Joy Ackerman

Mass Audubon

"One small change"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
438 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

15

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

13

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

32

meatless or vegan meals

consumed

Joy's actions

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

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 10
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 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day by installing a low-flow showerhead.

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

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 Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

What would a sustainable water future in your region look like? What needs to change?

Joy Ackerman 4/24/2019 4:47 AM

Living in a humid temperate region with perennial streams and rivers, it's easy to think that water is never a problem. But changing climate patterns may challenge us during growing season, at the same time we are trying to increase locally grown food. Focusing on efficiency in the development of water use for all purposes may be important. At the home scale, in addition to making infrastructure changes in the house - like a low flow, easy on/off. shower head - it's time to add a rain barrel or two to help with outdoor plant and garden watering.

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Joy Ackerman 4/17/2019 5:51 AM

I am using this challenge to reinforce commitments to changes already in progress, as well as to venture into new areas of learning and change.

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- Alexandra Vecchio 4/19/2019 3:26 AM
  
  That's a great plan, Joy! It takes three weeks to build a habit, right?! You are off to a great start! Keep it up!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Support Local Food Systems

Dependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these (or other) advantages inspire you the most?

Joy Ackerman 4/17/2019 5:48 AM

We joined a seafood CSA last year to support our local fishers and to promote sustainable harvest. It's a win-win for us, because we really prize the fish we get each week, know the crew who caught it, and learn new ways of preparing fish including varieties we hadn't tried.

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Joy Ackerman 4/11/2019 3:58 PM

I joined this challenge because it helps to have company in facing the challenge of climate change. I love the idea of 'drawdown' as a way to conceptualize our work. Instead of a negative focus (don't do this, or do less of that), the work of 'drawdown' helps me to take a positive stance toward the challenge. Not one of my challenge actions, but today I sifted compost, moved leaf mulch, and started seeds for my backyard garden.

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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?

Joy Ackerman 4/11/2019 3:53 PM

Fast food and the proportion of meals that people eat at restaurants contribute to North American (US people) eating a lot of meat. Finding healthy non-meat options when eating out can be a challenge.

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Joy Ackerman 4/03/2019 5:47 PM

Really enjoyed reading about regenerative agriculture. This is a new term for me. Web sites I've reviewed vary from a focus on organic and no-till type methods that aim to re-introduce and sequester carbon into the soil, to more holistic descriptions that include healthy social practices.

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