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April 3 - April 24, 2019
Monique Martindale's avatar

Monique Martindale

Woodstock Day School

"To learn more about how I can personally have a positive impact on the environment and our world."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 779 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    conversation
    with a person
  • UP TO
    165
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    27
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    165
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    27
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    tree
    planted

Monique's actions

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives

All Electricity Generation Solutions

I will research and tell 1 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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 the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 25 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 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Plant Trees

#15 Afforestation

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 90 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

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

Materials

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

#47 Bioplastic

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Install a Toilet Bank

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water per day by installing a toilet tank bank.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

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?


  • Monique Martindale's avatar
    Monique Martindale 4/25/2019 3:31 AM
    I'm sad that the Ecochallenge is over! I was really interested in the topics - I learned so much! I learned more about regenerative agriculture, and I had never even heard of silvopasturing before.  It also challenged me to step it up in many areas. I definitely felt a shift in my awareness AND my actions. I'd love it if there were a way to continue the challenge!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives
    What inspiration and wisdom can you gather from your family, faith, or community traditions that would help you in both communicating about and addressing our most pressing energy issues?

    Monique Martindale's avatar
    Monique Martindale 4/24/2019 5:11 PM
    It always surprises me when I hear people state concerns about the appearance of solar or the noise produced by wind turbines.  I guess I think that it is so natural , as well as beautiful, to harvest energy from Mother Earth, that I would welcome the sights and sounds of it!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Explore Other Food Solutions
    What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

    Monique Martindale's avatar
    Monique Martindale 4/24/2019 3:03 PM
    I never really thought about the amount of energy used to irrigate crops. Much energy is needed not only to pump the water, but also to distribute it. 

  • Monique Martindale's avatar
    Monique Martindale 4/23/2019 4:53 PM
    I am looking into getting rain barrels to collect rain water for our vegetable and flower gardens.

  • Monique Martindale's avatar
    Monique Martindale 4/23/2019 4:50 PM
    For Christmas, I received 2 wonderful gifts: Etee food wraps, which are made from beeswax and a set of beautiful woven produce bags to bring to the store and use rather than the plastic bags provided.  I really, really like both of these products and I have almost entirely eliminated the use of plastic in my kitchen!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 1
    How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

    Monique Martindale's avatar
    Monique Martindale 4/23/2019 3:43 PM
    It was so interesting (and scary) to see just how many products use palm oil!
    The list of companies and products is overwhelming, so for the time being, I've chosen 5 products to commit to no longer purchase.  That was difficult, because some of the items were among our faves. I plan to contact those companies and voice my concern of their use of palm oil, in terms of the environment AND the horrible outcome for orangutans!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture
    Clean air, clean water and healthy food are three reasons to care about regenerative agriculture. What are some other reasons?

    Monique Martindale's avatar
    Monique Martindale 4/23/2019 3:30 PM
    The produce is more nutritive, as carbon is being maintained in the soil. Also, it allows for  healthful microbes to remain in the soil.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
    How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

    Monique Martindale's avatar
    Monique Martindale 4/23/2019 3:18 PM
    I've always pushed the limit on dates on my food and now I've learned that in some instances,I can push even more!

  • Monique Martindale's avatar
    Monique Martindale 4/23/2019 5:22 AM
    Just tilled a raised bed and planted peas and lettuces - growing our own fresh, delicious, nutritious food - with no transportation of produce or packaging involved!

  • Monique Martindale's avatar
    Monique Martindale 4/23/2019 5:10 AM
    It felt good that for our large Easter gathering on Sunday, we had found enough plates, silverware, wine glasses and cloth napkins from local thrift stores (for the best selection and prices, see the Tibetan thrift store on  Rte 28) so that we did not have to use a single disposable item.  It was very satisfying!