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October 3 - October 24, 2018
Jennie Howland's avatar

Jennie Howland

Starbucks Partners for Sustainability

""Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." -Dr. Seuss, The Lorax"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 934 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    420
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    10
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    150
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    525
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    84
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    84
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted

Jennie's actions

Health

Take Control

Both system and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy From a Farmers Market

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Go get a check up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Join a Local CSA

I will sign up for a local CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture).

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Learn More about Food Deserts

I will spend 45 minutes learning about food deserts and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home

I will spend 45 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Advocate for More Food Options

I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work or on campus.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Personal Waste Audit

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 25 minute(s) each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 20
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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Go get a check up
    How do you practice self care?

    Jennie Howland's avatar
    Jennie Howland 10/23/2018 4:45 PM
    I hurt my back a couple weeks ago, and I’ve been working with my PCP and my orthopedic specialist to come up with the best way to strengthen my core and avoid pain the future.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Try a New Way to Prep
    Canning and pickling food is a great way to have delicious summer fruits and vegetables all year round. Just make sure to follow the canning and pickling guidelines from the USDA. What are some foods that you would like to preserve and enjoy later in the year?

    Jennie Howland's avatar
    Jennie Howland 10/23/2018 1:15 PM
    My fiancé and I pickled cucumbers and peppers. I can’t wait to try to can vegetables next year. We also have a breadmaker that I can’t wait to try some new recipes in!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Plant an Herb Garden
    Consider the ways you can garden: a plot of land? a patio container? hanging basket? windowsill gardens? What would work best for your living situation and lifestyle?

    Jennie Howland's avatar
    Jennie Howland 10/20/2018 5:37 PM
    As it’s getting cooler (fall, finally!), my fiancé and I are trying for some herbs in pots inside. Basil is something I haven’t had much luck with in the past, so I’m hoping it’ll work this time!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Buy From a Farmers Market
    What is one food choice that you make, or could make, that would do more good and less harm?

    Jennie Howland's avatar
    Jennie Howland 10/14/2018 4:31 PM
    Buying local as often as possible is my goal when it comes to food. I gave up meat 9 years ago in an attempt to help reduce my carbon footprint. I’ve recently started eating fish occasionally to help get omegas, and I really need to re-educate myself on the best fish to eat and which to avoid. I know there are so many resources out there which is great!

  • Jennie Howland's avatar
    Jennie Howland 10/12/2018 9:32 AM
    I've seen some of the comments from people who've signed up for paperless billing and getting rid of mailed catalogs. When I moved a couple years ago, I signed up for paperless billing as soon as possible, and I love it! The email reminders ensure that I don't forget to pay my bills and it's so much more reliable and easy to pay online or have automatic payments--at least I tell myself it's helping my credit. ;)

  • Jennie Howland's avatar
    Jennie Howland 10/11/2018 9:51 AM
    I love talking about these challenges with family, friends, and partners. Awareness is huge, and while my family is used to me rambling on about bettering my (our) behaviors, I think bringing awareness to everybody is key. I've stocked up on for-here ware in store, and I am thrilled with how many of my partners have been offering them to customers who they notice spend a lot of time in store--we've been able to "train" a few regulars to ask for their food on a plate or drink in a mug.

  • Jennie Howland's avatar
    Jennie Howland 10/10/2018 7:43 AM
    I chose to join this challenge because I wanted to be get inspiration about what else I can be doing to be more mindful of my actions. The more I force myself to be mindful of my actions, the more likely these actions are to become permanent behavior changes, and that makes me excited!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home
    To what extent do you believe that environmental factors contribute to your own health or issues with health?

    Jennie Howland's avatar
    Jennie Howland 10/10/2018 7:35 AM
    I try to be mindful of what I'm buying and using in my home, not just for the environment (though that used to be my main concern when shopping) but also for myself and pets in my home. 
    Did you know there's an app called 'Think Dirty' that lets you scan the barcodes of products in your house and will tell you what the ingredients are and how harmful they are to the environment?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use Reusable Bags
    What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reuseable one with you? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to establish this a successful habit?

    Jennie Howland's avatar
    Jennie Howland 10/09/2018 12:40 PM
    I usually try to put items back in the shopping cart or basket instead of use a bag. However, trying to remember bags when I go retail shopping as opposed to grocery store shopping, I'm more likely to forget bags and need to accept a disposable one. Ensuring that I always have bags in my car is something that I'm getting better at, but definitely need to continue to work on!

    • Stacy Strickland's avatar
      Stacy Strickland 10/12/2018 9:00 AM
      A trick I've borrowed is to use the paper mushroom bags when I'm caught in a grocery store and need a single use bag... at least it can then be composted ;)
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Personal Waste Audit
    Why is it so difficult to understand the impacts our purchases and waste have on other people, animals, and places? How might your experience with this challenge impact your future consumption and choices?

    Jennie Howland's avatar
    Jennie Howland 10/08/2018 6:14 AM
    Our society has become so used to disposable/one use items and packing materials involved in all our purchases being the norm. My fiance and I are getting better at buying products available in the bulk section so that we don't have to buy pre-packaged items, but even that becomes a challenge because we have to remember to bring our own containers or reusable bags.