EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Charley Silfee

ForEverClean

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
832 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

324

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

21

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

285

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

5.0

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

10

trees

planted

Charley's 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

Materials

Fix Leaky Faucets

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water per faucet every day.

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

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 15 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY 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

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

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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Plant Trees

#15 Afforestation

I will plant 10 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

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?

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?

Charley Silfee 4/17/2019 2:09 PM

One main destruction of the health of water is pollution. Pollution is everywhere in the oceans and in freshwater sources of all kinds. When you litter that piece of garbage floats or blows away into a body of water. Animals will eat this and die. It also makes water unbearable to drink or look at. Oil spills can also destroy water and many living things in it.
What we can do is we can stop littering so that no more garbage ends up in water sources. We can also pick up any trash we see lying around and throw it out in its correct spot. This way you help clean up mine and your neighborhood.

Read More
Charley Silfee 4/08/2019 4:44 PM

Amazing sun set tonight!

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Charley Silfee 4/08/2019 3:31 PM

Today we I went to start my walk I came across my lovely daffodils that had just bloom! Happy spring!

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- Kiley F 4/08/2019 3:52 PM
  
  That's a beautiful photo!
  
  Read More
Charley Silfee 4/06/2019 11:27 AM

I just finished my daily walk. It was very nice and peaceful. It walk great seeing other people out to enjoying the beautiful weather.

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- Kiley F 4/06/2019 4:49 PM
  
  That looks so pretty! My mom and I walked Hunter and Willow up to the lake across the street for a while. We definitely tired them out.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Fix Leaky Faucets

What are other easy and low-cost ways to reduce your water usage at home?

Charley Silfee 4/06/2019 7:13 AM

One thing you always hear people say is too shut the water off while brushing your teeth. You can also take shorter showers which reduces water use. You can also place a milk carton filled with stones in the back of your toilet to reduce how much water is needed to flush. Fixing leaking pipes and faucets too. You can also try to not to use as many dishes so you'll have less to wash and that will save water.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Go for a Daily Walk

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

Charley Silfee 4/05/2019 3:41 PM

On my walks I notice how peaceful nature truly is. You can hear the birds and other unknown creatures in the woods. The only thing I didn't like was all of the houses that were around me. I've been noticing more and more buildings going up in my area and I'm not liking it too much. I feel that there should be less franchises going up and more public parks. So then more people can enjoy the beauty of a nature walk.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Smaller Portions

Fun fact: Your brain and stomach register feelings of fullness after about 20 minutes of eating. While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come out of eating smaller portions?

Charley Silfee 4/05/2019 3:35 PM

I feel that it makes you fuller because you're not stuffing yourself so full you want to lay down. And you don't feel like you didn't eat enough either. I think if you eat smaller portions that you will also eat things that are better for you not so much leaning towards junk food. Also I'm sure you'll lose weight not eating so much at once and you'll waste less food. Because then you're not taking too much in which it ends up in the garbage.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

Charley Silfee 4/05/2019 2:49 PM

My envision for a sustainable community would be using renewable energy resources that don't harm our Earth. It would probably consist of energy sources such as solar, wind, or geothermal. I would also include this process because not only does it include providing energy but it will give nutrients to farmlands for growing crops.
I think I one thing I would need is people to support this idea and a fund for it all. If I would get support from people then I would raise money and put that money to the renewable energy for the people in which supported it.

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Charley Silfee 4/05/2019 1:08 PM

So I'm sad now! It's raining/snowing and I can't take my daily walk : (

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Buy Bamboo

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

Charley Silfee 4/05/2019 5:47 AM

The only bamboo products that I have found in my community are bamboo cooking utensils. I have multiple of them and use them almost every time I cook. I also use metal utensils to try and reuse and not waste plastic materials.

Read More