Nancy Chernett

The challenge kept me present to my individual behaviors as around meals and food waste. Much of what I chose I was doing, but not realizing it.  I can up the anti on my consciousness of eating vegan more frequently and being more consistent with eating less animal based products.  I am not a vegan or vegetarian, but I can continue to move in that direction.  Yesterday I attended a Climate Change conference at St. Joes University sponsored by my township's Nature Conservancy and learned that I have an organizational partner in my goal of eliminating single use plastics in our township--the Lower Merion Conservancy.  I have volunteered to partner with them as a community advocate including distributing a survey to my township friends, neighbors and community at large which I will begin doing today. I have also established connections with our township Environmental Action Committee and will be participating with their sustainability sub-committee as a community advocate doing community education programs within the township.  I will be participating in the Upper Darby Earth Day (outside of my township) celebration with the Citizen's Climate Lobby this coming weekend to talk with people there about climate change and legislative initiatives to reduce carbon emissions.  I will be doing this again the following weekend in Narberth (in my township).  These are all opportunities to get people in my community to attend Drawdown intros and workshops which my husband and I are just beginning to plan.  So all in all this has been a productive and rewarding 3 weeks in making a difference in my community.

I am present to my challenge each day, but don't post each day.  I have been talking about climate change and drawdown to family and friends.  Right now I am not as focused on my bioplastics project as I am busy with planning our first Drawdown Intro in May and attending meetings and programs in celebration of Earth Day.  I posted on my Facebook page and have been in contact with many partners.

I attended Drawdown conveners. orientation meeting in prep to begin offering intros in my community in Nay and June. My husband is joining me in this work. 

Today I’m attending meeting of local CCL chapter which I recently joined. Learning more about what they are doing and plan to share Drawdown and Ecochallenge. 

Challenge is going well.  I am now aware that I usually don't eat more than one meal with animal products/day.  So I will try more for vegan meal at least once/day.  I do like dairy.  I continue to educate myself on plastics--both reducing and alternatives to plastics.  Since the challenge began I have purchased a beeswax wrap to use instead of plastic wrap for left over fruits and vegies.  Also purchased more lock tight containers for food storage.  They are made of plastic but they will be used continuously for many years.  The glass containers are heavy and the plastic lids seem to breakdown too quickly.

I continue to research bioplastics as well as looking for alternatives to the plastics in my home.  Today we received our first shipment of compostable garbage bags.  We were using our accumulated bags in our trash cans until they are used up.  We just decided to recycle them with a place we have confidence will recycle them/reuse appropriately.  

I have been educating myself over the past two weeks about bioplastics and replacing plastics in my home and everyday use with biodegradable or reusable products.  Still in the learning stage.  I have not shared what I'm learning with friends as yet.

This week I attended the Environmental Advisory Committee monthly meeting in my Township for the first time.  My husband & I made a "public announcement" about our plan to do Drawdown workshops in our community.  Several people were aware of Drawdown and one person knew Pachamama.  We will follow-up to be invited to join the sustainability committee as that is where they felt we could have an impact on plans for our Township.