I will spend at least 60 minutes researching how biodiversity positively impacts our world and how the loss of biodiversity harms it.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Oceans
Learn about Our Oceans
I will spend at least 50 minutes learning about how our oceans support life on Earth by producing oxygen, regulating climate, and providing habitat, food, and jobs.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
People
Write Letters or Emails
I will write 2 letter(s) or email(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for planet-friendly and/or environmentally just policies.
COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS
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
Climate
Local Climate Issues
I will spend at least 15 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.
COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS
Forests
Choose Better Wood Products
I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.
COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS
Wildlife
Research a Wild Animal
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about a wild animal I find interesting, including their life cycle, habitat, ecosystem functions, and interactions with humans (if any!).
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Action Track: Building Resilience
Spend Time Outside
I will replace 20 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
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
Food
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
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.
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?
Thank you Jana - thank you Eco-Challenge! This has been so fun without any pressure or prizes! Will definitely take a break, but looking at the Drawdown Challenge. I bought so many copies of this book and think there is much value in it!
This is it! It has flown by - and yet the hardest challenge for me will be to go outside EVERY day, no matter what the weather looks like from the comfort of inside. Each and every time I've gone out it has been rewarding and nurturing. Why would I not adopt this daily habit?!?!
Was a good day! Flowers continue to pop - and I saw my first deer close by. Wonder how long the tulips will last?!? Saw two dear friends today and all of us were in masks. Didn't walk it, but did a lovely birthday drive with my husband up Birch Mountain road. I'd never done it before - spectacular views of our valleys - and oh, of Wenatchee! Gorgeous! Supported local businesses in flowers & food - feeling very lucky! Got a bit caught up in the emails & sharing . . . FB tomorrow - and more weeds.
My challenge is going good today - got to walk my grand-dog!! It was warm in E.Wenatchee where he lives. Lovely! Getting ready to enjoy my birthday tomorrow - though I'm a little worried about my birthday cake . . .
1) Get a climate "Do-Over" 2) People would make better decisions about how we care for the planet. 3) People would make better decisions visions about we care for each other.
You know, I may be small brained - but I'm going to miss those trophies & sparklies saying You DID it!! I will also miss seeing your posts and how y'all are doing. Did look at Drawdown Eco-Challenge - and it is another level up. If I go for it, I'll let you know but will take a hiatus first. :).
Hey Jeanne! I'm Sofia, and I'm the U of M Department of Sustainability intern this semester! As earth month and the eco challenge wrap up, I'm reaching out to some of the team members who have been extremely active throughout the challenge, in hopes of writing a little blog post for the Institute on the Environment about the participants! You personally have one of the highest scores out of all of the eco challenge participants! It would be amazing to start a little email exchange with you, to chat about who you are, why you've been so active, and what the eco challenge has brought to your life this month! Other topics of discussion are welcomed, of course. My email is [email protected]. If you'd like to contact me, that's great! If not, and you'd prefer I contact you, I can do that! Just reply to this comment with your email. If you don't want to period, that's totally okay as well! Keep me posted, Both the earth and I are proud of your hard work this month:)
It did surprise me to learn the Farmers Market in Wenatchee is planning to open on May 9th! Thanks for the heads-up Jana. Personally, I think they should delay until end-May at least. Interesting times we live in right now. I sure have appreciated this Eco-Challenge and the connection it has provided during isolation!!
Spent over 2 hours outside today - and not on a pleasant walk! Stacking firewood my husband cut recently and realize I may not get to it until I'm 68!! Our outdoor bin holds 2-4 years worth of wood. Sample tested paint on our steel tower for color - another of many tasks in my our future - lots of outdoor time, not even including weed work! Hope to "walk in balance" like my good friend Kurt tells me to! :). Take care all!! Please, please keep posting as we've only 4 more days!
Skunks were a much more pleasant learning - yet I picked this challenge with good reason and saved it for last. Pretty depressing - I get the WDFW monthly climate news digest and articles in it are always informative! Read "Shifting snowlines & shorelines" by Climate Impacts Group out of U of W and based on 2019 IPCC report on the Ocean & cryosphere - implications for Washington, and some others based on water. 2018 measurements revealed sea level has risen 4 inches at Friday Harborsince 1934 and 9 inches in Seattle since 1899. Sea level world wide is rising just over 1/2 inch/year. Another thing I didn't realize is 1.5 degree limit acceptable is CELCIUS and = 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit - the measure more common to us! 2 degrees C = 3.6 degrees F - think about it! Clearly we must accelerate our response to rising temperatures! "Avoiding dangerous climate change requires significantly reducing global C02 emission well before 2030 to reach net zero emissions by 2050."
