Skip to main content

Modal Title

Modal Description

Welcome to 2018 People's Ecochallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an 2018 People's Ecochallenge expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org
2018 People's Ecochallenge
October 3 - October 24, 2018
Melanie Shirling's avatar

Melanie Shirling

EcoINL

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 683 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2,640
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    1.0
    public official or leader
    contacted
  • UP TO
    22
    whole food meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    4.0
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    440
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    90
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    440
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    105
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed

Melanie's actions

Create Your Own Action

No Toilet Paper

I have made reusable cloth wipes to use in the bathroom. I haven't made the jump yet, but for the challenge I will. I will use reusable and washable cloth wipes instead of toilet paper when I am at home.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

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 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Whole Foods Diet

I will enjoy 1 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 4 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 20-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Limit Social Media

I will limit my social media use to once each day reducing my daily use by 120 minute(s)

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 4 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

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

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

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.

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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Advocate for More Food Options
    Given the impact of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers on both the natural world and our food systems, what do you think about the use of these products in agriculture?
    Melanie Shirling's avatar
    Melanie Shirling 10/24/2018 2:05 PM
    I hate that so many of these things are used in our foods. Now Roundup is found in almost everything we eat. Do we really want to be eating this? or giving it to our children?!? Population control at it's finest. Between roundup and vaccines and antibiotics the human race is doomed. At least it will be better for the planet. Less people to destroy it... but then, isn't the purpose of the earth to have people populate it? I'm actually painting myself into a huge rabbit hole here.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Try a New Way to Prep
    Canning and pickling food is a great way to have delicious summer fruits and vegetables all year round. Just make sure to follow the canning and pickling guidelines from the USDA. What are some foods that you would like to preserve and enjoy later in the year?
    Melanie Shirling's avatar
    Melanie Shirling 10/24/2018 2:03 PM
    I have learned to make vinegar! I put out a batch of apple cider vinegar and also a batch of apple scrap vinegar. I also just put up a batch of kimchi. Here's hoping... Oh, I made my own kraut earlier in the year and it was PERFECT! I couldn't get enough of it. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Choose LED Bulbs
    Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! In what other ways can you exercise your civic duty to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions?
    Melanie Shirling's avatar
    Melanie Shirling 10/24/2018 2:01 PM
    I create much less waste than I used to, and I'm much more conscious as to what goes into my actual trash can and what goes into recycling or composting. I'm not sure how I feel about composting in my yard, though, since I've already used what I can for my tiny garden. Now the compost pile is just an eyesore in the back corner of my yard. 
    Read More
  • Melanie Shirling's avatar
    Melanie Shirling 10/23/2018 7:43 AM
    So I really have removed toilet paper from my bathroom. I made a bunch of reusable flannel wipes, and got a nice squirt bottle. I've also purchased other reusable necessities to use instead of disposables. Saves trees, and it also keeps other people (the men in my house) from using my bathroom. So Double Score for me and the planet. 
    Read More
  • 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?
    Melanie Shirling's avatar
    Melanie Shirling 10/23/2018 7:40 AM
    I drove around (hahah) and located the recycling centers and drop off locations close to my home.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Go for a Daily Walk
    How do you experience your neighborhood or city differently when walking instead of driving?
    Melanie Shirling's avatar
    Melanie Shirling 10/22/2018 9:46 AM
    I love walking around my neighborhood. It's a beautiful 'hood with all the trees changing colors... but I take walks at work, too, and I notice that I become more centered, more focused and have more energy for the rest of the day. Plus, you can't beat the scent of sagebrush after a desert mist. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Simplicity Limit Social Media
    Social media is a great way to keep us connected with loved ones, makes us laugh, and helps us to learn new things. It can also take more time than we realize or intend to give. After doing this action for a few days now, how do you feel? What do you notice?
    Melanie Shirling's avatar
    Melanie Shirling 10/22/2018 9:44 AM
    I love not having social media be a driving force behind what I'm going to do next. I find myself not caring or thinking about looking at my fb page, and I love that, too. I am surprised by the news I hear, because the news pages are on my fb page, but at least I can hear the news from a person, and then move on without getting stuck. It's also handy to pick up my phone to look up information, and then not get distracted and wonder where that 30 minutes went. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Happiness
    How does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?
    Melanie Shirling's avatar
    Melanie Shirling 10/22/2018 9:41 AM
    Oh, it makes me think so much about what's going on around me. If I'm so self-centered, I can't find things that make me thankful! It's obvious, and so simple, but so easy to forget. 
    Read More
  • Melanie Shirling's avatar
    Melanie Shirling 10/17/2018 1:17 PM
    10 days without facebook. I think I've spent maybe 1 hour in the past 2 weeks on fb collectively, as opposed to two hours per day (bus rides, you know). At first I was so annoyed by my addiction that I just deleted the app altogether. I do like popping pictures up on fb, especially when my grandbabies visit, so that's not going to change. But, I am going to read more when it's light out, and I'm going to use paper books because it keeps me from going to my ebook and then saying ....."but....facebook...."

    Read More
  • Melanie Shirling's avatar
    Melanie Shirling 10/08/2018 11:37 AM
    Soooooo what do you guys think about using re-usable (washable) flannel wipes instead of toilet paper? How crunchy/eco friendly ARE you? "What are you talking about?" you ask? Well, you just cut maybe 5x7 pieces of flannel, double layer and serge around the edges. Keep a bucket or a cloth bag in the bathroom for the used cloths. Use a squirty water bottle for cleaning yourself. I've only been aware that people do this for a short time, and I have been thoroughly grossed out by it. I went ahead and made up a bunch of cloths a couple of months ago, and they are waiting for me to make that jump. How many points can I get for that? Hmmmm will I sell my toilet paper for points....
    Read More