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Welcome to October EcoChallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an EcoChallenge expert in no time!

Northwest Earth Institute
October EcoChallenge
October 3 - October 24, 2018

Monica Martin

Slow Food

"Passionate about Sustainability. Especially as it relates to the food chain and agriculture as a whole."

Points Total

  • 0 Today
  • 0 This Week
  • 1,627 Total

Participant Impact

  • up to
    435
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • up to
    18
    more servings
    of fruits and vegetables
  • up to
    760
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • up to
    20
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • up to
    180
    minutes
    spent learning
  • up to
    760
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • up to
    5
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • up to
    1
    enery audits
    conducted

Challenges

Transportation

Improve a Bus Stop

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or some other small improvement.

Completed
One-Time Challenge

Energy

Online Energy Audit

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

Completed
One-Time Challenge

Create Your Own

1 Mile Walk or Bike Challenge

I will walk or bike to all the places I need to go within 1 mile (and sometimes further) of my home. My goal is to use less gas and get more exercise and fresh air. It's also to help change the habit that I've gotten into of driving these short distances. So unnecessary! I chose this because winter is coming and it's a good time to get back into this habit. Also, because I'm unable to bike/walk to work so this is my replacement.

Uncompleted
Create Your Own Challenge

Transportation

Choose a Carbon Offset

If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.

Completed
One-Time Challenge

Energy

Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

Completed
One-Time Challenge

Food

Buy From a Farmers Market

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

Completed
One-Time Challenge

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 Challenge

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 Challenge

Food

Reduce Animal Products

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

COMPLETED 10 OF 22
DAILY CHALLENGE

Energy

Upgrade My Windows

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

Completed
One-Time Challenge

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 Challenge

Health

More Fruits and Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 9 OF 22
DAILY CHALLENGE

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.

COMPLETED 21 OF 22
DAILY CHALLENGE

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 40-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 19 OF 22
DAILY CHALLENGE

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 Challenge

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 13 OF 22
DAILY CHALLENGE

Feed

  • Reflection Question
    Transportation Improve a Bus Stop
    How can you advocate for transportation systems which minimize environmental impact while also meeting human needs?
    Monica Martin 10/24/2018 6:55 PM
    I can certainly vote for them when they are on the agenda. I could start improving bus stops in my neighborhood in order to draw attention to them and maybe get the local media to cover the story. This would at least help to build awareness. I can call/email/text my elected officials and request that we continue to pursue alternative transportation in my city and state.
  • Monica Martin 10/24/2018 1:21 PM
    Just learned about the Good Food 100 Restaurants annual list. For anyone interested in dining out while supporting a sustainable food system follow this link - http://goodfood100restaurants.org/
  • Monica Martin 10/23/2018 5:14 PM
    Recruiting the kids I nanny to help paint a table and 2 chairs that I found for our local bus stop. This could be an interesting project for them (and my garage floor....!) since they are only 4 and 6. Will post before and after pix if I remember. Question for the masses - should I just set them out at the bus stop (on a city block) or should I chain them to a sign? Not sure what the correct solution is... Thanks in advance for your answers! Nothing like waiting to the last minute.....
    • Marianne Greco 10/24/2018 8:46 AM
      What a great project! I often see folks huddled at bus stops, burdened with bags. A place to sit would be so welcome. You might want to get some good advice from your town's public works manager and transit authority on the best way to implement your idea. Or visit your town's mayor or board of selectmen at their next meeting and introduce to them your intentions.  Get a photo for your local newspaper with the kids and town representative at the revitalized bus stop. There's plenty of goodwill to go around and the community spirit may spread to other neighborhoods! 
  • Reflection Question
    Health More Fruits and Veggies
    What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other places, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How can we start shifting from a meat-focused food culture to a more plant-based one?
    Monica Martin 10/23/2018 5:01 PM
    Hmmmm.... just answered this exact question for another one of my choices. But, I will try to add something..... 

    In order to shift from a meat focused culture to more of a plant focused one we need to continue to educate our people. Continuing to add more school gardens is a good start.
  • 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?
    Monica Martin 10/23/2018 4:56 PM
    Making a personal connection is always a benefit in my book. Regardless of what area of your life it is in.  It's also great to know and understand the farmer's practices. This way, it's easier to support them in more ways than just buying their product. It certainly does make one want to advocate for a better quality of life for those who produce one's food. And speaking to them directly is the best way to know what they might need. It might not be what you think....
  • Reflection Question
    Food Reduce Animal Products
    What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than in other places, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How do we start shifting a meat-focused food culture?
    Monica Martin 10/23/2018 4:52 PM
    This is a really tough question for me and without searching for the answer I have to say that I'm not exactly sure.... Is it because of the "success" and wealth America has seen since World War 2? Is it because of the lack of everything during the recession and people wanting to make up for it? Is it ease of access? That meat is relatively inexpensive? A cultural thing? Paleo and Keto diets? Our lack of understanding of what's good for us? That we're prone to excess in all aspects of our life? The list goes on. But, I really just don't know the answer.
  • Monica Martin 10/23/2018 7:24 AM
    Time to put the Denver Sustainable Summit on the calendar for 2018. Happening November 29, 2018. https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/office-of-sustainability/summit.html
  • Monica Martin 10/22/2018 7:53 AM
    I've really been struggling with eating more fruits and veggies. This isn't usually a problem for me but somehow it got harder while traveling. Being back home should help me regain my focus. I am really missing my daily salads.
  • Reflection Question
    Transportation Choose a Carbon Offset
    A round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles emits just over 1.5 tons of CO2—per person. That’s a lot of carbon! What can you do to reduce the number of flights you take per year?
    Monica Martin 10/21/2018 7:50 AM
    Very tough question..... And to be honest, I'm not sure that I can reduce the number of flight that I take each year. For one, I travel to other places to better learn about how other cultures and countries tackle sustainability. Seeing these things first hand is important to me. I guess I could research it all virtually but it just doesn't seem the same. Connecting with people directly is a big part of what keeps my drive going. The one thing I can (and have done) is to purchase carbon offsets.
  • Reflection Question
    Energy Upgrade My Windows
    How does improving your home's energy efficiency help you better live out your values?
    Monica Martin 10/21/2018 7:45 AM
    Saving money on my energy bills can help me have more to give to causes that I believe in. Additionally, the extra money can be used to purchase items that will help improve my footprint in other areas- I could buy a rain barrel, improve my yard to be less water dependent, join a CSA, etc. 
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