Skip to main content
April 1 - April 30, 2020
Talia Manning's avatar

Talia Manning

Upper Valley Climate Action 2020

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 366 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    advocacy action
    completed
  • UP TO
    4.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    80
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    4.0
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    15
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    1.0
    public official or leader
    contacted
  • UP TO
    1.0
    tree
    planted

Talia'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 2 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

People

Connect While Social Distancing

I will connect with at least 1 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

People

Earth Day Action: Research and Support Local Organizations

I will spend 30 minutes researching local organizations and businesses in my community, then support one of them by writing a testimonial or positive review, ordering curbside, making a donation to my favorite nonprofit, or supporting them in another way.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Advocate For More Food Options

Access to affordable, nutritious food is a food justice issue. I will advocate for local and/or organic food options in my state and/or community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Earth Day Together!

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

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

Plant Trees

I will plant 1 native tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

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

Action Track: Building Resilience

Earth Day Art Project

Complete an art project using found objects, waste and other materials you have at home. Share what you create on the Virtual Earth Day Art Show at AVA Gallery.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

#onethingforearth Photo & Video Challenge

The purpose of the challenge is for people to record a short video or take photos of themselves doing one thing that is good for the earth, then in the video, challenge their family, friends and others to do their own video. People who accept the challenge should post the videos on any or all of their social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter) and use the hashtag #OneThing4Earth and tag NHDES (@NHDES for Twitter; @NHenvironmentalservices for Facebook and Instagram) The worldwide response to the coronavirus pandemic is and should be all of our priorities. NHDES hopes that a social media-based video challenge, like the #OneThing4Earth, will provide people practicing social distancing with a way to recognize the importance of Earth Day. You do not have to be challenged to participate, but remember in your video to challenge your friends, family, coworkers and others to join in. This challenge was created by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES).

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?


  • Talia Manning's avatar
    Talia Manning 4/30/2020 7:54 PM
    So glad I was able to participate in this challenge -- it has been a fun way to make a difference during an otherwise discombobulated, inwardly-focused, and overwhelming time!  Thank you especially to Lyn for organizing and encouraging along the way!  I look forward to more opportunities to connect and effect change with all of you in the future!

  • Talia Manning's avatar
    Talia Manning 4/22/2020 2:14 PM
    Earth Day Action: Share Eco Tips

    I am a marketer and am currently thrilled to be working with an author to promote his just-released coming-of-age memoir, which has a major focus on conservation and sustainability. All author profits from his book and book tour will be donated to local and national conservation efforts.

    For Earth Day, I helped the author create a campaign to drive book sales and also give people some ideas about how to "celebrate Earth Day from the couch."  (My business has also shared these ideas through our s  You can view the tips here: https://mailchi.mp/a51b439f55b0/tttur-earth-day-50

    My favorite part of the campaign is our decision to solicit favorite conservation-related charities over the next couple of weeks.  Then, just before the book's "official" launch on May 12 (it is currently available through a "soft-launch" that is aimed at supporting COVID-19 relief efforts), we will draw a winner from the submissions and the selected charity will receive all author profits from all the sales during the week of May 12-May 19.  IF YOU COMMENT ON THIS POST WITH THE NAME OF YOUR FAVORITE CONSERVATION CHARITY, IT WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE DRAWING!  I'm looking forward to seeing what charities are submitted, so I can discover new organizations doing good for the world!


    • Evelyn (lyn) Swett's avatar
      Evelyn (lyn) Swett 4/22/2020 5:39 PM
      The conservation law foundation is an incredible organization that focuses on legal issues around the environment in New England.  ecochallenge.org is actually my favorite environmental organization because it focuses on people and the planet, not just on the land itself. Fun to learn about your work!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    People Earth Day Action: Research and Support Local Organizations
    Why is it important to support local organizations and businesses? How does it help to build a more resilient community?

    Talia Manning's avatar
    Talia Manning 4/22/2020 1:58 PM
    We are so grateful to have a fantastic network of local organizations -- particularly those that can deliver fresh, organic, and healthy foods to our table. Today when signing up for our usual summer CSA, I researched a few other local farms I had never heard of before and opted to (in addition to increasing our usual CSA contribution for the season) support one new farm I learned about with a small CSA share and another with a donation because of the value I felt they were contributing to our community based on my research.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    People Connect While Social Distancing
    How does connecting with others help your own mental and emotional health? How can it help support others?

    Talia Manning's avatar
    Talia Manning 4/22/2020 1:54 PM
    My son just turned 3 and having him miss out on time getting to know his grandparents during this lockdown was so sad for me! We've tried to reach out to both sets of his grandparents on FaceTime (usually a couple of times a week), and watching him connect with them despite the distance has been so heartwarming. They read stories together via video chat, enjoy meals together, and cheer on his new "tricks" together. Today, we also video chatted with his great-grandmother and she said it was such a wonderful "pick-me-up" and distraction from one of her friend's dealing with a health issue.

    • Evelyn (lyn) Swett's avatar
      Evelyn (lyn) Swett 4/22/2020 5:41 PM
      Talia - - That must be really hard. It's complicated for the younglings who don't really understand what's going on. I am at the other end of things, with a 20 year old son who cooks dinner three times a week! I wish my 89 year old mother-in-law could handle technology - - We feel really separated from her. Congrats on making the Facetime work between the generations!

  • Talia Manning's avatar
    Talia Manning 4/22/2020 1:48 PM
    It has been challenging keeping up with posts in the challenge because of my very limited time (full-time job balanced with husband's full-time job balanced with at-home toddler plus all the home maintenance we are used to outsourcing). Earth Day seemed like an especially good excuse to rack up some points (and take some extra actions), but I've also noticed that even on days I don't end up getting online, I have some "level up" moments when I compost, work on my garden, or teach my toddler about something related to sustainability and feel good about how I've contributed (even without the actual point accrual). Hoping to check in a few more times before the end of the month if I'm able!

    • Evelyn (lyn) Swett's avatar
      Evelyn (lyn) Swett 4/22/2020 5:43 PM
      Talia -- Thank you for trying!! It's so hard! I hear you about trying to do those things that used to be outsourced. And toddlers are a handful. Love that you took some time to reflect and share today. Be well and stay sane. Cheers, Lyn
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Oceans Say No to Plastic Straws
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

    Talia Manning's avatar
    Talia Manning 4/22/2020 1:42 PM
    We do our best to limit single-use items, but always used to use single-use plastic straws for our summer smoothies (a favorite family treat).  We recently purchased two stainless steel straws and have used them a couple of times this month for our first couple smoothies of the season!  It took some getting used to (brrr -- the chill of the smoothies makes the metal chilly!), but we really like them now!  And so easy to clean -- just pop them in the dishwasher!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Advocate For More Food Options
    What efforts would help food insecure regions have access to local, seasonal foods?

    Talia Manning's avatar
    Talia Manning 4/22/2020 1:39 PM
    When purchasing my own (organic and local!) CSA today for the summer, I also made a donation to NOFA (https://nofa.org/) to help a family(ies) with food insecurity gain access to fresh, local, organic produce this coming growing season. Supporting NOFA is a great way to assist with food insecurity in our region while also helping our local farms during this challenging economic time.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Forests Plant Trees
    How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?

    Talia Manning's avatar
    Talia Manning 4/16/2020 7:07 AM
    A tree has been ordered, but has not yet arrived.  When it does, it will be planted in my backyard, and if the challenge is still happening, I'll post a picture of it!
  • 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?

    Talia Manning's avatar
    Talia Manning 4/07/2020 7:39 AM
    I have been a "fair weather" composter for years now -- when warm enough and convenient enough, I make the trek to our compost barrel.  But I have been spurred by this challenge to get my compost out every day, regardless of convenience!  And my family is excited to use some of the older compost to start our first vegetable garden this spring!

    • Evelyn (lyn) Swett's avatar
      Evelyn (lyn) Swett 4/07/2020 6:29 PM
      Talia -- I'm so excited for your and your family. Starting a vegetable garden is a grand adventure, indeed, especially when it begins with your own compost. Congrats!

  • Talia Manning's avatar
    Talia Manning 4/02/2020 8:26 AM
    Safely explored the Berlin Pond loop in Berlin, VT with my family. Beautiful!

    • Evelyn (lyn) Swett's avatar
      Evelyn (lyn) Swett 4/02/2020 5:49 PM
      Great photo! Thank you for sharing. It will be magical to see life re-emerge in the coming weeks, even if we have to stay home.