I have trouble understanding the compulsion to purchase mass produced trinkets that are plastered with the name of the site you visit.  I didn't travel anywhere during the challenge and was unable to bring back any souvenirs, I have had fun finding alternate souvenirs during past travels and hope to continue this in the future.  I try to frequent local markets, fairs and vendors during my travels and have focused on bring back sustainable and locally produced items.

During travels last year my husband and I purchased honey directly from farmers and beekeepers.  We just made a batch of mead (honey wine) from honey we purchased at seasonal Blueberry farm.  The farmers rent honey bees for pollination when their blueberry plants bloom and they sell the honey produced.  We are also preparing to make smaller batch of mead from cranberry honey.  The cranberry honey was purchased from a sustainable apiary we visited last year.  We also purchased a Mead making book from the apiary that is coming in handy now!  

I'm disappointed that I didn't get the chance to explore any new nature/forest areas during this challenge.  Social distancing and seasonal allergies have made doing this challenge a real challenge for me!  Luckily I'm fortunate to have views of greenery from most of my windows.  Though it's not the traditional sense of "Forest Bathing" it is relaxing to just look outside at nature.  I also love hearing birds singing during most of my day.  Hearing birds go about their normal lives, gives me hope that humans can resume more regular life soon too!  I've also pulled out some of my old local nature walk and state park books.  It's been quite fun to remember old adventures and I am hopeful to have some new summer adventures soon!

While learning about differences between use by / sell by / best by dates was a little bit helpful, by far the most helpful aspect of this exercise for me was learning that all of these dates are merely indicators of food QUALITY, not SAFETY. I had operated under the false assumption that if a food had "expired" that it is likely unsafe to eat. This will help me be more discerning when deciding if food has gone by, and go by standard signs of spoilage more so than dates listed on the product.

Spending time outside on socially distanced neighborhood walks with my girlfriend has been great. Given the current situation with COVID-19, these neighborhood walks are pretty much the only time we get outside. We are incredibly thankful for the chance to live in a pleasant, beautiful neighborhood with quiet streets, nice scenery, and lots of foliage. Getting fresh air, light exercise, and a chance to walk/talk outdoors has certainly been good for my mental and emotional health. While we still do spend most of our time indoors, the chance to get out on a regular basis even just for a half hour can make a huge difference.