Melissa Hayes
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,128 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO1.0conversationwith a person
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UP TO342gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO1,890minutesspent exercising
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UP TO135minutesspent learning
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UP TO60minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO210minutesbeing mindful
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UP TO83pounds of CO2have been saved
Melissa's actions
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.
Nature
Forage for My Food
I will use the 'Learn More' resources below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.
Community
Host a House Party
I will host a house party with 1 friends and/or colleagues to watch a movie or present a guest speaker on an environmental issue that matters to me.
Nature
Explore My Area
I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.
Water
Fix Leaky Faucets
I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water per faucet every day.
Water
Eco-friendly Gardening
I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.
Food
Try a New Way to Prep
I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.
Energy
Switch to Cold Water
I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of C02 over the course of the next year.
Waste
Find Local Recycling Depots
I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.
Energy
Replace Manual Thermostats
I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.
Simplicity
Work-Life Balance
I will not work more than 8 hour days each day to practice work-life balance.
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
Meditate
I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 10 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.
Health
Exercise Daily
Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 60 minute(s) each day.
Simplicity
Go for a Daily Walk
I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day.
Create Your Own Action
Productive Morning
Goal #1) In bed and ready to sleep by 9:30 pm WHY? to get sufficient sleep and be able to accomplish Goal #2) Awake and out of bed by 5:30 am to re-establish morning SAVERS - minimum of 10 minutes each: S - Silence (Meditation) A - Positive Affirmations V – Visualization (for my future) E – Exercise R – Reading S – Scribing/Writing (gratitude journal) WHY? When I go to bed early and get up early, it matches my circadian rhythm. I'm happier, more productive, and make better life decisions.
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 QUESTIONHealth HappinessHow does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?
Melissa Hayes 10/22/2018 1:17 PMWriting down 3 things that I am grateful for each day helps me notice the small things that contribute to my happiness, things which are easily overlooked but so very important. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWater Fix Leaky FaucetsFixing leaky faucets is one of the tasks that we can easily put off until later. Good job on completing this action! How will you use the momentum from completing this action to increase your water efficiency?
Melissa Hayes 10/17/2018 10:36 AMI turn off the faucet when I brush my teeth and I'm more aware of how long I'm in the shower. Both of these should increase my water usage. -
Melissa Hayes 10/16/2018 2:13 PMEnjoying this ecochallenge. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Meet My Local FarmersWhen 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 Hayes 10/16/2018 2:11 PMI visited a chicken farm and now buy my eggs directly from the farmer. I know how the chickens are raised and that they are actually free range chickens. The eggs taste better and there is no middle man. The farmer gets paid directly for his work. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Meet My Local FarmersWhen 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 Hayes 10/16/2018 2:11 PMI visited a chicken farm and now buy my eggs directly from the farmer. I know how the chickens are raised and that they are actually free range chickens. The eggs taste better and there is no middle man. The farmer gets paid directly for his work. -
Melissa Hayes 10/15/2018 11:52 AMThe challenges I've chosen are making me more aware of how my actions, or inactions, impact the world around me. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNature Explore My AreaHow can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?
Melissa Hayes 10/12/2018 8:51 AMSpending time outdoors helps me connect with the earth and brings me peace. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Try a New Way to PrepCanning 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 Hayes 10/12/2018 8:46 AMI harvested walnuts (about 1,000) from a neighbor's tree this year. I've removed the husks and air dried them for 3 weeks now. Some I will give as gifts others I will be shelling and roasting to preserve and enjoy this winter.
I hope to pickle carrots and cauliflower in the future. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNature Forage for My FoodAmongst the motivations for foraging are: a source of food; means of income; connecting with nature; cultural tradition; or transmitting "local ecological knowledge, and a means for stewarding local and native plant populations" (McLain et al. 2012, 13). Which of these would be your chief motivation and why?
Melissa Hayes 10/11/2018 10:03 AMMy chief motivation for foraging for food, is to connect with nature and knowing where my food comes from. -
Melissa Hayes 10/10/2018 3:22 PMThe action I'm enjoying the most is my gratitude list. I'm noticing more things to be grateful for every day :)