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April 1 - April 30, 2020
Teresa Boushay's avatar

Teresa Boushay

NCW Sustainable Community

"Mother Earth is forcing us to slow down and enjoy the simple things. It’s the right time to be more deliberate with our choices and actions as we are all connected and interdependent with one another on this amazing planet. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 944 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    29
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    139
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    300
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    11
    pounds
    food waste prevented
  • UP TO
    59
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    544
    gallons of water
    have been saved

Teresa's actions

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

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 6 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

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

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

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by prepping for 2 meal(s) each day, only buying the ingredients I need.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Fresh Water

Water-Friendly Beauty Products

Avoid beauty products with micro beads or harsh chemicals that will feed into the ground and your water supply.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY 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.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate

Stay on the Ground

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Earth Day Together!

Earth Day Action: Write a Love Letter, Poem, or Song to Earth

I will express my love and gratitude for our Earth by writing a love letter, poem, or song to Earth.

UNCOMPLETED
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

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
    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?

    Teresa Boushay's avatar
    Teresa Boushay 4/15/2020 2:58 PM
    Putting in lots of garden elements at my new house. Compost bins are a necessary component for the long term success. I just need to set it up for ease of access and use! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Climate Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits
    Your utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your ZIP code, region, and/or state. What other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?

    Teresa Boushay's avatar
    Teresa Boushay 4/11/2020 7:28 PM
    I keep my thermostat at 69 degrees during the day and 64 at night. Lights go out when not in use, constant reminder to the child to do the same. LED light installed in bathroom along with a energy efficient fan/heater
  • 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?

    Teresa Boushay's avatar
    Teresa Boushay 4/11/2020 7:23 PM
    Occasionally I have bought too many things and I don’t have enough of my own bags. I ask the cashier to leave out bigger things like bag a of potatoes or apples that can be carried. If I need to take a bag I reuse them as garbage can liners and for cleaning the car box. For the Cat box I repurpose almost any plastic bag that once contained food. Most often it’s bread bags but also use frozen food packages, rice, grains, dried fruit, etc. 

    • Betsy Dudash's avatar
      Betsy Dudash 4/11/2020 10:27 PM
      Jeanne is right--most plastic bags can eventually be recycled at the grocery store. I always look for the recycling symbol to make sure.

    • Jeanne Poirier's avatar
      Jeanne Poirier 4/11/2020 8:22 PM
      It took me awhile but my Master recycling sister in Clackamas OR taught me to hang on to even beyond reusable plastic bags as they can go to recycle plastic bag bins at most all grocery stores.  Be sure to add plastic from outside toilet paper, paper towels . . . plastic bag from deliveries . . . more I'm sure!  It was hardest for me to realize no boxes from frozen foods are recyclable.  So glad to have a sister like mine!  Even my husband has carried items out - so good on you Teresa!


  • Teresa Boushay's avatar
    Teresa Boushay 4/09/2020 8:47 PM
    Looking to make a 3 part compost bin from palettes. I usually see them all over the place, but now that I’m looking they are being elusive. Any ideas from the group? 
    Thanks much!

    • Jeanne Poirier's avatar
      Jeanne Poirier 4/10/2020 6:38 PM
      Have been seeing old wooden fruit boxes used as garden boxes lately.  Jana's suggestion is much better than mine would have been - will keep my eyes open.  Less deliveries I suspect is part of it.

    • Jana Fischback's avatar
      Jana Fischback 4/10/2020 10:53 AM
      Costco? 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Climate Stay on the Ground
    What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?

    Teresa Boushay's avatar
    Teresa Boushay 4/07/2020 9:32 PM
    The idea of limiting air travel strikes me often at work as some coworkers travel frequently for meetings. In the age of coronavirus, I’m thankful we are waking up to doing business without jumping on a plane for a 3 hour meeting!
    My personal decision was also influence by the current crisis. Spring break was supposed to take part in New Mexico, but we adjusted that to the Oregon Coast so we could drive. Of course now we’ve had to adjust again. Spending the week enjoying crafts, gardening, cooking and lots of walks. Bonding with my daughter is the silver lining! 

  • Teresa Boushay's avatar
    Teresa Boushay 4/06/2020 9:55 PM
    Thanks for the recent editorial about take-out containers, Jana! Raising awareness is critical

  • Teresa Boushay's avatar
    Teresa Boushay 4/06/2020 9:50 PM
    Love having extra time to get the garden goinng this year. 
    Back to the basics!!🐝🌷🌸🌿🐞

  • Teresa Boushay's avatar
    Teresa Boushay 4/02/2020 10:07 PM
    Take out from The Thai Restaurant tonight came in eco friendly packaging - hip hip hooray!!
    Spicy and delicious too 

    • Betsy Dudash's avatar
      Betsy Dudash 4/11/2020 10:28 PM
      We got take-out from there last night. Yum!

    • Jeanne Poirier's avatar
      Jeanne Poirier 4/03/2020 8:48 PM
      Thank you for sharing this!  I had no idea they'd be open with eco friendly to go!!  I'm going to let my husband know. :)