EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Anna Gonzalez

Primrose for the Planet

"Reconnecting to our roots"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
629 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

16

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

50

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

36

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Anna's actions

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Support Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

I will donate to The Nature Conservancy, which works with Indigenous Peoples to secure land tenure and resource rights, support improved governance and local institutions, assist in natural resource mapping, planning and management; and strengthen livelihoods and sustainable economic development.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

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 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Online Energy Audit

Multiple Solutions

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

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

Food

Composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

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 8
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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Composting

Producing food that goes uneaten squanders many resources—seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, hours of labor, financial capital. Which of these kinds of waste most motivates you to change your behavior regarding food waste? Why?

Anna Gonzalez 4/23/2019 4:13 PM

The most motivating waste is the water. To think that such a precious resource these days is going to waste on food that is then going to waste is hard to swallow. Another factor in the need to tighten up food consumption and eliminate the waste and therefore the purchasing of extra food.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Keep Track of Wasted Food

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?

Anna Gonzalez 4/23/2019 4:11 PM

At the beginning I wasn’t going to do this particular challenge to avoid the shame I didn’t want to feel. But of course after knowing it was a challenge I couldn’t stop thinking about it. So I decided I might as well go ahead and do it. I will definitely be focusing on ways to eliminate the wasted food . I hope to have $1500 in my pocket at the end of the year!!!!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Support Women-Owned Businesses

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. How can you better support communities by supporting women? Can you share any past experiences that may help others take action?

Anna Gonzalez 4/07/2019 10:43 AM

I can support women by making sure that I do as much of my shopping at women owned businesses. Whether that be locally or online. I will create an ongoing list of women owned restaurants and businesses that I would use for shopping and as many family needs as I can. I could also attend women in business meetup groups to grow my list of resources/ goods / and services provided by women.

Read More
Anna Gonzalez 4/05/2019 9:09 AM

Question for the team:
Does anyone have connections with the Dufferin County Cultural Resourse Crcle? I’m very interested regarding the caring of the land challenge but don’t know where to look for such an event. Would anyone else be interested in maybe having someone come to do a workshop for us specifically? What are your thoughts??

Read More
- Headwaters Communities In Action 4/07/2019 8:53 PM
  
  I would be interested in attending something like this with you, Anna. Great question and thanks for the invitation to the team. I know we have had members of the DCCRC visit with students at the school before. Let's see if anyone has a connection, but I think you can just call them up. Let me know how you makke out!
  
  Read More
Anna Gonzalez 4/05/2019 8:34 AM

Tiago and I said “no straw please” in our waters at the restaurant yesterday. She offered paper ones.... we again said “no thank you” ..... no need to waste the paper eather. I look forward to taking our bamboo straws along with us for little miss 2 year old and for my piña coladas!! :)

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Online Energy Audit

What are your next steps for saving energy?

Anna Gonzalez 4/03/2019 4:34 PM

Looking into tankless water heater or something more efficient. A little hesitant with these high tech devices but interested to learn more about smart outlets and things. And the basic making sure to turn lights off everywhere we aren’t using them. Lastly will unplug easy devices when not in use.

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?

Anna Gonzalez 4/03/2019 3:12 PM

I believe our meat industry is so huge that meat is in much abundance. Also the “misguided” idea that meat is the only decent source of protein and iron ignoring the bioavailability situation completely. In many places around the world meat isn’t as available or is much more expensive and therefore not as easily consumed. Also, I believe many cultures have more respect for animals and all creatures or hold them sacred and they do not become food. If and when they do, they do not let so much go to waste. I’m not really sure what this says about “our” values ... I’ll ponder this and reply another day

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Buy Bamboo

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?

Anna Gonzalez 4/03/2019 9:03 AM

Just purchased reusable bamboo straws on Etsy from a Woman in Business and Etsy is the first online seller to carbon offset 100% of their shipping!!! Mic drop.

Read More
Anna Gonzalez 4/03/2019 7:10 AM

Anyone know if we are supposed to click on our daily challenges everyday to complete or just once at the end of the challenge?

Read More
- Headwaters Communities In Action 4/03/2019 8:09 AM
  
  You can click each day you complete a daily challenge.
  
  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?

Anna Gonzalez 4/03/2019 7:08 AM

I did not send any sandwich bags today in lunches.... I try to keep them to a minimum and only use occasionally but now moving to omit completely. I don’t know if anyone is reading this but any ideas of what to wrap diapers in? I have been using grocery bags or dog poop bags and then they go in the garbage........ need some ideas to contain the smell till garbage day that isn’t plastic..... anyone????

Read More
- Anna Gonzalez 4/03/2019 8:25 AM
  
  Thank you Jennifer...(can’t seem to reply to your reply directly)... I am going to look for on outdoor solution.... then maybe I just need one kitchen catcher size bag instead of various small ones...... are we all still using regular garbage bags? Or is there something else to use for weekly garbage?
  
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- Headwaters Communities In Action 4/03/2019 8:09 AM
  
  We used to just put ours directly into the garbage can outside (in the vestibule). A few extra steps each change, but gets them out and cuts out the middle stop.
  
  Read More