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October 3 - October 24, 2018
Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar

Nicole Morris-McLaughlin

SouthCoast Team

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,726 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    22
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    420
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    210
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    38
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    36
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    4.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted

Nicole's actions

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Join a Local CSA

I will sign up for a local CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Install a Toilet Tank Bank

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water each day by installing a toilet tank bank.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Support Resilient Powergrids

A community can be brought to its knees without dependable power, often affecting the most vulnerable. I will write 1 letter(s) or email(s) each day to a public official or company to advocate for a more resilient power grid (e.g. microgrids, solar+storage)

COMPLETED 4
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

Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Know My health

I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 120 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Take Control

Both system and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 15 minute(s) each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Choose Clean/Renewable Energy

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

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

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?


  • Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar
    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin 10/24/2018 6:43 PM
    Congrats to Gray Wyatt for being the high scorer this week!  You will be receiving reusable wool balls for putting in the dryer instead of having to use dryer sheets.

  • Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar
    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin 10/24/2018 11:49 AM
    I actually wish this challenge allowed me to work on more items.  I am sad it is ending, I really enjoyed this activity.

  • Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar
    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin 10/24/2018 11:41 AM
    Thank you to UMass Dartmouth and Jamie Jacquart for hosting the group S.A.F.E. Kenya last night to talk about their new initiative of reforestation in Kenya with the Masaai.

  • Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar
    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin 10/24/2018 11:40 AM
    Congrats to Robyn Branco for getting the most points last week!  Tonight I will announce who will be getting a prize for the most points this week.  

  • Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar
    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin 10/23/2018 8:54 AM
    I started the process for switching to community solar to offset the electricity we use in our home at https://pickmysolar.com/marion-institute/

  • Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar
    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin 10/22/2018 5:14 AM
    I’m so excited, I just signed up for a Fall CSA with Heart Beets Farm!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Install a Toilet Tank Bank
    Name some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?

    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar
    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin 10/22/2018 5:12 AM
    My family attended UMass Dartmouth’s “Love Your Ocean” event last month and learned how much plastic ends up in our water, it is a travesty and really makes you think twice about onetime use plastics.

  • Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar
    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin 10/22/2018 5:10 AM
    I just purchased a toilet tank bank for my home and for this week’s high scorer, Robyn Branco!  Robyn is also receiving a set of mesh reusable bags for produce.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Join a Local CSA
    Dependable fresh food, better prices (cutting out carbon-heavy supply chain and grocery stores), supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these benefits (or others not listed here) inspire you the most?

    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar
    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin 10/22/2018 4:53 AM
    I feel so fortunate I can support local farmers and organic practices and contribute to the good health of my family.

  • Nicole Morris-McLaughlin's avatar
    Nicole Morris-McLaughlin 10/21/2018 6:49 AM
    Join us at UMass Dartmouth this Tuesday evening to hear about this amazing group’s effort to reverse deforestation in Kenya.