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October 3 - October 24, 2018
Melissa Erdman's avatar

Melissa Erdman

La Crosse County

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 972 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    20
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    hour
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    20
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    705
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    33
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    195
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    38
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    13
    pounds of paper
    have been saved

Melissa's actions

Health

Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home

I will spend 20 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Car Share

I will sign up for a car-sharing service, or organize car sharing with my neighbors, to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Meet My Local Farmers

I will visit my nearest farm to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those who produce my food in other regions of the world to make better choices when I shop.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 1 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 20 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Collect Rain Water

I will create a rain garden or bioswale, or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 15-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 30 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 19
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 13
DAILY ACTIONS

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
    Transportation Car Share
    Take a moment to think of places you frequent often (work, grocery store, natural areas). Could you choose one or two days a week to schedule driving with a friend, neighbor or co-worker to these places?

    Melissa Erdman's avatar
    Melissa Erdman 10/22/2018 2:09 PM
    My spouse works down town. We try to carpool a couple of times per week. It just depends on activities for work, kids, etc that we need to leave at different times. Its a good feeling when it works. It also gives us time to talk without interruption!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home
    To what extent do you believe that environmental factors contribute to your own health or issues with health?

    Melissa Erdman's avatar
    Melissa Erdman 10/22/2018 12:48 PM
    I didn't realize how many different irritants were in any one cleaning item. I have always had sensitive skin, seeing the scores of some of the items I use to clean, I can see why! Not only the skin irritations, but my respiratory system~
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Meet My Local Farmers
    When you know who produces your food, you are connecting personally to your complex regional food system. What are the advantages of knowing who produces your food and where it comes from? Do you think this might enable someone to advocate for a better quality of life for those who produce their food, both near and far?

    Melissa Erdman's avatar
    Melissa Erdman 10/22/2018 12:31 PM

    There are many farms near me. By visiting 2 that are closest to me, I found that they rotate plantings from year to year. However, they tend to plant soy beans and field corn. Not items I purchase at the grocery store. I feel that farms will become things of the past. This is not a good thing. We need to find ways to help our local farmers.

  • Melissa Erdman's avatar
    Melissa Erdman 10/22/2018 6:07 AM
    Had guests this weekend. We all used reusable water bottles and coffee mugs.

  • Melissa Erdman's avatar
    Melissa Erdman 10/22/2018 6:05 AM
    Fantastic morning for a run. The wind was brisk, but the temps were great!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Volunteer in my Community
    What is one thing you can do to help your community become more sustainable?

    Melissa Erdman's avatar
    Melissa Erdman 10/19/2018 12:59 PM
    I enjoy volunteering. It is hard to find time. I did put in an hour this week and signed up for 4 more hours at the end of the month.

  • Melissa Erdman's avatar
    Melissa Erdman 10/18/2018 1:30 PM
    Sunny and 65! Get out there and enjoy the beautiful day. Few and far between, I'm afraid....

  • Melissa Erdman's avatar
    Melissa Erdman 10/16/2018 8:45 AM
    I am so happy to see the sunshine, but it is a brisk walk in the mornings!! Brrrr

  • Melissa Erdman's avatar
    Melissa Erdman 10/14/2018 5:34 AM
    We were in Tomah for a tournament and visited family as well.  After dinner. We all went forr a walk. Enjoyed the gorgeous fall colors and the was even a little bit of sunshine!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Try a New Way to Prep
    Canning and pickling food is a great way to have delicious summer fruits and vegetables all year round. Just make sure to follow the canning and pickling guidelines from the USDA. What are some foods that you would like to preserve and enjoy later in the year?

    Melissa Erdman's avatar
    Melissa Erdman 10/12/2018 8:33 AM
    I tried blanching/freezing corn. I was amazed how easy it was and how great it tasted. Extra bonus, the kids liked it too!