Amanda Knopf

Chemeketa Sustains

"Taking care of the world I love to play (hike/backpack/ski/kayak/mountain bike/camp) in!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
426 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

40

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

60

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

630

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

19

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Amanda's actions

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 30 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Do Nature Activities

I will engage in nature-based activities alone, or with my friends or family, for 30 minute(s) each day. (This can be anything from going on a walk or hike, to noticing the leaves changing color, to reading a book with nature themes.)

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smart Seafood Choices

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Happiness

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

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
Nature Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

Amanda Knopf 10/15/2018 1:20 PM

This weekend, my fiance and I went on a bike ride initially just intending to explore our new neighborhood and do some leaf peeping. We biked around the high school, which really made me think about our sense of place--we are putting down roots here, and visiting the high school simultaneously reminded us of our time in high school together and made us think about potential future kids going to this high school.

We also happened upon a lovely dirt hiking/mountain biking trail right in the middle of some neighborhoods! We are big mountain bikers, so finding something so close to home (rather than the more mountainous areas we usually drive to) made us feel even more like we have landed in the perfect place.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than in other places, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How do we start shifting a meat-focused food culture?

Amanda Knopf 10/15/2018 1:16 PM

My fiance and I went apple picking on Sunday. We got a TON of apples and also some peppers, tomatoes, and pumpkins. I made a giant crock pot batch of applesauce that will make a yummy local and meat free addition to breakfast all week, and we also made a roasted fall veggie and wild rice casserole that we'll be able to take for lunches.

As I was growing up, it was sort of ingrained in my parents' routines to cook a meal with meat for dinner--there always were plenty of vegetables or a big salad, but the main course was typically meat or seafood. I fell out of that routine just because it was more of a hassle to cook meat than vegetables, but I've stuck with it because I've discovered and created so many more interesting recipes by doing fun things with veggies and alternative proteins AND learned about the environmental benefits.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Do Nature Activities

What did you observe while spending time outside -- through sight, sound, smell and touch?

Amanda Knopf 9/28/2018 11:35 AM

I've definitely been noticing the leaves changing and enjoying my sunny walks across campus this week! It's starting to smell like fall, and be chilly enough for a jacket but warm enough to still feel the sun. In my new house, I've also discovered a new fall sound: walnuts crashing onto the sidewalk from our giant trees out front and crunching under passing car tires.

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- Amanda Knopf 10/03/2018 2:56 PM
  
  That's so cool! I definitely want to try that with the walnuts in my yard!
  
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- Mari-Lynn Flaig 9/28/2018 11:53 AM
  
  As kids, we would run around and pick up all the nuts that fell that were covered in the green fibre. Once we had enough of them, you take a board with a hole in it, and pound the nut through the hole, which takes the cover off. If you collect the green fibre covering, and press it enough, you have walnut stain, which you can use to repair scratches and knicks in furniture or flooring. Ive even used it to make really neat tie-died shirts. when you've collected the stain, bury the fibre by your plants and it's an easy all natural fertilizer.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Bringing your own bags and containers to the grocery store, and even to restaurants for leftovers, are a couple of ways to reduce your waste. What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Amanda Knopf 9/28/2018 11:33 AM

I've started using mesh bags for produce from the grocery store, along with bigger reusable bags at checkout. I love the mesh produce bags because it's an easy way to eliminate single-use plastic, they actually keep produce fresher in the fridge because they're breathable, and they are machine washable!

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- Mari-Lynn Flaig 9/28/2018 12:29 PM
  
  Instead of ordering a full meal at a restaurant, I have requested half salads or half dinners and have been accommodated. I've also shared a single meal (ask for an extra plate), with another person so we have no wasted food at the restaurant.
  
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