Marilyn Pitts
10/22/2018 9:15 PM
I'm responding to a reflection question about how it makes you feel when you're making a difference by using a reusable mug. It makes me feel like I'm part of the solution. :-)
Marilyn Pitts
"Together, we can save this planet!"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 856 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO13disposable cupsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO39meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO13plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO13plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO12poundswaste composted
Marilyn's actions
Waste
Skip the Straw
Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.
Waste
Use a Reusable Mug
I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
I will enjoy 3 meatless meal(s) and/or 0 vegan meal(s) each day this week.
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.
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.
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 QUESTIONWaste Use a Reusable MugMaybe 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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Use a Reusable Water BottleWhile water bottles serve an important role in places for health and safety, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. Can you identify the barriers in making this a new habit? How can you set yourself up for success in making this a permanent change?
Marilyn Pitts 10/22/2018 9:12 PMI'm responding to a reflection question about how we can reduce our reliance on plastic bottles. I'd suggest that we get some great-looking, water-tight, non-plastic containers that we'd enjoy using and re-using. -
Marilyn Pitts 10/22/2018 7:49 AMThis year, we may not win the EcoChallenge, but I've enjoyed reading people's posts and completing a few of the reflection questions. Did you know you can get 15 points for each reflection question you answer? If each of us answered 1 of our reflection questions, that could move us into the top 10. Want to give it a try? -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Skip the StrawHow could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?
Marilyn Pitts 10/22/2018 7:45 AMDid you know that Starbucks has an end date for offering plastic straws with their drinks? I appreciate their commitment to reducing plastic waste. This weekend, I ordered some stainless steel straws from Lifewithoutplastic.org . They're a bit spendy, but they'll last forever -- as long as I don't inadvertently throw them in the trash. :-) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Compost Food WasteNew 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?
Marilyn Pitts 10/22/2018 7:40 AMI'm amazed at how easy composting is. It just takes a short pause to ask myself -- "Trash or compost?" Then, it takes the same amount of time to scrape something into the compost bin as it would to throw it into the trash. -
Marilyn Pitts 10/21/2018 9:19 AMI've just learned about lifewithoutplastic.com .This online business has all sorts of things that can enable us to reduce our dependence on plastics. There are bamboo, stainless steel, and glass straws; cloth covers for food containers; steel containers for lunch boxes or use in the refrigerator; and much more. Check it out! :-) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Reduce Animal ProductsWhat 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?
Marilyn Pitts 10/20/2018 10:09 AMI'm responding to a reflection question about why we're a meat-eating society and how we can shift from a meat-focused food culture.
When I was 16, I stopped eating beef. Within the next few years, I stopped eating all other meats. My decision was based on my experiences with animals as I was growing up.
As a culture, we have a history of eating meat, and the tv commercials that whet people's appetites for meat support that culture. In order to shift more people away from a meat-focused diet, I think we'd need to do these things, among others:- more opportunities for people to taste non-meat, high-protein dishes
- including more non-meat, high-protein dishes on school menus
This last Monday, I was on the East Coast and had a non-meat burger, which the restaurant creates and always grills separately from the meat options. It was outstanding! If we could have more super tasty, non-meat main dishes, I'm guessing more meat eaters would be comfortable including some of those dishes in their regular eating habits.
On Thursday, both soups in the College's VISTA Dining Room were meatless. One was vegetarian, and one was vegan. It'd be great if we could regularly have at least one of those soups be meatless. Sustainability in action! -
Marilyn Pitts 10/19/2018 8:22 AMI'm wondering if there are additional things we can do at MHCC to create even more sustainability. Any ideas?