Sarah Larsen

"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. Edward Abbey"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
222 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

7.0

pounds

waste composted
UP TO

200

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

4.3

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

2.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

2.0

pounds

food waste prevented
UP TO

16

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

102

gallons of water

have been saved

Sarah's 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

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Wildlife

Seek Alternative Gifts and Souvenirs

Bringing home unique souvenirs from trips you’ve enjoyed is meaningful, and giving people unique gifts from other places is fun. Seek souvenirs and gifts that support local communities and do not cause harm to the environment or wildlife.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

People

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day while following the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.

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.

UNCOMPLETED
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

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

Forests

Advocate for Forest Protection

I will contact 5 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and improves their ability to sequester carbon and nourish biodiversity.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Wildlife

Research a Wild Animal

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about a wild animal I find interesting, including their life cycle, habitat, ecosystem functions, and interactions with humans (if any!).

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

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

Wildlife

Research Benefits of Biodiversity

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching how biodiversity positively impacts our world and how the loss of biodiversity harms it.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Wildlife

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?
Sarah Larsen 4/12/2020 6:47 AM
I rarely find myself in need of a disposable plastic bag, but I have acquired a few. I reuse those until they're useless, but I also have reusable cotton bags. Most produce I bring home loose, however, for things like green beans I use the old plastic bags or the reusable cotton ones.

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- Amber Wiley 4/13/2020 6:47 PM
  It really feels crazy not to be able to use our own bags. I work at a restaurant, and like everywhere right now we are having to package everything in disposable togo containers.. it’s painful.
  
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- Carmen Proffitt 4/12/2020 1:31 PM
  I'm pretty much in the same boat! It's been kind of frustrating not being able to use bags from home at the grocery store right now. :(
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

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?
Sarah Larsen 4/12/2020 6:44 AM
We have been composting for years in a tumbling composter and it has worked great. Right now, one side is full of worms, which greatly increases the efficiency of the composter. I also delight in watching the crawlers hard at work.

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