EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Sandy Bill

Neighbours for the Planet

"We can each make a difference that can save the world"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
664 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

48

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

300

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

45

minutes

spent learning

Sandy's actions

Electricity Generation

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

#30 Methane Digesters (large), #64 Methane Digesters (small)

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Recycle Everything I Can

#55 Household Recycling

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 20 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 2

#5 Tropical Forests

I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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?

Sandy Bill 4/24/2019 6:43 PM

Great work everyone! What a team!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

Sandy Bill 4/24/2019 6:34 PM

We need to utilize bio gas technology and learn that waste products can be converted to useful gas to generate electricity and useful fertilizer. We have to stop just stockpiling waste products or burying them when they have useful applications which can help to replace fossil fuels.

Read More
Sandy Bill 4/24/2019 5:58 PM

So sad that it is over! It went by so fast! i will try to keep up with the things i challenged myself to do! And i will try to do more!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Clean air, clean water and healthy food are three reasons to care about regenerative agriculture. What are some other reasons?

Sandy Bill 4/23/2019 7:02 PM

Less equipment is necessary in regenerative agriculture as it incorporates a no till method, and less exposure of farm workers to harmful chemicals so improved working conditions and it doesn't harm any animals that live in the area of the farm.

Read More
Sandy Bill 4/23/2019 6:46 PM

Thanks to Carrie and Aimee for being such great team captains!

Read More
Sandy Bill 4/23/2019 6:15 PM

I can't believe that the challenge is almost over! I still have so much to learn! I will definitely need to continue educating myself about all the many ways that we may be unintentionally contributing to the harm of our planet.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 1

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

Sandy Bill 4/23/2019 6:11 PM

i need to read labels more and find products that don't contain palm oil or its derivatives. So many products including many cosmetics and toiletries include these oils and compounds. Avoiding processed foods of any kinds will help considerably and researching and sending messages to manufacturers that these are not ingredients that we want in their products. We need to educate ourselves about the harmful effects to the environment that these products are causing.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Learn More about Silvopasture

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

Sandy Bill 4/22/2019 7:10 PM

i had been very familiar with permaculture, but had never heard of silvopasture prior to the challenge. I think the greatest benefit is in maintaining trees and not needing to clear cut forests in order to have grazing animals. ideally, I feel that if more people go plant based, then grazing animals will decrease and be replaced with the natural species of the area which can just exist in harmony with managed trees and under story fruit and berry and perennial food crops with pockets of annual food as well.

Read More
Sandy Bill 4/22/2019 6:58 AM

Happy Earth Day everyone!!!! Enjoy the beauty and the wonder and the splendor that is our glorious planet!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Go for a Daily Walk

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

Sandy Bill 4/21/2019 4:57 PM

I have noticed all the neighbourhood gardens coming to life and plants springing up and the wildlife out enjoying their surroundings. It lovely to hear the birds and soon the bees will start getting busy. I wish that there were more community and government initiatives to encourage planting native plants that require less water and no fertilizers and to decrease our reliance on eco unfriendly lawns that require lots of water and fertilizer and energy (gas or electric) to maintain.

Read More