Kjerstin Olson
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 870 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO1.0hourvolunteered
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UP TO15locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO195minutesspent exercising
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UP TO180minutesspent learning
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UP TO195minutesspent outdoors
Kjerstin's actions
Health
Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns
I will spend 10 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.
Energy
Online Energy Audit
I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.
Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 1 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.
Community
Support Native Communities
I will use the resource links provided and spend 10 minutes learning about the native populations that lived in my area prior to colonization, and what I can do to support those that still exist.
Health
Learn More about Food Deserts
I will spend 10 minutes learning about food deserts and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.
Nature
Go for a Daily Walk
I will take a 15-minute walk outside each day.
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.
Food
Buy From a Farmers Market
I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.
Food
Weekly Meal Planning
I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu, only buying the ingredients I need.
Simplicity
Track my Purchases
I will spend 10 minutes each day maintaining a record of all my purchases and learning about my spending habits.
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.
Simplicity
De-Clutter My Home
I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONSimplicity De-Clutter My HomeHow can you prevent yourself from accumulating more things in the future?
Kjerstin Olson 10/24/2018 2:57 PMI can prevent myself from accumulating more things in the future by sticking to a list/avoiding impulse shopping, avoiding stores where I always buy things I don't need, and waiting/sleeping on purchases before I make them to determine if I really need them. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Buy From a Farmers MarketWhat is one food choice that you make, or could make, that would do more good and less harm?
Kjerstin Olson 10/24/2018 2:55 PMSome food choices that I make that do more good and less harm: not eating meat every day, eating less red meat, and shopping at my local co-op. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth Learn About Local Environmental Justice ConcernsWho is most affected by environmental degration and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?
Kjerstin Olson 10/24/2018 2:48 PMPeople of color and people living in poverty are most affected by environmental degradation and/or environmental irresponsibility. How they're affected: they're more likely to live near pollutants and breathe more polluted air - leading to an array of health issues: lung and breathing issues and asthma, heart attacks, and possible premature deaths. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Watch a Documentary about Food SovereigntyHow does food sovereignty address the complex agrarian transition to modern food systems?
Kjerstin Olson 10/24/2018 2:18 PMHow does food sovereignty address the complex agrarian transition to modern food systems? It recognizes and respects that different communities have different needs, resources, and methods. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONSimplicity Track my PurchasesWhat have you noticed about your purchases? Where are you inclined to make shifts, if any?
Kjerstin Olson 10/24/2018 9:58 AMWhat I've noticed about my purchase/where I'm inclined to make shifts, if any: I've noticed that unexpected costs pop up that could be avoided (parking, unplanned/unbridled shopping trips to really appealing shops, etc.) - I usually stay a bit more within budget when I plan ahead for things and give myself an "allowance". This is where I'd be most likely to try to make a shift and trying to cut back on those expenses. I think most of my expenses weren't a surprise - food and drinks with friends, expenses to celebrate friends' baby showers and birthdays, tickets to events, cat food, groceries, transportation, regular bills... Always a good practice to do a detailed examination every once in a while! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Support Native CommunitiesIndigenous speaker and activist Winona LaDuke says that, "most indigenous ceremonies, if you look to their essence, are about the restoration of balance — they are a reaffirmation of our relationship to creation. That is our intent: to restore, and then to retain balance and honor our part in creation." Why is balance important to sustainability?
Kjerstin Olson 10/23/2018 2:11 PMWhy is balance important to sustainability? I'd say balance is at the core of sustainability. Actions have consequences (whether good or bad), and sustainability recognizes that although we have to use resources to survive, we can do a better job of living more sustainably in order to balance what we consume and what we leave behind. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Volunteer in my CommunityWhat is one thing you can do to help your community become more sustainable?
Kjerstin Olson 10/23/2018 2:05 PMOne small thing I can do to help my community become more sustainable: speak up and use my power as a consumer - request reusable/recyclable/compostable utensils and serving containers, skip straws, etc. I think that small efforts by many people can make a big difference! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergy Online Energy AuditWhat most interested or surprised you about your own energy footprint?
Kjerstin Olson 10/23/2018 2:00 PMWhat surprised me the most about my energy footprint is their recommendation ("Where could your home save energy?") to dig more into electronics and lighting, with less emphasis on heating/cooling (I thought A/C units used way more electricity than general electricity and lights). -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth Learn More about Food DesertsWhat are the implications of access to nutritious food for a community?
Kjerstin Olson 10/19/2018 2:20 PMRE: The implications of access to nutritious food for a community - I think people make food decisions by what they're surrounded by and what is accessible (distance, affordability, familiarity, cultural and societal nudges...) to them. If someone would have to go way out of their way for nutritious food vs. close-by, less-nutritious food, they'll probably choose convenience. If healthy food options are built into people's existing routines, that leads to more healthy eating. More nutritious foods = better health and wellbeing, helping financiallyin the long term but also likely saving money in the short term, etc. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNature Go for a Daily WalkHow do you experience your neighborhood or city differently when walking instead of driving?
Kjerstin Olson 10/03/2018 3:15 PMYou're forced to take things slow and be more engaged with your surroundings - you notice things you wouldn't otherwise notice.