April 1 - April 30, 2020

Kathy Conway

"My mission is to become more aware of things around me with the hope that this gives me renewed energy to combat climate change. I also want to connect with other like-minded people - strength in numbers."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
804 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

22

miles

traveled by foot
UP TO

26

pounds

waste composted
UP TO

2.0

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

22

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1,740

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

22

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

1,860

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

5.6

pounds

food waste prevented
UP TO

32

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

280

gallons of water

have been saved

Kathy's actions

People

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

Climate

SOCAN Earth Day Wake Up Call

Create an Earth Day event (livestream) where people come together to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.

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

Wildlife

Support Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators, including monarch butterflies, to produce fruit. I will spend 2 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

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

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

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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?

Kathy Conway 4/29/2020 9:13 PM

I started this challenge because although I thought I was doing quite well, I knew I could do better. My greatest ghg emissions come from travel and due to the virus I have reduced my trips to town to around 1/10th of what they were. Because of the Earth Day Ecochallenge I think that I can keep my use of my car driving down even when it is ok to make more trips to town. The biggest thing I have gained is more time outside - enjoying the birds singing and plants growing. My eyes are open and I don't think that they will close. Thanks EcoChallenge!!

Read More
- Carmen Proffitt 4/29/2020 10:51 PM
  
  Beautiful
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Building Resilience Use Muscle Power

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?

Kathy Conway 4/13/2020 5:18 PM

This one has been easy since we are practicing social distancing. I did drive to the mailbox today - it's 3/4 mile away, but we have been picking our mail up once a week so there aren't many trips for that. Community engagement is down quite a bit. We are using zoom a lot, but since we are on satellite for internet we are limited by the number of gb we can use. On the very positive side, we have seen more spring flowers than ever before and are enjoying the birds more too.

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Kathy Conway 4/08/2020 9:58 PM

Not a very good day today for the challenge. We spend a little extra time watching the birds and were very excited to see that the Red Breasted Sapsucker was back, but not as much time as planned to be outside. Maybe tomorrow...

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Kathy Conway 4/07/2020 3:19 PM

Great time outside - such a beautiful day. We saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker this morning. First time we have seen one on our property. Maybe we are just spending more time looking at things around us. Our Sapsucker friend is the 51st different bird we have seen since we moved in 8 years ago.

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- Kathy Conway 4/07/2020 9:12 PM
  
  Actually we're pretty lazy. We sit at the table next to the window with all the bird feeders close by and watch them. We do have our bird books nearby.
  
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- Erin M 4/07/2020 8:24 PM
  
  Kathy, that is so cool! I love that you are keeping count of the different birds. Do you all go out with binoculars and identifying books? This Sapsucker is gorgeous!
  
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Kathy Conway 4/05/2020 8:42 PM

I don't think that I answered the beginning team questions so trying to catch up:
1. Name / what you do : Kathy Conway. I'm a retired professor and now spend a lot of my time organizing things for Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) to help people understand what is happening with Global Warming and it's Climate Change consequences AND to take action.
2. List one habit you have changed since the quarantine and how it betters the earth. I have made a greater effort to be outside more. Even today in the hail and thunder.
3. What is your favorite place in nature and why does it inspire you? Outside my door. The trees and wildlife are so wonderful. It screams to be protected.
4. How have you noticed mass quarantine impacting the environment? I love to watch the birds that are not impacted - they are just carryout out their normal spring activities. Also the flowers that are coming up. Less greenhouse gases coming from our vehicles might have a positive effect, but it's too early to see that.

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- Ana B 4/06/2020 11:52 AM
  
  Welcome to the challenge and the team Kathy! What sort of bird is featured in your photo? Was it taken in your yard? On a recent hike?
  
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- Kathy Conway 4/06/2020 8:47 AM
  
  I taught methods of teaching math, science, and social studies to college students who were preparing to be elementary teachers. Such a great group of future teachers with so much talent to impact future generations. The photo is Alan's, if you see one that is blurry, it's mine.
  
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- Erin M 4/05/2020 8:57 PM
  
  Love this Kathy, thank you! What did you teach when you were a professor? And this photo is beautiful, did you take it? I'm so glad you're a part of the EcoChallenge!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
People Spend Time Outside

Rachel Carson said that we need the beauty and mysteries of the natural world for our spiritual and emotional development. Does that ring true for you? What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time indoors?

Kathy Conway 4/05/2020 8:22 PM

I can't imagine spending most of my time indoors although I know that some people don't have nature as close as I do. Being outside encourages me to take those deep breaths and look up at the sky and trees. I think that if you don't do this it impacts everything you do. Sometimes it's harder, but everyone should be encouraged to be outside and look around them - there's something there.

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- Carmen Proffitt 4/05/2020 11:30 PM
  
  Beautiful
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Forests Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

Kathy Conway 4/02/2020 11:07 PM

View from today's hike. Gives me pause to see such beauty.

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- Ana B 4/04/2020 3:32 PM
  
  Yay for hiking, sharing the beauty, and helping others get out there as well!
  
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- Erin M 4/03/2020 10:36 AM
  
  WOW! What a view!!!
  
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- Carmen Proffitt 4/02/2020 11:32 PM
  
  This is beautiful, Kathy. Motivates me to go on a hike!
  
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Kathy Conway 4/01/2020 5:38 PM

Hi Team - Feeling proud of myself that I got signed in and actually did something. Read a little about the plants for pollinators and found that I had already done many of the things in the forest area. Plan to go on a hike to a different place tomorrow. Looking forward to that!

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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?

Kathy Conway 4/01/2020 5:10 PM

I plan to use my compost for my raised beds.

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- Tia McLean 4/01/2020 5:15 PM
  
  We just used our compost for our raised beds and it was our best batch of compost yet; full of delicious worms and yummy soil!
  
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