Skip to main content

Modal Title

Modal Description

Welcome to Drawdown EcoChallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Drawdown EcoChallenge expert in no time!

EcoChallenge.org
Drawdown EcoChallenge
April 3 - April 24, 2019
Helen Boyd's avatar

Helen Boyd

Comox Valley Nurses for Health & the Environment & Friends

" We seek to raise Awareness, implement Action and undertake Advocacy efforts on issues of sustainability that threaten the health and well-being of the citizens of the Comox Valley and of our planet as a whole."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,188 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    3.0
    hours
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    30
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    56
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    6.0
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Helen's actions

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 6 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

#47 Bioplastic

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Become A Master Recycler/Composter

#55 Household Recycling

I will sign up for a Master Recycler/Composter program in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Advocate For Greener Vehicles

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will assess the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on electric and fuel-efficient vehicles

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Test Drive an Electric Bike

#69 Electric Bikes

I will test drive an electric bike at a local distributor to see if it makes sense to use one in place of my car, or to extend the area I can cover by bike.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Use Muscle Power

#49 Cars

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Restore Wetlands

#52 Coastal Wetlands

I will volunteer 3 hours with a wetland restoration project in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

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?

  • Helen Boyd's avatar
    Helen Boyd 4/24/2019 8:40 PM
    One last post and opportunity to show your commitment to Climate Change by supporting our Youth Environmental Action on May 3rd at 1 PM at Courtenay City Hall.  Best to all of you and thanks for making us rank 7th in Canada! Will be in touch with you in the Fall for more.
    Read More
  • Helen Boyd's avatar
    Helen Boyd 4/22/2019 7:02 PM
    Read More
  • Helen Boyd's avatar
    Helen Boyd 4/20/2019 8:52 AM
    Did you know our team is 7th in Canada? Keep it up, just a few more days to go. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials Eliminate Toxic Plastics
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
    Helen Boyd's avatar
    Helen Boyd 4/20/2019 8:45 AM
    There are so many plastic items that we have replaced for a very long time and always more to do. A bit personal here, my daughter bought me a stainless steel razor (one like my father used when I was a child) no more through away plastic. What I am working on at the moment is the elimination of plastic bottles, we eliminated purchasing them a while back when I started mixing all of our own cleaning products at home as well as laundry detergent, now I am working on getting rid of plastic bottles for shampoo and turning to the shampoo in a bar that doesn't require fossil fuel plastic containers. Would  be glad to hear other peoples's ideas on reducing single-use plastics.

    By the way, we are  getting closer to banning the single-use plastic bag and straws in the Comox Valley. Another Council agreed to the ban this week Courtenay and the CVRD  also.
    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?
    Helen Boyd's avatar
    Helen Boyd 4/14/2019 7:16 PM
    I did not know to consider if my coffee was shade grown. I am a coffee lover and the thought of it causing deforestation is hard to swallow.... Although I try to avoid Palm oil  it can be found or disguised in so many foods. The list is exhaustive. 
    Thankfully, I am encouraged by the benefits of my mostly plant-based diet. So much to learn.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transport Advocate For Greener Vehicles
    How does advocating for green vehicles in your community connect to your values? How might you be able to get others involved in advocating for the shift to fuel-efficient vehicles?
    Helen Boyd's avatar
    Helen Boyd 4/12/2019 11:41 AM
    Our upcoming Move 2 Electric on May 18th will give people of the Comox Valley an opportunity to get up close and personal with electric cars, bikes and scooters.

    Come learn more on Tuesday May 14th at the Stan Hagen Theatre at 7 PM in conjunction with World Community we will be showing the film: What is the Electric Car? which will help debunk many myths surrounding EVs.



    Read More
  • Helen Boyd's avatar
    Helen Boyd 4/11/2019 1:36 PM
    Yes, we purchased a water barrel for the same reason. I think water is such a precious resource.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transport Use Muscle Power
    How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience or enjoyment differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?
    Helen Boyd's avatar
    Helen Boyd 4/11/2019 1:33 PM
    Needless to say that walking allows for more social interactions. I was delighted to meet Sharon and Karen while on a walk to Goose Spit who gladly joined our team. 
    So I think 'muscle transportation' is a way of creating community.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants
    Name some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?
    Helen Boyd's avatar
    Helen Boyd 4/10/2019 8:00 AM
    I am mindful of my water use on a daily basis in the kitchen, while brushing teeth, short showers and turning off the tap when shampooing, no car washing etc. The mulch at the base of trees was a lot of work but with our Comox Lake water level down an even greater challenge to conserve water and this feels like a step in the right direction.

    A water barrel is also a new addition that we are delighted about.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Reduce Animal Products
    In your opinion, what contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other countries? What does this say about North American values and ways of living?
    Helen Boyd's avatar
    Helen Boyd 4/07/2019 9:12 PM
    I believe it is more about habit and culture that North Americans consume more meat. In Asia, meat is used in much smaller quantities as a side rather than the main. I find this challenge relatively easy as our family decided to eat vegetarian 5 days/ week about 3 years ago. This satisfies the carnivore members of our family to just have meat on weekends. It's a compromise and a move in the right direction to reduce our carbon footprint. 
    Read More