Tara Shafer

EcoChallenge Rhinebeck

"I want to make personal choices that can change the way I consume. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
295 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

12

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

5.0

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

public official or leader

contacted

Tara's actions

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Contact your Elected Officials

#23 Farmland Restoration

I will contact 1 elected officials to voice my opinion on the importance of restoring farmland in my region, including both public and private land.

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 6
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?

Tara Shafer 4/24/2019 7:03 PM

I started this challenge because i have to believe that we can make better choices.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Learn More about Biomass

Had you ever heard of biomass techonology before you took this challenge? What did you learn that surprised you? Share this with your friends!

Tara Shafer 4/24/2019 6:04 PM

I think that spending time thinking about sustainability in every aspect of our lives is memory muscle developing. Humans are adaptive. we can still create things to save ourselves and our planet.

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- Chantal Collins 4/24/2019 6:45 PM
  
  great answer! Ian going to point that out to the kids tomorrow
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Go Paperless

What do you want to prioritize over material 'stuff' in your own life?

Tara Shafer 4/23/2019 3:25 PM

Time. I think a lot about time as an abstraction that is also so concrete. I heard it said that we all get the same amount. Not length, but in the moment. How we spend time.

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Tara Shafer 4/23/2019 3:22 PM

I started the EcoChallenge in an effort to be mindful of how my habits can change and evolve.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice Contact your Elected Officials

Do you have any personal connections to a farm or farmland? If so, what are they? What feelings are evoked for you when thinking about declining farmland?

Tara Shafer 4/23/2019 3:20 PM

I very much enjoy contacting my representatives. We in NY-19 are especially lucky to have a MOC who is interested in farming and sustainable agriculture, land use and the rest. Antonio Delgado, CD NY-19.

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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?

Tara Shafer 4/20/2019 12:55 PM

I find eating a plant-based diet much easier than a meat-based one. I worry not only about about sustainability and consumption, but also about the safety of meat. Processing it and safely storing meat seems challenging and the recalls always give me pause about consuming meat. Plus, I am a huge fan of anything super spicy and noodle veg based.

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Tara Shafer 4/20/2019 8:44 AM

i ordered tons of dish towels and will stop using paper towels

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Tara Shafer 4/20/2019 8:41 AM

I stopped eating meat for the duration of the challenge

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Tara Shafer 4/20/2019 8:40 AM

I stopped using disposable coffee cups and started carrying a refillable coffee cup even when i get to go coffee

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- Chantal Collins 4/20/2019 10:09 AM
  
  Me too! It has made a noticeable difference in how much I’m throwing out. Those cups are rarely recyclable as they have a very thin plastic lining. (I discovered this after starting the challenge
  
  Read More
Tara Shafer 4/17/2019 9:43 PM

I am eating very little meat and have focused on sustainable eating

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