Liz Vann

Montevallo Environmental Club

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
340 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

12

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

12

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

40

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

9.0

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

3.0

zero-waste meals

consumed

Liz's actions

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 40 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

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

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 3 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 3
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 1
DAILY ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Zero-Waste Cooking

I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Use Public Transit

I will use public transit 3 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to 0.49 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by opting into paperless billing and ending unwanted subscriptions.

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
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?

Liz Vann 10/15/2018 8:40 AM

When I'm out and want something to drink, the single use products I use are the plastics that are provided at restaurants and cafes. I say no to straws, but it still poses a problem in purchasing single use cups. Instead, I've been taking a reusable cup where I go (i.e. coffee shops) and ask that they pour my drink in that instead.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Zero-Waste Cooking

In North America, up to 65% of food waste happens at the consumer level. Chef Steven Satterfield advocates for utilizing every part of a vegetable. How can you incorporate using an entire vegetable, including the skins, tops, and stalks during your next meal prep?

Liz Vann 10/09/2018 7:56 PM

I can utilize every part of my vegetable either through juicing, baking skins off root veggies, or composting the rest of the veggies!

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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?

Liz Vann 10/09/2018 7:53 PM

In America, we produce large amounts of meat through subsidized factory farming that contributes to a meat based diet. Our diets are high in sugars and fats and meat definitely provides high amounts of saturated fats. The fast food industry is a multi-billion dollar money maker, riding on the coattails of cheap meat production. We can start shifting away from a meat focused food culture through partnerships with local produce farmers, education/awareness about the contribution to climate change the meat industry creates, and social media campaigns to reduce meat consumption.

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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?

Liz Vann 10/08/2018 10:15 AM

My dad built a raised garden bed over the summer and now I am in the process of removing all the tomato plants and replacing them with brussels, cauliflower, beets, and lettuces. :)

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Go Paperless

Reducing your paper mail can be such a freeing action to take -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?

Liz Vann 10/05/2018 9:01 AM

I will start printing only when necessary for classes & will do so in soy based ink

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