Washington County (Oregon) EcoChallengers

My Challenge went well.  On the last day, my daughters and I went to a national forest area and hiked into a remote place with a waterfall and ate a late lunch with sandwiches we picked up after ordering online.  So we supported the local community while practicing social distancing and also getting out and getting some exercise.  So, I...

I spent this time learning about three birds that I've been seeing a lot in my neighborhood and backyard this month that were new to me: the song sparrow, golden-crowned sparrow, and the ruby-crowned kinglet. I learned about their size, shape, plumage, habitat, behavior, diet, and range/migration patterns. I learned about them through a mixture...

I think finding the small wins like these will be very important.

Connecting more with nature definitely helps emotional development and mental health. The consequences of spending too much time indoors include lower levels of physical activity and it can also reduce productivity at work. Being outdoors safely and spending more time in natural areas increase creativity, boost mood, and helps the overall...

Challenge month is over, next step just make sure to continue implementing these habits in our everyday lives.

The challenge is going great, excited to continue these habits on my own!

I loved the idea of connecting more with others to help me cope with stress and to show my support to my beloved ones. I have used my walks to take a break and to also make some calls to check in with friends and family. I had forgotten how good it makes me feel to just call to say "hi" to someone that I care. I'll definitely try to...

This past weekend, we made jam with rhubarb that a friend of mine harvested from his garden. He harvested much more than he could eat. He made a pie and frozen some, but he still had more produce. I decided to use it to make jam because it lasts longer and it is a nice way to help prevent food waste. I had never made any canned food before...

Teams has made it super easy to connect with office mates during the telecommuting month of April. I only went to the actual office twice this month. I saved a ton mileage and gas this month.

My bubbling food was a Shepard's Pie. Usually everyone in the house pitches in to make it so we can turn it around in about a half hour into the oven. Fresh peeled potatoes, whatever meat we can find ground, and we found a stash of corn and peas in the freezer so we bought some frozen carrots too and it turned out delicious.  The best part is...