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October 3 - October 24, 2018
Dan Marek's avatar

Dan Marek

Slow Food

"Trying to make an impactful change each day! "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,185 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    22
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    44
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    36
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    65
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    330
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    330
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    33
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    3.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    44
    whole food meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    44
    zero-waste meals
    consumed

Dan's actions

Food

Locally-Sourced Meals

I will source 2 meal(s) each day from local producers.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

I will spend at least 10 minutes finding out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.

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

Personal Waste Audit

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

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

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 15 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

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 20 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

Nature

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 15 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Work from Home

I will work from home 1 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

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

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Express My Support

I will find out who in my state makes decisions that impact the environment and express my support for more environmental actions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Zero-Waste Cooking

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Advocate for More Food Options

I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work or on campus.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Whole Foods Diet

I will enjoy 2 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.

COMPLETED 22
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?


  • Dan Marek's avatar
    Dan Marek 10/24/2018 12:32 PM
    What a great end to a challenge completed!!!
    Congrats to all that stuck with it! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Personal Waste Audit
    Why is it so difficult to understand the impacts our purchases and waste have on other people, animals, and places? How might your experience with this challenge impact your future consumption and choices?

    Dan Marek's avatar
    Dan Marek 10/23/2018 1:29 PM
    It made me thing hard about how to get to zero and how big box companies tend to pack way to much. It seems that hand to hand (like from farmers and markets) seem to really reduce the waste, especially if you bring your own bags and containers. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Find Local Recycling Depots
    Our ability to recycle certain things ebbs and flows based upon many factors. Luckily there are places that accept uncommon things to recycle or dispose of in a less harmful way. What did you find when looking for places to recycle items that can't be recycled in your curbside bin?

    Dan Marek's avatar
    Dan Marek 10/23/2018 1:26 PM
    I found that they were much harder to get to and few and far between. Luckily, my city has a pretty great recycling program, but things like paint cans are always a little harder. I found that it is best to collect from your neighbors and friends to make less of an impact on the carbon footprint at the same time so everyone can do it in one haul instead of many little ones!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Support Local Pollinators
    Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

    Dan Marek's avatar
    Dan Marek 10/17/2018 1:30 PM
    Without pollinators, most of our food wouldn't be around anymore! :(
  • 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?

    Dan Marek's avatar
    Dan Marek 10/16/2018 9:03 AM
    I recycled my printer years ago to start reducing my paper footprint, but going through and getting rid of my junk mail by blocking it/requesting not to get it was great! I can't wait to stop getting all of the waste in my mail now! 
    The next step for me is reducing any kind of packaging I get on bought goods! 

  • Dan Marek's avatar
    Dan Marek 10/16/2018 8:36 AM
    Yay for World Food Day!!!!

    Slow Food is a global community that acts in a million different ways. Some people plant school gardens. Some cook healthy meals with local ingredients. Others fight for better food policies. Our Food for Change campaign is the time to come together as One.

  • Dan Marek's avatar
    Dan Marek 10/15/2018 6:34 AM
    Last day for the Whole Kids Foundation School Garden Grants!!! Get them in while you can! :)

  • Dan Marek's avatar
    Dan Marek 10/12/2018 8:56 AM
    Keeping that working from home goal at least once a week!

  • Dan Marek's avatar
    Dan Marek 10/10/2018 11:32 AM
    Just a few more days to apply for a school garden through Whole Kids Foundation! https://www.wholekidsfoundation.org/

  • Dan Marek's avatar
    Dan Marek 10/08/2018 11:16 AM
    Great to see that everyone is still going after the weekend! Keep up the great work!