Laura Heck

LHB, Inc.

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
737 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

advocacy action

completed
UP TO

228

conversations

with people
UP TO

27

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

19

pounds

waste composted

Laura's actions

Oceans

Advocate For More Packaging Options

Plastic packaging can clog our water ways and the stomachs of sea creatures. I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Food

Reduce Animal Products

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Use Reusable Bags

Plastic bags can be mistaken for food by many wild animals. If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Action Track: Building Resilience

Connect While Social Distancing

I will connect with at least 10 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 2
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
Oceans Advocate For More Packaging Options

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

Laura Heck 4/28/2020 8:31 AM

My biggest concern is ocean acidification. It's not just a matter of making better choices personally. We need to hold larger organizations accountable for their use of materials, including plastics. Advocating for other packaging options is a great first step.

Read More
- Terza Kurki 4/28/2020 9:46 AM
  
  Packaging materials as well as appropriate sized packaging for items should definitely be a huge consideration for all companies.
  
  Currently dealing with an opportunity where monthly I'm receiving a mid-sized cardboard box with a Styrofoam cooler enclosed. The contents could be shipped in a considerably smaller container and a better material than Styrofoam...ugh!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?

Laura Heck 4/27/2020 8:40 AM

We eat more meat in the U.S. because it is readily available and ingrained in our culture. We've been taught to eat meat at nearly every meal instead of thinking "Are there other ways to satisfy my dietary needs?" The discussion of the environmental impact of eating meat hasn't been in the forefront until more recently.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Wildlife Use Reusable Bags

What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reusable one with you? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to create a successful habit of not using plastic bags?

Laura Heck 4/22/2020 10:22 AM

Unfortunately my local grocery store does not wish for us to use our own bags due to COVID-19. At the very least we are using paper bags and then recycling and composting them.

Read More
- Joellyn Gum 4/23/2020 3:50 PM
  
  Ditto. Our city had to postpone the bag fee charge and order that everyone use new bags. It is very frustrating not being able to reuse containers or bags at this time. On the plus side, we don't need to buy any additional bags for garbage or storage.
  
  Read More
Laura Heck 4/16/2020 6:36 AM

My biggest struggle during this challenge is to remember to log my actions! I'm going to add a calendar appointment that reminds me going forward.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Fresh Water Dishwasher Efficiency

How can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?

Laura Heck 4/16/2020 6:34 AM

Going beyond taking shorter showers, we'll need to find creative ways to conserve water. I notice I use a lot more water when I handwash dishes, so I may transition to finding more items that are suitable for the dishwasher (i.e. stop using non-stick cookware).

Read More
- Daniel Stine 4/18/2020 6:12 AM
  
  Per Jen's comment, a nice thing about SS cookware is you can use "real" (i.e. not thick plastic) spatula:) And scrub them hard when needed!
  
  Read More
- Jen Worley 4/16/2020 10:17 AM
  
  I've started using stainless steel more and was surprised that it's not bad to work with. I received a set as a gift that can go in the dishwasher and is even oven safe up to a certain temperature.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Compost Food Waste

New 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?

Laura Heck 4/16/2020 6:32 AM

We certainly have less waste while composting. We plan to use our compost in our flower pots. I might even start a container garden this year.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Building Resilience Connect While Social Distancing

How does connecting with others help your own mental and emotional health? How can it help support others?

Laura Heck 4/16/2020 6:30 AM

Connecting with others via video chat helps me feel less isolated and gives me a little window into their daily home lives. I love it when I catch a glimpse of a dog or cat on a video chat!

Read More