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Welcome to 2018 People's Ecochallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an 2018 People's Ecochallenge expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org
2018 People's Ecochallenge
October 3 - October 24, 2018
Erica Martin's avatar

Erica Martin

Zero Waste PDX

"Trying to be a better human, live more simply and enjoy life. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 697 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    608
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    380
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    0.0
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    76
    more servings
    of fruits and vegetables
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted

Erica's actions

Energy

Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

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 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Conserve Toilet Water

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 20 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

More Fruits and Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 4 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Say No to Plastic Straws

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When they ingest plastic, marine life has a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 0 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

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?

  • Erica Martin's avatar
    Erica Martin 10/24/2018 12:27 PM
    I have maxing out my steps everyday on fit bit by walking and taking breaks at work to get up and walk around. 
    Read More
  • Erica Martin's avatar
    Erica Martin 10/22/2018 10:48 AM
    It was difficult to take part in this challenge, when traveling out of town for a family wedding in the Las Vegas area. Recycling was not always offered, straws appeared in drinks, no paper bag option at grocery stores and coffee was made in disposable cups, (even though I brought and asked to use my own reusable coffee cup). We did our best.   
    Read More
  • Erica Martin's avatar
    Erica Martin 10/14/2018 1:09 PM
    I believe I am making changes to some simple "lazy" habits. For example, I used paper sacks for bulk items instead of the plastic bags offered at my grocery store. I also have purchased mesh bags that I anticipate to use for my next grocery trip. For a  crafter's bazaar that I am helping to organize, I have wild-crafted/scavenged my handmade fried floral wreaths items (twigs, cones, leaves, etc.)  and  the crafts my youth group are doing are a recycled calendar origami gift box product.   
    Read More
  • 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?
    Erica Martin's avatar
    Erica Martin 10/11/2018 12:00 PM
    It can be difficult for some to understand the impacts of purchases and waste because of many reasons, but I will use a few examples to illustrate.

    Reading labels: The green washing of labels can give impressions that foods are produced (and packaged) with "sustainable" practices when minimum standards are used. How local is the product purchased? and other questions are good to ask oneself. 

    In some ways, we live in a throw-a-way culture and many items are a one use type product and includes clothing, appliances and many household items.
    Donating goods for reuse and purchasing items from thrift stores, up cycling/repair a well used items are always terrific ideas. Consider how you can lessen your impact through these means.
    However, items are left it at a drop off site and then we drive off not thinking of it again.  Research organizations that will utilize your donations with best practices.  Separate donation items (such as e-waste) to organizations that will properly rebuild, reuse, or dispose of the donated item. 

    Taking part in this challenge is helping me put some good thoughts into action. I find inspiration in others participation as well. Seeing ourselves connected to the whole is a big step to conserving and sharing resources. 
    Read More
  • Erica Martin's avatar
    Erica Martin 10/10/2018 2:13 PM
    To join in on a collective effort of changing habits and creating new ones  :) 
    Read More
  • Erica Martin's avatar
    Erica Martin 10/09/2018 2:18 PM
    I just figured out how to update my activity. I think these challenges are going well for me. Some changes I have made successfully. (although, I did forget to bring reusable bags and had to use paper bags for groceries. I will reuse those for another purpose.) A few times where the became a bit hectic to check in. Always tomorrow to improve. 

    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water 5-Minute Showers
    Five minute showers are an impressive step toward reducing your water footprint. What is the next step you can take?
    Erica Martin's avatar
    Erica Martin 10/09/2018 2:10 PM
    Convince others in my household to take 5 min. showers. Although, some have significantly  reduced the shower times. Personally, I could go without a daily shower and shower every other day.  
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Say No to Plastic Straws
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
    Erica Martin's avatar
    Erica Martin 10/09/2018 2:07 PM
    I facilitated a marine debris service learning project for a youth program.It has been an eyeopening experience. 

    I carry a reusable mug/ cup/ water bottle with me and go without straws   Unfortunately, some foods come in plastic trays or bags-such as breads or larger bags of onions and potatoes. Our mesh bags are not big enough for some items we purchase. We do  try to reuse what ever plastics I do bring home.   We are making bread this week to avoid buying bread with wrappers (or buy breads with paper wrappers.)  
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Exercise Daily
    How can you incorporate other personal values (like quality time with friends or spending time in nature) into your exercise routine?
    Erica Martin's avatar
    Erica Martin 10/09/2018 2:00 PM
    I have been trying to make a real effort to keep in touch with folks and invite people over for home brewed coffee and baked goods or go for walks around my neighborhood of with my dogs. We have been walking most evenings for 30 minutes, even in the rain. We "yurted" with friends this past weekend and all hiked near 12 miles at Mt. St. Helens.    
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health More Fruits and Veggies
    What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other places, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How can we start shifting from a meat-focused food culture to a more plant-based one?
    Erica Martin's avatar
    Erica Martin 10/08/2018 3:40 PM
    We have been supporting community gardens and local farmers for that past several years and purchasing shares of beef and have attempted to grow (rather badly, I might add) our own vegetables. We made this shift in part to eat meat occasionally, eat more vegetables and know where our food is coming from.   
    We also made this shift because we began to notice that "cheap" commercially prepared foods/ agriculture is readily available in our grocery stores. North America has seemed to pull away from growing actual food, instead growing crops that are  converted to fuel or exported. Low income communities appear to be targeted with these prepared foods, offering frozen products at dollar stores. (When our community wanted to bring in an a grocery store, we were turned down by certain chains due to the demographics of our community. )
     I believe that farm to table, community garden and extension programs are a key in promoting a "grow your own vegetables" and healthier mindset. 
    Read More