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October 3 - October 24, 2018
Scott Benson's avatar

Scott Benson

Columbia Bank

"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me. - Batman"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,127 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    21
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    60
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    210
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    195
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    42
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    21
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    2.0
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    21
    pounds of paper
    have been saved

Scott's actions

Waste

Skip the Straw

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

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

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Choose Two-Sided Printing

I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper each day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Learn More about Food Deserts

I will spend 60 minutes learning about food deserts and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Explore My Area

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 60 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Forage for My Food

I will use the 'Learn More' resources below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.

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

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day by installing a low-flow showerhead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

I will spend at least 60 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

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?


  • Scott Benson's avatar
    Scott Benson 10/24/2018 8:39 AM
    Another Ecochallenge in the books. This was fun to learn more about food and local pollinators.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Support Pollution Reduction
    What environmental factors affect human health in your region, and how do they affect it?

    Scott Benson's avatar
    Scott Benson 10/22/2018 10:08 AM
    Plastics in the water add toxicity to the local fish population.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants
    Where are your nearest natural bodies of water? How might they be affected by runoff?

    Scott Benson's avatar
    Scott Benson 10/17/2018 10:12 AM
    I have a local lake just 3 blocks away from me. With runoff the lake could be polluted with oil or pesticides picked up during heavy rain. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Learn More about Food Deserts
    What are the implications of access to nutritious food for a community?

    Scott Benson's avatar
    Scott Benson 10/17/2018 10:10 AM
    Without access to healthy food choices there is an increase in Obesity and Alcoholism. When these options are available we see improved health.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Skip the Straw
    How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?

    Scott Benson's avatar
    Scott Benson 10/12/2018 10:13 AM
    In addition to using reusable products, I will work to watch more "R"eruns of my favorite shows. I'll visit more "R"ivers and eat more "R"adishes.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Choose Two-Sided Printing
    Choosing two-sided printing can be an easy adjustment on your computer settings. How can you help others make this same switch? Can it be encouraged company wide?

    Scott Benson's avatar
    Scott Benson 10/11/2018 9:12 AM
    The IT department can set it to be the default option, so that there is an extra step needed to print one sided.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Compost Food Waste
    New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? Do you know how your compost will be used and the benefits it has on the environment?

    Scott Benson's avatar
    Scott Benson 10/11/2018 9:11 AM
    I use some of the compost to tend to my garden. Coffee grounds now get thrown out into the garden instead of the trash.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Eco-friendly Gardening
    What are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.

    Scott Benson's avatar
    Scott Benson 10/11/2018 9:10 AM
    Flooding is a concern with the heavy downpours, but its great living in a rain forest in the PNW.
  • 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?

    Scott Benson's avatar
    Scott Benson 10/10/2018 10:35 AM
    The step I'm working on now is to not use a straw when getting a drink while eating out.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Install a Low-Flow Showerhead
    How can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?

    Scott Benson's avatar
    Scott Benson 10/10/2018 10:30 AM
    Using less water, and planting native species of plants that can survive on less water. Conserve where possible and find alternatives if they exist.