EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Tracy Grant

SEEDS

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,093 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

people

helped
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

97

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

495

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

2.0

donations

made

Tracy's actions

Action Track: Social Justice

Support Microgeneration in Low Income Countries

#48 In-Stream Hydro, #76 Micro Wind, #78 Microgrids

I will make a donation to a nonprofit that installs microgeneration in low income countries.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Give a Microloan

#62 Women Smallholders

I will give 1 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

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 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Social Justice

Help Girls Overcome Health Barriers

#6 Educating Girls

I will donate 1 Femme Kit(s) to help girls overcome health and sanitation barriers to being able to attend school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Start a Social Media Campaign

#6 Educating Girls

Through social media, I will raise awareness about gender inequity in education by sharing the information found in the links below.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Support Nutrient Management

#65 Nutrient Management

I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 13
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

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 45 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Learn about Temperate Forests

#12 Temperate Forests

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 15 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 12 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

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

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

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?

Tracy Grant 4/24/2019 2:13 PM
Today is the last day. I really enjoyed being a part of the SEEDS team. On my walk today I picked up trash too. Every person makes a difference :)

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice

How are people responding to the statistics you're sharing on social media?
Tracy Grant 4/24/2019 6:22 AM
Mostly positive :) some have even contribute $$

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

Had you ever heard of biomass techonology before you took this challenge? What did you learn that surprised you? Share this with your friends!
Tracy Grant 4/24/2019 6:18 AM
I had heard of biomass before this challenge. A friend of mine was part of a team implementing it's use at the University in Moscow, Idaho. What surprised me is that the way it could be used short term in California to help decrease forest fires. I agree that it is a bridge or short term solution that is costly and maybe not the best alternative energy.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Tracy Grant 4/23/2019 3:53 PM
I have noticed litter can collect in the drains along the roadway. I noticed some drivers are attentive, many are not. (I walk on a dirt road) Also, the county has widened the sides of the road by mowing. This has helped with extra room to move over. I believe it is intended for animals to be seen more easily as well. I enjoy the woods and the watershed. If the county used less large rocks to refresh the road.. that would be great. I'm concerned that I will trip or twist an ankle.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?
Tracy Grant 4/23/2019 3:49 PM
My vision of a sustainable community has people coming together to make sure that each of us is supporting local, implementing alternative clean energy practices and helping those who need help. I think people being educated in a challenge like this is a good first step in making that vision a reality.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials

How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?
Tracy Grant 4/23/2019 3:44 PM
I could make more time to during the week to relearn repurpose and repair in my household. It makes me feel like my efforts are having an impact even if it is a small bit in the big picture.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. Why do you think that is?
Tracy Grant 4/23/2019 10:56 AM
I think that the way a patriarchal society teaches its members may lead to men being more concerned with their own success first.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

Geothermal energy is reliable, abundant, and efficient. Project Drawdown states that public investment will play a crucial role in its expansion. In what ways (i.e. with money, time, advocacy) can you invest in geothermal energy?
Tracy Grant 4/23/2019 10:52 AM
If we end up moving in the next year or so, I would look into investing geothermal technology in our next home as well as continue the conversation with others.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

What did you learn about wave and tidal energy? Were you surprised by the information you found?
Tracy Grant 4/23/2019 10:29 AM
I learned that it has been studied and worked on for quite sometime. The company minesto.com seems to be making the most progress. Underwater kites which can power small islands. I was surprised by how expensive the initial investment is for these models. Mostly it is the upkeep and strength of the materials needed because of the oceans themselves.

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Tracy Grant 4/22/2019 4:29 PM
Today on my walk I picked up a small bag of trash from along the ponds near my house. Some of it blew in from the road and some of it was really old (glass, metal) All in all a lovely Earth Day!

Read More