Melissa Marcum
4/03/2019 4:20 PM
Providing encouragement and feedback on ideas for change that will help evolve the conversation for the better.
Melissa Marcum
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 391 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.4locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO1.0meatless or vegan mealconsumed
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UP TO125minutesspent learning
Melissa's actions
Women and Girls
Support Women-Owned Businesses
#62 Women Smallholders
I will spend 5 minutes each day researching women-owned businesses I can support when shopping.
Women and Girls
Research Barriers to Participation and Representation
#6 Educating Girls, #7 Family Planning, #62 Women Smallholders
I will spend at least 120 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.
Food
Smaller Portions
#3 Reduced Food Waste
I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.
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.
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.
Materials
Go Paperless
#70 Recycled Paper
I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.
Food
Composting
#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste
I will start a compost bin where I live.
Materials
Choose Recycled Paper
#70 Recycled Paper
I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.
Food
Support Local Food Systems
#4 Plant-Rich Diet
I will source 15 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.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
#4 Plant-Rich Diet
I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWomen and Girls Support Women-Owned BusinessesGlobally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. How can you better support communities by supporting women? Can you share any past experiences that may help others take action?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWomen and Girls Research Barriers to Participation and RepresentationWhat are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?
Melissa Marcum 4/03/2019 4:18 PMEmpowerment, encouragement and skill building to show women that they can make a difference. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterials Mulch the Base of Trees and PlantsName 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?
Melissa Marcum 4/03/2019 4:16 PMPlastics - buy products that use less or no plastic. Chemical application on lawns - don't do it and reduce my lawn by planting other vegetation or using other ground covers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterials Go PaperlessWhat do you want to prioritize over material 'stuff' in your own life?
Melissa Marcum 4/03/2019 4:15 PMExperiences...living in the moment and enjoying the relationships I have with friends and family. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterials Choose Recycled PaperGood job on choosing recycled paper! How can you take your action a step further?
Melissa Marcum 4/03/2019 4:14 PMReduce the amount of paper used, by storing and reading documents on the computer. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Reduce Animal ProductsIn 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?
Melissa Marcum 4/03/2019 4:12 PMThe psychological need to eat meat that has been reinforced by our culture. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Smaller PortionsFun 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?
Melissa Marcum 4/03/2019 4:11 PMYou can increase the efficiency of the labor and money that goes into raising and producing your food by eating smaller portions. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood CompostingProducing food that goes uneaten squanders many resources—seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, hours of labor, financial capital. Which of these kinds of waste most motivates you to change your behavior regarding food waste? Why?
Melissa Marcum 4/03/2019 4:09 PMMy grandparents lived through the great depression, so we were raised to use everything, where your clothes until they're really dirty and don't throw food out. I can't say what actually motivates me because I have been programmed to avoid waste. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Support Local Food SystemsDependable 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?
Melissa Marcum 4/03/2019 4:07 PMSupporting local farmers. I have a number of family members who are or were farmers in the midwest. Local farmers were a dying breed, but with the recent push to support local food systems, this is changing! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Keep Track of Wasted FoodAn 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?
Melissa Marcum 4/03/2019 4:05 PMI would rather go on a fantastic vacation than waste my money on wasted food.