Jo-Ellen Courtney

UUCUV Eco-Challenge Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
746 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

38

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

165

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

Jo-Ellen's actions

Action Track: Social Justice

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

I will spend at least 40 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by attending a training, workshop, or presentation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

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.

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

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 40 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 45 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

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
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?

Jo-Ellen Courtney 4/24/2019 1:30 PM

I would prefer to use this money to develop a vegetable garden. Growing my own food and sharing it would increase my appreciation the value of food. I expect I might be more aware by growing it and preserving it.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice Support Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

Indigenous speaker and activist Winona LaDuke says that, "most indigenous ceremonies, if you look to their essence, are about the restoration of balance — they are a reaffirmation of our relationship to creation. That is our intent: to restore, and then to retain balance and honor our part in creation." Why is balance important to sustainability?

Jo-Ellen Courtney 4/24/2019 1:22 PM

Balance is critical to sustainability. When you take more than you give you have changed the balance. Sustainability is an effort to keep things in balance. Personally I think we are beyond the need for balance. We have taken so much from the earth; we need to be engaged in restoration.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

What did you learn about indigenous peoples' land management that you can apply in your own life?

Jo-Ellen Courtney 4/24/2019 1:17 PM

Indigenous peoples respect the land and value each part. Their holistic view is one I will incorporate into my like.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Express My Support

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

Jo-Ellen Courtney 4/24/2019 1:12 PM

We currently have sidewalks in some areas of the town. However, extending the sidewalks to the other side of the lake would make it easier for people to walk to the beach from the southern edge of the lake. As it is now the sidewalk is only available on the northern edge of the lake. This limits access.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Express My Support

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

Jo-Ellen Courtney 4/24/2019 1:12 PM

We currently have sidewalks in some areas of the town. However, extending the sidewalks to the other side of the lake would make it easier for people to walk to the beach from the southern edge of the lake. As it is now the sidewalk is only available on the northern edge of the lake. This limits access.

Read More
Jo-Ellen Courtney 4/16/2019 5:33 PM

Absolutely! I want to share this information with family members who are misinformed.

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Jo-Ellen Courtney 4/15/2019 1:13 PM

My reasons are to challenge myself. I chose food waste and eating less meat. I am a bit surprised at the amount of food waste I am encountering. I see that buying food is something I do frequently. It has become an enjoyable habit for me. I live alone and we have biweekly trash pickup. I usually clear out my refrigerator until the night before trash pickup. Doing this challenge I have been clearing out more refrigerated food items in containers. Paying attention to my food waste has been an eye opener for me.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?

Jo-Ellen Courtney 4/10/2019 2:19 PM

Better mileage in general. It will be delightful to go for longer stretches between getting fuel. Plus saving money.

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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?

Jo-Ellen Courtney 4/09/2019 5:53 PM

Meat eating was considered necessary for laborers and people doing physical labor. It became a sign of prosperity that you could afford to have meat.Meat and potatoes are what I grew up with. Personally I think eating meat at most meals became a habit without much thought. Learning to eat without meat requires a bit more thinking. I think North Americans have become lazy and go with the easy way out.

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Jo-Ellen Courtney 4/08/2019 1:44 PM

Due to my need to travel long distances, I believe a hybrid is the best choice for me. At this point I am unable to afford an electric vehicle with a long mileage capabilities.

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