EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Christine Medvedev

Palisades Free Library

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,491 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

16

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

60

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

70

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

3.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

Christine's actions

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 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Express My Support

#54 Walkable Cities

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.

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

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 5 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 10 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 20
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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Express My Support

#59 Bike Infrastructure

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Explore Other Buildings and Cities Solutions

All Buildings and Cities Solutions

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings and Cities Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Conduct Virtual Meetings

#63 Telepresence

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

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?

Christine Medvedev 4/24/2019 9:14 AM

Read More
Christine Medvedev 4/23/2019 8:46 AM

Hi all, here are some "green" initiatives in case anyone is interested....

https://www.northernvalleygreenway.org Initiative to buy the old,derelict CSX railroad tracks and turn it into a bike/walking path, from Englewood (where the lightrail will connect all the way from jersey city) up to the NY state line at Oak Tree Road, where the rail trail already has been converted.

https://www.nv-earth-fair.org/ The NV Greenway will have a table at the Earth Fair so stop by and say hi!

Also, Saturday June 1 at Rockleigh Borough Hall (26 Rockleigh Road) 10am-noon - my kids are having a lemonade and treats (dog and human) sale. All proceeds will be donated to the Northern Valley Greenway. There's a playground and the start of a bunch of hiking trails. Please come by!

Read More
Christine Medvedev 4/17/2019 12:57 PM

Good work everyone! And thank you, Anya and Maria, for organizing. Sorry to hear the meeting is canceled.

Read More
Christine Medvedev 4/16/2019 12:27 PM

Challenge is going great. Hope I can come tomorrow night but will be a game-time decision. This has been a great way to "keep me honest" on all of the eco-friendly things I should be doing every day and has helped me make better choices.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Conduct Virtual Meetings

How can you ensure that your virtual meetings honor your values and your company's culture?

Christine Medvedev 4/16/2019 8:00 AM

I can meet in person with my team when it's critical. All other meetings can be done over the phone - easier and more convenient anyway!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Explore Other Transport Solutions

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

Christine Medvedev 4/12/2019 10:50 AM

Transport accounts for 14% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
Also, electric vehicles have the biggest opportunity for reducing the impact of transportation on emissions. Hopefully electric cars will become more widely available, with all the features people want (like AWD and longer range) and cheaper!

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?

Christine Medvedev 4/12/2019 10:37 AM

I need to drive most places since my neighborhood isn't very walkable, but I can walk to my town hall, so that's what I did. While walking, often times I see neighbors or even people driving by who I know, so it's a more fun and social experience than driving.

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?

Christine Medvedev 4/12/2019 10:35 AM

Possibly better-tasting food, more money for the farmers, and ideally the farmland will never be depleted or abandoned (more efficient use of land).

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Express My Support

How could better walking infrastructure make your city both more enjoyable and more equitable?

Christine Medvedev 4/11/2019 9:41 AM

My town is not very walkable due to the terrain and general atmosphere of the town (not very neighborhood-y, more rural). A lot of people do walk though, but it's kind of dangerous due to the lack of sidewalks. While I don't think sidewalks are going to be a reality in my town any time soon, there are nearby opportunities for better walking infrastructure, such as the northern valley greenway .
www.northervalleygreenway.org

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

What are the factors that influence your choice of transportation? These can include things like money, time, and convenience, as well as perceptions of danger or safety. What would need to change for you to regularly choose more climate-friendly options?

Christine Medvedev 4/11/2019 9:26 AM

For me, location is the biggest deterrent against using more climate-friendly options. I do not regularly drive into the city, but if I did I could take the bus. I mostly drive around locally (to/from school, errands, etc.) and live in a sprawling/not-very-walkable area, so doing anything other than driving myself and my family is not convenient. We'd need to move to a more urban area or perhaps when driverless cars are a reality and more people are ride-sharing, I could make more climate-friendly choices.

Read More