Ecochallenge.org

2019 People's Ecochallenge

October 2 - October 23, 2019

Devin Converse

Anthropocene

"I am aiming to be knowledgeable and reduce my environmental impact"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
728 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

1.0

community event

hosted or attended
UP TO

48

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.0

donations

made
UP TO

0.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

0.0

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

52

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

1,600

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

360

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

45

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

48

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1.0

public official or leader

contacted
UP TO

25

trees

planted

Devin's actions

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 3 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 1000 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

High Impact Action Track

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Waste

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

COMPLETED -1
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

High Impact Action Track

Plant Trees

Nature

I will plant 25 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

High Impact Action Track

Research Impact Investing

Simplicity

Using the links provided below, I will research impact investing and deterimine if it is right for me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Raise Money For a Nonprofit

I will raise money to support Ecochallenge.org or another nonprofit.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Advocate for More Food Options

Access to affordable, nutritious food is a food justice issue. I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work, on campus and/or in the spaces I frequent.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 3 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Join An Outdoor Project

I will join an outdoor restoration project in my community.

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

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 2 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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 Join An Outdoor Project

How well do you know the area you live in? In what ways is a deep knowledge of your surroundings -- known as a 'sense of place' -- important to you?

Devin Converse 10/15/2019 2:50 PM

I attended a beach clean-up at Odiorn Point. It was a very clean beach, but as a group we still found 4 trashbags worth of litter. I intend to personally want up the Contoocook and collect as much as I can at some point soon.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Buy From a Farmers Market

What is one food choice that you make, or could make, that would do more good and less harm?

Devin Converse 10/11/2019 4:50 PM

Buying locally from small farms supports sustainable agriculture because small time farmers are more obligated to ensure their land remains usable and are more reliant on their reputation than industrial farms.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Advocate for More Food Options

What efforts would help food insecure regions have access to local, seasonal foods?

Devin Converse 10/11/2019 4:48 PM

Honestly, I don't like most of the reflection questions so I'm going to keep doing my own reflections.

I am trying to cut meat and dairy from my diet for the most part. It isn't easy, especially for dairy such as yogurt, butter, etc. But as I am trying to reduce meat, I have tried a number of meat alternatives, some of which are quite good. I contacted the campus dining officials through the dine on campus app, suggesting the inclusion of more meat alternatives on the menu.

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Devin Converse 10/08/2019 3:05 PM

This challenge is honestly going much better than most aspects of my life rn :))

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Devin Converse 10/07/2019 2:07 PM

Just realized the reflection actually had questions and they weren't showing up for me lol. If you see my posts they're just what I thought about the challenge.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Raise Money For a Nonprofit

How do/can Ecochallenge.org programs help you develop a stronger sense of community?

Devin Converse 10/07/2019 10:41 AM

Not exactly the requirement of the challenge but I used an app that allows you to walk in exchange for an in app currency to purchase things online. They recently added an option to walk for charity and donate your earnings. I raised the equivalent of about $20 to 2 different charities, one for planting trees, one for sustainable food for those in need in third world countries.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Forage for My Food

People are motivated to forage for many different reasons: as a source for food, a means of income, to connect with nature, to participate in cultural tradition, transmitting specific ecological knowledge, or as a means of stewarding local and native plant populations. What is your chief motivation for foraging?

Devin Converse 10/07/2019 8:09 AM

I actually did this a while ago, I was interested in survival skills, so I was researching edible plants in new Hampshire and found that there was a good number. I foraged a wintergreen, turkeytail mushrooms, and white pine to make a tea, and I collected cattails and prepared the stalks similar to asparagus and the roots into something similar to mashed potatoes, cooked over a campfire. I seasoned the cattails with turkeytail mushrooms which add an earthy flavor.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?

Devin Converse 10/07/2019 8:03 AM

I'm finding it easier, if more expensive, to eat vegan for most meals. Dairy alternatives add up. But I think most people are intimidated by the idea of giving up meat. But meat alternatives are getting quite good. My girlfriend and I prepared a meal using their beef and it tasted really close to real meat.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
High Impact Action Track Research Impact Investing

How might impact investing help you better live your values?

Devin Converse 10/03/2019 9:35 PM

I have done some investing, some of which was in sustainable industry alternatives. With the growing green revolution and pressing need to change how we do things as a collective, the stocks on those companies will drastically increase in value, so there's a financial motivation as well as an ethical one. I personally have
invested in hemp products, alternative energy such as hydrogen power, and meat alternatives.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

How can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?

Devin Converse 10/03/2019 9:29 PM

I am more interested in fashion than anyone I know. I often wear avante garde clothing and a variety of styles. Nearly all of my clothing is thrifted. I recommend thrift shops and second hand stores, not just because of the environmental impact of fast fashion, but because they are incredibly cheap and challenge big corporations. They are also full of a bday variety of styles and there's something for everyone if you're willing to even just slightly push your comfort zone in what you wear. Just also make sure to donate clothes you don't wear anymore to keep the second hand clothing industry alive.

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