Kristen Aarns

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will spend at least 10 minute(s) a day researching climate issues or climate solutions in my local area and share with others through my team feed, social media, or conversations with my peers.

Now that we're all working from home, energy bills could go up. Take some time to evaluate your home office space (even if it's the kitchen table!). Many utilities offer home efficiency kits (LED bulbs, shower heads, etc.) - visit your electric utilities website to see if they offer any of these solutions. The links below will also help you find energy efficiency opportunities in your own space.

Use an online tool (links below) to calculate my carbon footprint and see what changes would make the most difference. Each calculator varies, but you'll typically need to gather: utility records, the flight history for the last year, and annual mileage and fuel efficiency of your vehicles.