EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Anne Brueckner

Energy Innovation Act(ion) Mid Hudson Valley CCL Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,137 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

donations

made
UP TO

34

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

295

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

people

helped
UP TO

2,790

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

51

zero-waste meals

consumed

Anne's actions

Land Use

Buy Bamboo

#35 Bamboo

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Support Microgeneration in Low Income Countries

#48 In-Stream Hydro, #76 Micro Wind, #78 Microgrids

I will make a donation to a nonprofit that installs microgeneration in low income countries.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Purchase a Carbon Offset

#43 Airplanes

If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Stay on the Ground

#43 Airplanes, #63 Telepresence

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Choose Recycled Paper

#70 Recycled Paper

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 14
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

Composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Donate

#21 Clean Cookstoves

I will donate to nonprofits that install clean cookstoves in low-income countries.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 30 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Zero-waste Cooking

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 3 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Keep Track of Wasted Food

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during the EcoChallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

#6 Educating Girls, #7 Family Planning, #62 Women Smallholders

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Give a Microloan

#62 Women Smallholders

I will give 1 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Help Girls Overcome Health Barriers

#6 Educating Girls

I will donate 1 Femme Kit(s) to help girls overcome health and sanitation barriers to being able to attend school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

I will spend 15 minutes each day researching women-owned businesses I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED 10
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?

Anne Brueckner 4/23/2019 10:50 AM

I’m on the train on my way to the airport (Brussels-bound) and tried to sign up for a one-time challenge (learning about wave & tidal energy). I got a message saying I’ve maxed out (at 15) on one-time challenges. Looks like I can now do only daily challenges. Trying to keep our team in the top 100 ...

Read More
- Rosemary Bakker 4/23/2019 3:50 PM
  
  Yes I got the same message! Will give them feedback on this as I was ready for another one-time challenge. It interrupted the flow.
  
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Anne Brueckner 4/20/2019 6:11 PM

I love the idea of washable bamboo paper towels! Will look into those -- thanks, Paula. Did you see my post on bamboo toilet paper? I'll forward a promo via email.

Read More
- Paula Ward 4/21/2019 8:27 PM
  
  Yes, I did--and with the coupon, I'll be checking it out!
  
  Read More
Anne Brueckner 4/20/2019 1:51 PM

Let's see if we can move our team into the top 100! We've inched our way up to #101 (out of 1,037 teams total). Simply checking in each day gets us points, as does contributing to the FEED with comments.

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Anne Brueckner 4/19/2019 4:41 PM

At Tops today, there was a display for The Beyond Burger, which I've sampled locally at Wildflower Cafe in Red Hook. Price was right -- $5.49 for two 4-oz patties -- and taste was delish!! It has 20g of plant protein per serving, is soy free and gluten free - AND tastes like real burger. I kid you not. I'm guessing it would be best grilled, but I don't have a grill so sauteed it on my stove top. Try it!!

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- Rosemary Bakker 4/23/2019 4:58 AM
  
  I grilled some last weekend and they really are best grilled. I’ve been eating these for the last year -they’re delicious on their own and I have had several meat eater friends who couldn’t believe they weren’t meat. Top with some relishes…and chipolte mayonnaise!
  
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Anne Brueckner 4/16/2019 7:25 PM

I had known -- but forgotten about -- TerraPass, so thanks for the reminder, Rosemary. I'm flying to Brussels next week for my son's 50th birthday, so I bought carbon offsets on the TerraPass website to make up a bit for my flight.

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Anne Brueckner 4/14/2019 10:09 AM

I pretty much completed my research on women-owned businesses in Rhinebeck and would like to thank Lila Pague of Winter Sun Summer Moon for her substantial help. I have passed on my list of 53 businesses (yes, 53 in our town!) to Kyra Bonanza, E.D. of the Rhinebeck Chamber of Commerce, encouraging her to acknowledge / celebrate / promote these women for their importance to our community. Just shoot me an email if you want to see my list: annebrueckner43@gmail.com

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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?

Anne Brueckner 4/07/2019 8:59 AM

So many pluses to the practice of silvopasture: as noted in the Drawdown book, it's more resilient for both animals and trees, promotes carbon sequestration in both the biomass above ground and the soil below -- but there are challenges, financially & attitudinally, in promoting the practice.

Read More
- Rosemary Bakker 4/08/2019 5:02 AM
  
  I listened to a podcast on CCL on this topic, and he was a farmer/researcher from the mid-west promoting silvopasture/organic farming but saying that for acceptance of these new farming techniques, best if we talk about it as as "water health" (some phrase like that) for our communities as everyone could get behind that.
  
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Anne Brueckner 4/05/2019 4:09 PM

The Impossible Burgers from Wildflower Cafe at Bard's EcoChallenge event this afternoon were huge hits with all who tried them. Now that Burger King is adding these meatless burgers to their menu, the prics should com down so that cafes like Wildflower can keep their prices down -- and draw even more of us now that we know how tasty they are!

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- Rosemary Bakker 4/08/2019 4:57 AM
  
  I read that the launch in St. Louis of the Impossible Burger has been successful and that the price is $1.00 over the price of a regular burger - which is good for now as it many other places it is much more expensive.
  
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- Paula Ward 4/05/2019 5:00 PM
  
  Sorry I missed this--I plan to visit Wildflower Cafe soon.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Give a Microloan

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. Why do you think that is?

Anne Brueckner 4/04/2019 5:55 AM

We women tend to prioritize things like healthcare, nutritious food, and education.

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Anne Brueckner 4/04/2019 5:44 AM

So far, here are the women-owned businesses I've identified:
Winter Sun Summer Moon (Lila Pague)
Sugarplum (Diana Brind)
Cale Communications (Marybeth Cale)
Haldora
Nina Styling
Vicki Haak, CFP
Cedar Heights Orchard (Arvia Morris)
Annabelle’s bake shop

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- Paula Ward 4/04/2019 8:58 PM
  
  Yes, I'm thinking bake shop, too but will check out some of the others, also--thanks for sharing!
  
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- Rosemary Bakker 4/04/2019 8:18 AM
  
  I only patronize one as of this moment, and now that will change! At least two of your listings I can easily give business to .For example, bake shop! Thanks Anne.
  
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