EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Robin Shornstein

Woodstock Day School

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,330 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

10

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

165

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted
UP TO

32

zero-waste meals

consumed
UP TO

60

conversations

with people
UP TO

19

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

40

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

1.0

donation

made

Robin's actions

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

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 20
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

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

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 45 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Zero-waste Cooking

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Social Justice

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by attending a training, workshop, or presentation.

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

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

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 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 20 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.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Choose LED Bulbs

#33 LED Lighting (Household)

I will replace 10 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Choose Better Wood Products

#38 Forest Protection

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Host a Film Screening

#6 Educating Girls, #7 Family Planning, #62 Women Smallholders

I will host a film screening and discussion about women's and gender equality issues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

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
Materials

How do you address your own feelings of concern, fear or despair about climate change?
Robin Shornstein 4/24/2019 5:51 PM
I think in the past I have felt angry and helpless a lot with climate change, particularly after watching how our current "president" negates climate change and is doing everything he can to mitigate all of the good work that has been happening. The reason I was so drawn to Drawdown is because of the positive, proactive nature of the approach. It really changes the negative and helpless paradigm. The other thing that has happened through the challenge is that I am working together with a team, and that collective energy has been so inspiring and energizing. Also, the challenge and the drawdown book have taught me about so many other ways I can work towards climate change. I see so many more positive actions I can take that I was never aware of.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use

Beyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?
Robin Shornstein 4/24/2019 5:44 PM
Forests feed my soul - really! I'm not sure what it is - the ion's in the air? - but I know that when I go into a forest I experience the same feeling I get from the ocean. Something shifts in my body. Maybe it is also the quiet of the forest, perhaps the plants and trees muffle sound a bit like snow does. And they smell so good! It is a sensorial experience. It triggers endorphins.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities

Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next for you?
Robin Shornstein 4/24/2019 5:35 PM
Replacing some windows and putting up better insulation in places.

Read More
- JD Louis 4/24/2019 6:15 PM
  Even though my house is somewhat new - I have to work on the insulation a bit. I also should be looking to plug drafty "cracks."
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities

What are your next steps for saving energy?
Robin Shornstein 4/24/2019 3:49 PM
There is a lot to do! Better windows, better insulation, moving over to al LED lighting, etc. It is a bit overwhelming and will take some money initially that will hopefully be recouped in the long run.

Read More
- Harrison Bardel 4/24/2019 4:50 PM
  In my house we had LED bulbs for years! Well, our house uses some of the newer modern design, which includes better windows, LED bulbs and great insulation!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?
Robin Shornstein 4/24/2019 3:46 PM
Although my diet is largely vegetarian, I do eat dairy and I drink coffee. I never really knew why shade grown coffee was so much more ecologically sound. I think I really need to go back to being a vegetarian. I am admittedly not ready to be vegan - yet. I am going to be sure my coffee is shade grown or has the environmental seal. I also think I can make a much more conscious effort to eat food that is only locally grown. Forget raspberries in January! And, move towards a strictly vegetarian diet. It is the only way to go.

Read More
- Harrison Bardel 4/24/2019 4:54 PM
  I always try to have breakfast vegitarian and I’ve been doing it actually for FIVE YEARS!!!!
  
  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!
Robin Shornstein 4/24/2019 3:38 PM
I had no idea what biomass technology was until I did this challenge. I have learned through this whole drawdown competition that there is so much I have heard about but had very little understanding of. Everything about this was a surprise to me.

Read More
- Harrison Bardel 4/24/2019 4:56 PM
  I have no idea what biomass is to! Can you please tell me about it when we have library tomorrow?
  
  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?
Robin Shornstein 4/24/2019 3:29 PM
The first thing that needs to happen is for people to have "buy-in". Oftentimes I think
we are more of a reactive culture then a proactive one. It often takes a disaster to mobilize us. The other great motivater is money, which may be one of the main inroads into getting environmental buy in. People will save money. I wish it was just about everyone understanding that a sustainable community is the right thing to do. That may be enough for some but not everyone. Additionally, there needs to be a change in governmental policies that support things like alternative energy as opposed to fossil fuels. And that means, getting the current administration out of office! I see all of this as a precursor to being able to make a sustainable community a reality.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

What is the next step beyond raising awareness of women's and gender equality issues?
Robin Shornstein 4/23/2019 7:04 PM
I think after raising awareness it is taking an action. Raising awareness is an action but going to the next level which would be at this point donating money, maybe joining another organization actively involved in gender equality. Ultimately, I think it is about change on the policy level which means getting the right people into office!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
Robin Shornstein 4/22/2019 6:18 PM
Personally, I love trees and always have. I know there have been studies done about how trees effect us on all levels, and it is all positive. What I did not know before was how much carbon trees draw down from the atmosphere. I have also noticed in recent years, as we hear more and more about how dangerous radiation is from the sun, that I am inclined to want to be in the shade far more then out in the full sun. There is a wonderful movie that was produced by Lynn Cherry about a boy from Germany who started a plant a million trees movement. He is did it and has since then recruited others to do so as well. Wonderful movements from young people.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
Robin Shornstein 4/22/2019 3:22 AM
Knowing the true definitions of the terms will greatly impact the amount of food waste for me, and i am sure for others as well. I have always assumed that the "sell by" date was equivalent to the "use by" date. I know I have tossed food that was still good. We do compost but, I do wish there was a better food waste system in place, certainly in institutions like schools, etc. My sense is that the lack of awareness of just how much food we waste is a greater problem then lack of understanding of expiration/use by dates.

Read More
- Steve Dunning 4/22/2019 3:53 AM
  Not sure if it counts - we really don't waste any food in my mind since our chickens get whatever we don't finish.
  
  Read More