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October 3 - October 24, 2018
Evelyn Sikorski's avatar

Evelyn Sikorski

The University of Vermont Medical Center

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 555 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    24
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    2.0
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    40
    minutes
    being mindful
  • UP TO
    35
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    12
    people
    helped

Evelyn's actions

Simplicity

Meditate

I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 10 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.

COMPLETED 4
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

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Say No to Plastic Straws

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When they ingest plastic, marine life has a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 6 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Needs Vs. Wants

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Choose Organic Ingredients

I will enjoy 5 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients each day.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Community

Help Others

I will offer to help 2 person(s) who are in need each day.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 10 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

I will spend at least 10 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

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

Community

Support Native Communities

I will use the resource links provided and spend 1 minutes learning about the native populations that lived in my area prior to colonization, and what I can do to support those that still exist.

UNCOMPLETED
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
    Simplicity Needs Vs. Wants
    How is creativity necessary for practicing simplicity?

    Evelyn Sikorski's avatar
    Evelyn Sikorski 10/18/2018 4:56 AM
    along with motivation... it is essential.  reusing, keeping organized and examining need vs want takes creative energy.  It is easier to comply to old routines vs thinking of another way! 
  • 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?

    Evelyn Sikorski's avatar
    Evelyn Sikorski 10/18/2018 4:54 AM
    walking to the store and to pick up the mail, bike ride where I can, take waste from the garden to compost, be mindful of ingredients and purchase from companies that reduce emissions as a mission, car pool. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Eco-friendly Gardening
    What are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.

    Evelyn Sikorski's avatar
    Evelyn Sikorski 10/18/2018 4:53 AM
    I drink and prefer to drink the faucet water vs buying water.  I have concerns that this is becoming less palatable.  I bring water where ever I go in that I believe this natural resource is polluted in many areas. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Simplicity Meditate
    What would you like to invest more time in reflecting on?

    Evelyn Sikorski's avatar
    Evelyn Sikorski 10/18/2018 4:51 AM
    I want to try new things to improve my mntal heal and emotional well being!  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns
    Who is most affected by environmental degration and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?

    Evelyn Sikorski's avatar
    Evelyn Sikorski 10/17/2018 12:21 PM
    The entire community is impacted, however housing and food in our community are over priced making it difficult to source whole food at a fair price. Lots of big houses are being constructed making the disparity greater and noticable! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Take Control
    How do environmental health, community health, and your personal health intersect?

    Evelyn Sikorski's avatar
    Evelyn Sikorski 10/17/2018 12:17 PM
    I am inspired by my community and my friends in the neighborhood.  I feel safe and happy as a result of the years of working together to get to know each other.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Help Others
    In your opinion, how do social inequalities diminish a strong sense of community?

    Evelyn Sikorski's avatar
    Evelyn Sikorski 10/15/2018 12:58 PM
    Judgements and inequities erode a strong sense of community. No one helps each other and neighbors look the other way with apathy.   Hostility grows out of inequities; fear is fostered and the culture is not inclusive. This is shared with kids; bias and attitudes are brought with them into daily life.  Everyone loses when the norm is unchallenged. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Say No to Plastic Straws
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

    Evelyn Sikorski's avatar
    Evelyn Sikorski 10/15/2018 12:53 PM
    I just brought in a nice mug for daily tea and will continue to use my water bottle.  I also store shopping bags in my car to easily use.  
  • 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?

    Evelyn Sikorski's avatar
    Evelyn Sikorski 10/15/2018 12:52 PM
    I already freeze and can tomatoes for the winter and also freeze local produce for the holidays.  I enjoy making jams and dehydrating herbs for gifts and soups.  I am interested in making salsa and hope to find the time to do so this year. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Choose Organic Ingredients
    Can organic farming feed the world? Which side of the argument do you fall on? Why?

    Evelyn Sikorski's avatar
    Evelyn Sikorski 10/15/2018 12:51 PM
    Organic is the way to go! It is best for people and the environment.