EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Helan Thomas

Seton Hall University

"To give back through education, and save turtles while I'm at it. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,022 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

260

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

306

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

480

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

26

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

15

meatless or vegan meals

consumed

Helan's actions

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Fix Leaky Faucets

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water per faucet every day.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Research Peatlands

#13 Peatlands

I will spend 20 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Plant Trees

#15 Afforestation

I will plant 5 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 33 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 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Conduct Virtual Meetings

#63 Telepresence

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 30 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 30 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Explore Other Buildings and Cities Solutions

All Buildings and Cities Solutions

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings and Cities Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Replace Manual Thermostats

#57 Smart Thermostats

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

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

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

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?
Helan Thomas 4/24/2019 11:05 AM
Bamboo alternatives aren't really available in the U.S., or they might be and I'm just not looking hard enough. It was cool to see bamboo in person though.

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- Wanda Knapik 4/24/2019 12:14 PM
  bamboo and hemp and sugarcane products can be found everywhere
  
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Helan Thomas 4/09/2019 6:23 PM
So grateful to be in a city with lots of trees and greenery!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
Helan Thomas 4/09/2019 6:21 PM
Trees provide physical support by providing shade and food. They are pillars in many ecosystems and provide structural support for all kinds of organisms.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials

What are other easy and low-cost ways to reduce your water usage at home?
Helan Thomas 4/08/2019 5:39 PM
There are multiple ways to safe water as a student. One of the biggest ways is to simply take a shorter shower, or turn off the water when washing your hair etc. Same concept for when washing your hands or brushing your teeth. Don't leave the tap if not necessary

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Helan Thomas 4/08/2019 12:41 PM
don't have a bird feeder? Use an aluminum or cardbord box as a bird feeder tray. Punch out holes on either side, thread some twine through the holes, and attach around a branch or your window sill. Then add some suet or sunflower seeds and watch birds flock to your DIY feeder.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Producing 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?
Helan Thomas 4/08/2019 12:39 PM
I think about how much work it takes to grow food and it upsets me how easily we throw away food. I grew a bean plant once, and it ended up dying in the end cause I forgot to water it, but I now have an appreciation for beans because I personally know how much work it took to care for my little plant. I think that if we had to grow our own food, we would think twice before putting too much food on our plant and throwing it out if uneaten.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Dependable 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?
Helan Thomas 4/07/2019 12:32 PM
I appreciate the community aspect of local farmers. Farmers do more than just grow food for their community. They also teach their neighbors how to grow their own food and it ends up become a community activity.

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Helan Thomas 4/07/2019 12:30 PM
Pruned some bushes and trees outside. If you commute, make sure to check on your outdoor plants

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Helan Thomas 4/05/2019 8:45 PM
If you'd like to know what major environmental bills/policies are trying to get passed in NJ, check out Clean Water Action, a grassroots organization: https://www.cleanwateraction.org/our-priorities/civic-engagement-and-elections

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Fun 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?
Helan Thomas 4/05/2019 5:45 PM
Aside from the fact that's helpful for when you're trying to meet a certain weight goal for a diet or workout, eating smaller portions helps your body digest food more efficiently rather just jamming it with tons of calories at once. It's just really great for your metabolism

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