making the product). The NPR article stated that bottled water companies aren't so bad at 1.39L to make 1/L of water, soda 2.02L, a liter of beer 4L, wine 4.74L, and hard alcohol 34.55L. I guess they are right, bottled water isn't that bad, but the way I see it, water comes straight from the tap, so I can cut that waste out of the equation at the source.
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Gross Gross 4/29/2020 2:20 PMWe found this beautiful prickly pear cactus on our walk. One pad, circled in red, was not connected to the main plant, so I brought it home and planted it.
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Gross Gross 4/27/2020 7:31 PMThis is what 35 pieces of trash looks like. Cleaning up the streets really makes a difference. -
Gross Gross 4/27/2020 7:27 PMFinally, the swallowtails have found my parsley and fennel!!!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONPeople Spend Time OutsideRachel 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?
Gross Gross 4/25/2020 8:20 AMI am a big fan of pollinators and have been increasing the number of native plants In my backyard In order to Increase pollinator diversity. Because of the Covid-19 quarantine, I've spent many hours outside just looking at my plants. Doing this has made me become aware of a creature that I mistook for a lovebug. As I examined this creature more, I noticed the feathered antennae... of a moth. I downloaded the app "Leps" and now have an ID for the creature- It's Harrisina americana or the Grapeleaf Skeltonizer which Is quite destructive on grapes and Virginia creeper, the later of which commonly grows along my fence line until I rip It out. What was once a mysterious caterpillar I saw visiting plants In my yard just a year ago, I now know by name. How glad I am that I spent the time just sitting and enjoying my yard. -
Gross Gross 4/24/2020 2:07 PMThis week, I collected approximately 6 gallons of rain water and used It for watering my plants. I don't have a rain barrel, so I had to Improvise with rubbermaid and used cafe bustelo containers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPeople Keep My Community CleanHow does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?
Gross Gross 4/24/2020 1:36 PMI enjoy my 100+ yr old craftsman house that has all of the New Orleans charm. Cleaning up litter In the neighborhood only beautifies the area more and makes me feel accomplished. I have pride, not only for my house, but also the few blocks that are clean and free of debris. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Compost Food WasteNew to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? How will you use your compost once it is ready?
Gross Gross 4/23/2020 9:25 PMI produce a lot of coffee and fruit and vegetable waste. A year ago, I would just trash these Items, but now I compost them along with dog fur, cardboard, and etc. It's shocking to see how much organic material I don't put Into landfills. -
Gross Gross 4/22/2020 9:53 AMI just went outside to look at my pollinator plants and found a cloudless sulphur butterfly visiting my newly planted cassia. I hope I get some eggs! Happy Earth Day!!!