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April 1 - April 30, 2020
Brooklyn Holton's avatar

Brooklyn Holton

NCW Sustainable Community

"Action on behalf of life transforms ~ Action of reciprocity ~ Actions to heal the earth and care for the earth sees the earth heal and care for us."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 923 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    293
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    215
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    581
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    2.0
    documentaries
    watched
  • UP TO
    55
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed

Brooklyn's actions

Fresh Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

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

COMPLETED
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

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 25 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 6 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

People

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 3 piece(s) of litter each day while following the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Forests

Plant Trees

I will plant 2 native tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Wildlife

Leave No Trace

I will respect and protect biotic communities by practicing the seven principles of Leave No Trace when doing nature activities alone or with family and friends.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Building Resilience

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

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.

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?


  • Brooklyn Holton's avatar
    Brooklyn Holton 4/29/2020 3:54 PM
    I was able to get takeout and sit in the grass and enjoy the trees today. The simple things sure are wonderful right now.

  • Brooklyn Holton's avatar
    Brooklyn Holton 4/28/2020 7:42 AM
    Just a couple days left! I finally answered a bunch of "reflection" questions. 
  • 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?

    Brooklyn Holton's avatar
    Brooklyn Holton 4/28/2020 7:41 AM
    I am always carrying things out in my hands. haha   --- I've been keeping my bags near my front seat more to help me remember!

    • Jeanne Poirier's avatar
      Jeanne Poirier 4/28/2020 9:13 PM
      I have developed the habit of gathering bags with my grocery list before leaving the house - love it when I bring more bags home again than I used.  My husband often carries things in his hands too.  Though if I lived in town I'd probably stop by store and not have one handy.  Having them in the car is a good idea - as long as the mice don't get them. :)
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife Leave No Trace
    Educator Stephanie Kaza advises her students to focus on what they care about most when addressing the enormity of ecological problems. Is there a specific area you feel particularly called to work on?

    Brooklyn Holton's avatar
    Brooklyn Holton 4/28/2020 7:40 AM
    For me it is a combination of maintaining a healthy physical environment beginning with my own home and then also supporting local; especially those that have also identified ways they can be proactive for the environment.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Wildlife Support Pollinators
    Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

    Brooklyn Holton's avatar
    Brooklyn Holton 4/28/2020 7:39 AM
    They bring so much life to our planet in the form of plants, produce and food.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    People Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Brooklyn Holton's avatar
    Brooklyn Holton 4/28/2020 7:38 AM
    One specific experience was unique in that I knew most of the bags I collected were likely from non-locals that choose to camp/party in the hills behind my house. When I did a post to provide some recommendations to our local community about easy ways to help keep it clean (maybe if guests don't see garbage they won't leave it??? haha) and I had an overwhelming positive response from people both thanking me and wanting to join!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Fresh Water Eco-friendly Gardening
    What are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.

    Brooklyn Holton's avatar
    Brooklyn Holton 4/28/2020 7:36 AM
    A lack of snow pack is a big concern, something that is highly monitored each year for both orchards/farming and the rivers/fish. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Reduce Animal Products
    Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?

    Brooklyn Holton's avatar
    Brooklyn Holton 4/28/2020 7:35 AM
    Availability is such a huge part of how more affluent countries select diet habits. The system helps support consumption of an option that has a higher resource cost. Eating simple items like rice and beans utilizes a much less complex system of production... the demand on the environment for meat options sees inefficient uses of available land. 

    • Jeanne Poirier's avatar
      Jeanne Poirier 4/28/2020 9:21 PM
      Yes - I think would be great if we really understood impact.  80% of deforestation is for cattle grazing!  Just learned this from Rainforest Action Network.
  • 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?

    Brooklyn Holton's avatar
    Brooklyn Holton 4/28/2020 7:33 AM
    The biggest difference was time it would take to get there. Some of the pieces that took more time include the cost difference between a single flight and gas, lodging, food and the little shops and sites to see along the way. Those all added up to more than a single flight which means some trips could end up costing more ~ even though it's worth it!

  • Brooklyn Holton's avatar
    Brooklyn Holton 4/27/2020 3:51 PM
    Crazy how fast this April has gone by even with loooots of time at the house.

    • Jeanne Poirier's avatar
      Jeanne Poirier 4/27/2020 8:05 PM
      Not to mention those weeds just outside the house!!  I've barely started and they are so ahead of me!