Melissa von Borstel
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,202 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
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UP TO62conversationswith people
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UP TO40disposable cupsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO8.0donationsmade
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UP TO8.0lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO133meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO90minutesspent learning
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UP TO20plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
Melissa's actions
Energy
Upgrade My Windows
I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.
Energy
Replace Manual Thermostats
I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.
Nature
Organize a Course
I will organize one of NWEI's discussion courses, such as 'Reconnecting with Earth', with my family, friends, coworkers, or classmates.
Water
Ditch the Lawn
I will replace my lawn with a drought-tolerant landscape and save the water, money, and time I used to spend cutting the grass.
Community
Host a House Party
I will host a house party with 12 friends and/or colleagues to watch a movie or present a guest speaker on an environmental issue that matters to me.
Community
Raise Money For a Nonprofit
I will raise money to support Northwest Earth Institute or another local nonprofit.
Nature
Forage for My Food
I will use the 'Learn More' resources below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
I will enjoy 6 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.
Energy
Choose LED Bulbs
I will replace 8 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Energy
Adjust the Thermostat
I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.
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
Use Reusable Bags
I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.
Waste
Go Paperless
I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by opting into paperless billing and ending unwanted subscriptions.
Waste
Advocate For More Food Packaging Options
I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.
Waste
Use a Reusable Mug
I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.
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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Melissa von Borstel 10/22/2018 4:18 PM
Speak up for Oregon’s high desert.
Every one of us must be an advocate for the lands and wildlife we love or risk losing them forever. Take action today to help protect Oregon’s high desert for the future!
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Melissa von Borstel 10/22/2018 10:35 AM#from my yard yesterday... The hummingbirds are loving the pineapple sage
Providing wildflower-rich habitat is the most significant action you can take to support pollinators. Adult bees, butterflies, and other pollinators require nectar as their primary food source, and female bees collect pollen as food for their offspring. Native plants, which are adapted to local soils and climates, are usually the best sources of nectar and pollen for native pollinators. Incorporating native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees into any landscape promotes local biological diversity and provides shelter and food for a diversity of wildlife. Most natives require minimal irrigation, flourish without fertilizers, and are unlikely to become weedy.
http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2017-048_MaritimeNorthwestPlantList_Dec2017_web-3page.pdf -
Melissa von Borstel 10/19/2018 3:48 PM
Microplastics were found in sea salt several years ago. But how extensively plastic bits are spread throughout the most commonly used seasoning remained unclear. Now, new research shows microplastics in 90 percent of the table salt brands sampled worldwide. _ NatGeo -
Melissa von Borstel 10/19/2018 9:47 AM -
Melissa von Borstel 10/17/2018 9:37 AMMore than 5 trillion pieces of plastic are already floating in our oceans. _- National Geographic -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWater Ditch the LawnWhat is the main water source in your region?
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Melissa von Borstel 10/08/2018 10:07 AMAs we all have become more mindful in our first week of the Eco Challenge the difficulties of asking for a to-go cup or container and the single use life that it has, but the impact that we have is huge! Continue the great work as the children that we design for depend on it.