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October 3 - October 24, 2018
Erin Lamb's avatar

Erin Lamb

PCC Eco Panthers

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 721 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    30
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    45
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    120
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    15
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    15
    pounds
    waste composted

Erin's actions

Water

Install Greywater Catchment

I will install a greywater catchment system in my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 60 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Visit a Waste Management Facility

I will spend at least 60 minutes visiting a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about the waste stream.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

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 15
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

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu, only buying the ingredients I need.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

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

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

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

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?


  • Erin Lamb's avatar
    Erin Lamb 10/24/2018 9:57 AM
    This was fun!  I missed a whole week when I had flu, but overall, it was pretty easy to check in.  Next, I want to winterize my bike - oil up the chain, put the fenders back on, and pump up the tires a little extra to make up for the cold weather.  Thanks to everyone for their actions and participation!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns
    Who is most affected by environmental degration and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?

    Erin Lamb's avatar
    Erin Lamb 10/22/2018 1:45 PM
    I've been reading about transit and equity, looking at articles that assess where transit lines, bike paths, sidewalks, and pedestrian bridges are.  Transit options are key to reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and equity influences how many people are able to utilize transit.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Collect Rain Water
    Trace the water that flows down the drain from your house to the largest body of water nearby. What is the route it takes?

    Erin Lamb's avatar
    Erin Lamb 10/22/2018 1:43 PM
    Installing this rain garden draws water away from a problem area and moves it to a city-approved place in the yard where the water will percolate into the groundwater.  I planted the rain garden with locally-sourced natives, and they're so pretty!  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Install Greywater Catchment
    What are some of the things that water provides for you?

    Erin Lamb's avatar
    Erin Lamb 10/10/2018 6:45 PM
    Kitchen sink water is piped to non-food growing bioswale outside with valve to return it to regular system if/when that is desired.  Outer pipe is insulated with pipe cover.  Now, only biodegradable kitchen soaps and nothing down the sink that isn't good for the soil.

  • Erin Lamb's avatar
    Erin Lamb 10/10/2018 6:43 PM
    Planning the rain garden/ bioswale: Did a locate so I won't consider areas with buried utilities.  Requested City rain garden dept to check my siting so that the water runoff and percolation will behave as desired.  Chose corner of property that is slightly downhill from home, yet 5' back from curb, not over buried utilities.  Installation will happen Oct 20-21.  :)  
  • 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?

    Erin Lamb's avatar
    Erin Lamb 10/06/2018 9:04 PM
    wood chip mulch is super easy to move, smells good, and satisfying to make "mulch donuts."  The nearest body of water to these trees is fanno creek, which doesn't need any more pollution going into it.  The trees will grow up to help shade the creek, keeping dissolved oxygen higher, good for fish and other critters.

  • Erin Lamb's avatar
    Erin Lamb 10/06/2018 9:01 PM
    I'm frustrated that apartment complexes don't have composting!!!!    Also, it's handy to freeze compost in empty yogurt containers so it doesn't get stinky while waiting to go to a composting site.

  • Erin Lamb's avatar
    Erin Lamb 10/06/2018 9:00 PM
    black bean-ginger-sweet potato soup = super yummy blended soup and braces-friendly for my son
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use a Reusable Mug
    Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reuseable one but it's just hard to make the switch. Think about what stands in your way of making this a habit. By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?

    Erin Lamb's avatar
    Erin Lamb 10/04/2018 7:54 PM
    Having multiple coffee cups in different places is how I manage to remember my cup each time.  I usually remember my favorite one, but appreciate the back-ups.  
  • 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?

    Erin Lamb's avatar
    Erin Lamb 10/04/2018 7:53 PM
    Fruit fly season plus compost can make a swarm in the kitchen.  Eco-friendly tip for getting them out?   Put a half-inch of vinegar plus ~5drops dish soap in a jar, then tape a piece of paper into a cone with ~1/2 inch opening.  Put the cone in the jar to make an effective fruit fly trap - they go in for the vinegar, and can't get out of the soapy water once they land.