Jessica Standifird

I joined this challenge as part of an environmental sociology class. I loved it, though. It kept me on my toes about my daily activities. It's helped me stay on track with everything from meditating, to using public transit, to getting rid of using straws, to go cups, and water bottles. I chose the actions I did because they are things I want to do anyway. Having the accountability here helps to keep me on track. :) 

Today I went paperless on all of my billing. It's such a simple thing to do, and I get annoyed with all of the envelopes and wasted paper building up on my bookcase. I feel silly for not doing it before. 

This challenge has made me a lot more aware of my habits. I even found myself counting how many trash bags I throw away a week! (2-4) I'm making small changes that not only help my ecological footprint, but some of them help me in other areas of my life. Using public transit gives me more exercise, less paper mail equals less clutter, and changing my diet is good for creating less waste, and waistline! haha

Today I used my reusable water bottle, "for here" glasses, only used one plastic bag (I put everything I had to carry into one, instead of two), and carpooled. I also kept my lights off, didn't run my dishwasher because it wasn't full (normally I would have), and only ate one meal with meat in it. 

All of my posts seem to be focusing on drinks- water bottles and coffee cups. :) And here we are again, but I recently realized that if I get a water from the barista at Starbuck's the cup I get it in isn't recyclable, and therefore actually more wasteful than buying a water bottle. It was an interesting realization to have, and led me to carrying my reusable water bottle around with me all the time!

I'm also trying to connect with nature more when I'm out and about. I've been noting the colors of the leaves, the pine needles and cones on the ground, where it all fits into the seasonal and life cycles. I note that it's mid-October and we are finally cooling down a little. I also notice the difference in temperature from here in Portland to other areas across the country. 

I hope to get to Astoria this week and to the ocean. I think the shipwreck out that way is an interesting relic. It shows us how long our "wreckage" hangs around, has an impact on the ocean and its ecosystem. I think I'm just putting a lot more thought into it all, and starting to think even more systemically,

So, not using straws has become a habit, now. I was also out to lunch with friends of mine. We entered the restaurant and I went to use the restroom. When I came back to the table, the waiter had delivered water to us, and my friend proudly announced, "We said no straws." So my habit is effecting others, even if just temporarily. 

I've also noticed the amount of waste I'm sending out is still less than before- both trash and less recycling. 

Eating organically has been easier than I thought. I'm lucky, in that my community is very organic or vegetarian oriented, so I've been eating meat only once a week, if that, at this point. Today I had a bunch of grape tomatoes from my friend's garden that were delicious and satisfied that snacky feeling I had. It saved the packaging of whatever "snack" I might have gotten otherwise, was grown organically, and locally. The only transport costs were the mile between my and my friend's house. :)

Transportation has been all by public transit or carpooling, and I only make necessary trips. Of course, my version of necessary may not match up with everyone's- it includes going to coffee shops to do homework and getting to events I or my friends are performing in.

My water comes in a reusable water bottle, now, my food and other products in limited packaging, and my drinks in "for here" cups or without straws. I think I've made some small, but positive changes that will last, and grow into other, bigger changes.