Join the Drawdown EcoChallenge, presented by EcoChallenge.org

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Sustainability Party Feed

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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
Women and Girls Connect With A Nonprofit

What are the most pressing issues for women and girls in your community?

Katherine Esposito 4/22/2019 6:29 PM

I would argue that climate change is the biggest issue facing girls and women in our community. I am considering joining the board of a local chapter of a girls organization and hope to bring sustainability issues to the group if I help lead it.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Online Energy Audit

What are your next steps for saving energy?

Katherine Esposito 4/14/2019 4:19 PM

I talked to an energy audit service provider this weekend about scheduling an energy audit soon. I plan to take the steps they suggest and potentially increase insulation on my house.

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Michele Chisholm 4/13/2019 4:22 AM

Since this eco challenge started, I am constantly surprised by the amount of food waste we have. And I am making a sincere effort to reduce our food waste. I've read that since most food waste is fresh fruits and vegetables and its better to buy frozen, just to reduce the amount of food waste. It seems to be true. Almost everything we've had to dispose of was fresh fruits and vegetables.

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Meghan Parker 4/12/2019 7:44 PM

This week has been great for using small plates and creating zero waste meals. The whole family is on board and we are feeling at one with the Earth! :)

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice Advocate for Forest Protection

Higher standards of living are very often dependent on moving our environmental costs elsewhere. What are some specific ways in which the environmental impacts of your own lifestyle might be shifted elsewhere?

Katherine Esposito 4/12/2019 2:17 PM

Our schools are under consideration for redistricting, and if my children are sent to a school significantly further away, our family's carbon footprint will increase. I wrote to the school board today and urged them to consider the environmental impacts of their final choice in terms of carbon dioxide emissions.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Composting

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?

Katherine Esposito 4/12/2019 2:09 PM

While the wasted resources of seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, labor, and financial capital are all concerning, what most motivates me to reduce food waste is thinking about the anaerobic production of methane when the discarded food would later go to rot in a landfill.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Buy Bamboo

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?

Katherine Esposito 4/12/2019 1:57 PM

I started using my new bamboo toothbrush yesterday. So far so good!

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Michele Chisholm 4/08/2019 6:05 AM

On Saturday, my two daughters and I went for a walk to explore neighborhood playgrounds. We took along a used bread bag to collect trash. We collected a bag of trash before we even got to our first playground! The girls had fun doing it (it was a new adventure and we even saw a snake!) and all weekend after this, if my youngest saw trash outside, she picked it and brought it to me. We got the idea from an acquaintance of mine who started a Facebook page called "One Bag Challenge" - challenging everyone to pick up a bag of trash every day for the month of April (#OneBag Challenge #EveryDay IsEarthDay)

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Michele Chisholm 4/08/2019 6:00 AM

I went for a walk on Sunday morning and checked off a lot of boxes. I used muscle power instead of driving to the library to return a library book. After the library, I walked to Giant to buy vegetables to make vegetable lasagna (#plant-rich diet!). I packed up my groceries in my backpack (no plastic bags!) and walked home. I got exercise and fresh air and a few moments of peace being by myself. BUT I did feel guilty about not picking up the trash I saw on my way to Giant and back to my house. Now that I notice trash everywhere, I cannot UN-see it!

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Michele Chisholm 4/05/2019 9:51 AM

I explained to my family that I am in a eco-challenge and part of that challenge is to not waste food. My youngest daughter said "Mommy, I want you to win" and then she actually ate all of her dinner- mind blown! I have become the human vacuum cleaner like my dad used to be when we were growing up--eating the stuff in the fridge that no one else wants to eat just so it doesn't go to waste! :)

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