Ecochallenge.org

2018 People's Ecochallenge

October 3 - October 24, 2018

Ann Snow

Columbia Bank

"Helping the world one day, one moment, one decision at a time"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
682 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

22

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

450

minutes

of additional sleep
UP TO

24

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

190

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

50

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

370

minutes

spent exercising

Ann's actions

Simplicity

De-Clutter My Home

I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 15 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Healthy Sleep

Effectively working for sustainability requires self care! I will commit to getting 30 more minute(s) of sleep each night to achieve at least 7 hours per night.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Go get a check up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 10-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home

I will spend 20 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

I will avoid buying toxic plastics - including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl - and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Launch a Recycling Program

I will start a recycling program at my workplace or school. If a recycling program exists, I will advocate for ways to improve and expand it.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

I will spend at least 10 minutes finding out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Work from Home

I will work from home 1 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 10 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 ACTION

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.

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
Nature Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

Ann Snow 10/19/2018 9:30 AM

Science has proven that being in nature can not only improve one's sense of wellbeing, but can actually promote healing, and can be meditative as well. When truly immersed in nature - say, on a hike in the mountains - it alters one's perspective of what is important, significant, and meaningful and helps promote and restore balance in priorities and life.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Eliminate Toxic Plastics

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Ann Snow 10/15/2018 11:08 AM

I looked into zip-lock bags and garbage bags to see how I could eliminate single-use of these products. I am now washing and drying my zip-lock bags so that I can reuse them. We compost and recycle so much that as a family of 4 we only end up putting out 1 can of garbage maybe 1 to 2 times a month, so I will be contacting my local trash collecting company to find out whether we are required to use garbage bags. If not, we will eliminate them. If we are, then we will switch to Bio Bags(tm) that decompose and allow trash to decompose as well.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home

To what extent do you believe that environmental factors contribute to your own health or issues with health?

Ann Snow 10/12/2018 2:31 PM

Between my lack of prior education coupled with incredible marketing, I am blown away by how many toxic chemicals are in the "standard cleaning products" in my home. I have learned that baking soda and vinegar are not only non-toxic and environmentally friendly, but much cheaper and just as effective as many, if not all of the name brand cleaning supplies.
My family is relatively healthy with very few colds or illnesses in general, but I'm sure that minimizing toxic chemicals in our home will help with our long term health and quality of life.

Read More
- Caroline Flaesgarten 10/12/2018 2:39 PM
  
  Another good place to get organic clean supplies, is Brandless, I haven't purchased from their website yet, so I can't attest to the quality. But the ingredients meet the EPA Safer Choice Standards and are non-toxic. Plus everything from the website is $3!
  
  Read More
Ann Snow 10/12/2018 1:23 PM

I am already trying to do my part in taking care of this planet and my body, but there is so much more I can be doing. This Challenge is helping me step up my game!

Read More
Ann Snow 10/10/2018 2:27 PM

I believe in taking care of this planet on which we have been placed, and these bodies in which we live in order to improve life for the future generations to come. I do this so my children will have a better life, which they will hopefully take to heart to build for their future children, and even grand and great grandchildren to come.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Healthy Sleep

Consider how many hours of sleep you get now. How would you like to shift your sleep patterns? What are you finding works for you to be successful in this action?

Ann Snow 10/09/2018 12:40 PM

I am working on establishing an evening routine that promotes healthy sleep: 15 minutes of stretching, daily journaling, and not keeping my phone in my bedroom.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Exercise Daily

How can you incorporate other personal values (like quality time with friends or spending time in nature) into your exercise routine?

Ann Snow 10/04/2018 4:19 PM

I can ask my kids and friends to run or walk with me, which can turn into a win/win for quality time spent together and exercise for each of us to improve our health.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity De-Clutter My Home

How can you prevent yourself from accumulating more things in the future?

Ann Snow 10/04/2018 4:16 PM

As I get 1 new piece of clothing, I need to get rid of another. I do not need all of the clothes I own, nor do I even wear them all, and others can benefit from and use the clothes I do not need.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Go for a Daily Walk

How do you experience your neighborhood or city differently when walking instead of driving?

Ann Snow 10/04/2018 11:14 AM

When I walk, I slow down and see the people I pass by, greeting them and acknowledging their existence and relevance in the world. Not only do I feel better from the energizing walk while connecting with the outdoors, I believe I make others' lives better with a smile and greeting.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Go get a check up

How do you practice self care?

Ann Snow 10/04/2018 9:12 AM

I like to run, and I eat vegan. The running helps reduce stress, helps me focus, and promotes better sleep. Eating vegan keeps my cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood sugar at healthy levels, and also reduces inflammation thereby reducing recovery time from my workouts. Eating vegan has the added benefit of reducing factory farming and its negative impact on the environment.

Read More