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April 1 - April 30, 2020
Shawna Troyer's avatar

Shawna Troyer

Community Team

"To strive, always, to learn, to grow, to improve."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,144 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    3.0
    documentaries
    watched
  • UP TO
    280
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    29
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    21
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    21
    miles
    traveled by foot
  • UP TO
    510
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    540
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    510
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    5.6
    pounds
    food waste prevented
  • UP TO
    48
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved

Shawna's actions

Action Track: Earth Day Together!

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

Action Track: Building Resilience

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 2 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

Wildlife

Research Benefits of Biodiversity

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching how biodiversity positively impacts our world and how the loss of biodiversity harms it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Research a Wild Animal

I will spend at least 60 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

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 30 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

Action Track: Building Resilience

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Use Muscle Power

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

People

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 2 hour(s) in my community helping people who are most at need right now, including elderly and immunocompromised people, people without childcare, and people whose jobs have been affected by social distancing measures.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Fresh Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by prepping for 3 meal(s) each day, only buying the ingredients I need.

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

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?


  • Shawna Troyer's avatar
    Shawna Troyer 4/30/2020 1:56 PM
    Thank you, EcoChallenge.org, for the Earth Day challenge! Things went crazy around the world (a bit more than usual), but you made it work. 

  • Shawna Troyer's avatar
    Shawna Troyer 4/29/2020 4:31 PM
    Volunteering in the community? My elderly neighbor (73) moved to a new home weeks before being struck down by COVID-19. So not only is she in a new neighborhood, doesn't know her neighbors, just starting to unpack - shortly after getting over Influenza A - she was then knocked down with COVID. Tested positive, quarantine, oxygen 24/7, fever of 102.7 at one point. I spent half a day texting with her sister about possible natural remedies (she's allergic to the anti-malarial drug her doctor wanted to give her). She pulled through, follow up tests came back negative, and Dr. lifted her strict quarantine 1.5 weeks ago. I brought her food last week, gifts, company for a couple hours. She was struggling real hard with isolation. I don't think this really counts as volunteering, but it might be the best I can do.

    • Dawni Callaghan's avatar
      Dawni Callaghan 4/29/2020 4:43 PM
      Good for you.  I bet the friendship she gained in the end was worth all of it.  SUPERHERO RIGHT THERE... well, at least in my eyes :)

  • Shawna Troyer's avatar
    Shawna Troyer 4/27/2020 8:41 PM
    I seriously thought I'd be getting more done. Plans to go outside today were ruined by a sudden thunderstorm with rain and hail (I got soaked in a mad-dash to roll up my car windows), followed by crazy wind. The fence blew over. Hope tomorrow's weather is nicer! Time to plan my last day of vacation.

    • Dawni Callaghan's avatar
      Dawni Callaghan 4/28/2020 10:48 AM
      Keep your head up Shawna!!  Slay your last day of vacation like a BOSS!!  :)

  • Shawna Troyer's avatar
    Shawna Troyer 4/26/2020 9:02 PM
    I've been on vacation since Thursday. Took a pandemic and stay-home orders for me to learn I'm not as introverted as I've always thought. While on vacation: I visited mom and cooked her dinner. Then my elderly friend that just survived COVID-19 (Her test came back negative over a week ago, so her Dr. took her off strict quarantine)... she was desperate for company. I brought her food. Then I visited my daughter (she made milkshakes, but I brought books and clothing for the grandkids). Then I stopped by my friend DJ's and fed him dinner. Today I forced myself to stay home. Other than lengthy visits and feeding people I love... I haven't gotten anything done while on vacation. 

  • Shawna Troyer's avatar
    Shawna Troyer 4/24/2020 9:59 PM
    1 pound of stinging nettle, 1/2 pound of cherry blossoms. Now to figure out what to do with it all! Supporting the local wild harvester. 

  • Shawna Troyer's avatar
    Shawna Troyer 4/22/2020 8:26 PM
    Small business owners are having such a rough time. I have a number of friends that own and operate their own business (tattoo artists, food sellers that primarily sell at community events and farmers markets); they saw SBA loans drop from $10,000 to only $1000 before they could fill out the applications, and then turned down for those because SBA ran out of loan money. One I follow on Facebook said thanks to one local restaurant and his followers on FB he was able to sell enough to make rent next month. I'm ordering a bit extra to share with an elderly friend that just survived COVID-19 (her all-clear came back a couple days ago and her Dr. lifted her quarantine order). I'm bringing her Japanese cherry blossoms (I didn't know they were edible until today!), nettle, and if I can get permission from a neighbor while still maintaining social distancing: dandelion. 

  • Shawna Troyer's avatar
    Shawna Troyer 4/21/2020 10:39 PM
    I went to No-Li Brewhouse in Spokane WA for lunch. Starting Tuesday, April 21st, they’ve got 500 NEW limited edition “Stay Strong Together” t-shirts for sale at the pub. They’re raising an additional $12,500 for Big Table and Spokane Food Fighters (they did this last month too).⠀ So today: I supported local, bought lunch, and did my part towards their charity. Plus the shirt I bought today is being sent to a friend who is the activities director at an assisted living home (along with 3 cloth masks. Last I heard their entire floor is using bandannas).
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Earth Day Together! 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?

    Shawna Troyer's avatar
    Shawna Troyer 4/21/2020 5:21 PM
    They care about and are invested in the well-being of your community and its future. Local businesses are more accountable to their local communities and donate more money to non-profits. Supporting local businesses is good for the environment because they often have a smaller carbon footprint than larger companies.


  • Shawna Troyer's avatar
    Shawna Troyer 4/20/2020 4:13 PM
    Forcing myself to head outdoors for fresh air, and a meatless dinner, just so I can check things off this list.

  • Shawna Troyer's avatar
    Shawna Troyer 4/17/2020 5:15 PM
    It's been a long week. All I want to do now is crawl into bed with a book and stay there. However, the sun is still out, the weather gorgeous. I'm going to force myself outside for fresh air, beautiful weather. Maybe a short drive and scope out a site I want to explore and shoot photos at.