Ecochallenge.org

2019 People's Ecochallenge

October 2 - October 23, 2019

Joanna Do

Multnomah County

"To be a better global citizen and be aware of how my decisions impact my community, city, and the world"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
830 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

110

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

3.0

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

190

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

35

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

730

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

13

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

34

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.2

pounds

food waste prevented
UP TO

38

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

13

zero-waste meals

consumed

Joanna's 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

Health

Know My health

I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Learn More about Food Deserts

I will spend 15 minutes learning about food deserts and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Go get a check up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Take Control

Both systemic 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

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

High Impact Action Track

Zero-Waste Cooking

Food

I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

High Impact Action Track

Stay on the Ground

Transportation

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy From a Farmers Market

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

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 2 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED -1
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Insulate Water Pipes and Water Heater

I will avoid wasting water while waiting for the shower or sink to heat up.

COMPLETED
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
High Impact Action Track Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Bringing your own bags and containers to the grocery store, and even to restaurants for leftovers, are a couple of ways to reduce your waste. What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Joanna Do 10/21/2019 2:36 PM

The single use item I use regularly are the produce bags for the grocery store. I have been fairly good about bringing grocery bags, however I always end up with 3-5 single use plastic produce bags. I believe they make produce bags, that can be washed and brought to the store; I will look into investing in some to reduce my single-use impact. I do use the produce bags as poop bags for my dog, so they are more like 2 time use instead of single use.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Go get a check up

How do you practice self care?

Joanna Do 10/21/2019 6:53 AM

I practice self care by doing things for myself that I enjoy. I try and get massages each month to help loosen tension and sore muscles; I also try and think about Future Joanna and the things that would keep me healthy, productive, happy, and a better version of myself.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Know My health

How do you deal with the physical and emotional stress of the big problems we face? How can you help others cope?

Joanna Do 10/17/2019 7:42 AM

Meditation, cleaning/tidying up, and exercise are the biggest ways that I deal with the physical and emotional stress of the problems I face. I find meditation clears my mind, or resets my perspectives on problems or the severity of problems. Cleaning and tidying up helps me by allowing me to control what I can control.

I help others cope by suggesting to take a walk and talk through the problems. Although not all problems are solvable, exercise and talking through issues normally helps make problems feel more manageable.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
High Impact Action Track Stay on the Ground

What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?

Joanna Do 10/14/2019 10:08 AM

Driving is one way of avoiding air travel in the future. I think for other trips we may look into trains, or something else. For farther trips, especially oversees it is difficult to be able to to avoid air travel.

Read More
- Kevin Cook 10/18/2019 10:36 AM
  
  I recall reading that air travel can sometimes beat car travel in terms of carbon emissions per person. Something along the lines of a long-haul flight full of people vs. driving alone. However, a car full of people almost always beats air travel - buses and trains even more so.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

Father Thomas Berry says, "...our primary purpose is celebration. Celebration of the dawn and the sunset and the different seasons of the year is a religious ritual, a way in which humans can establish their integral relationship with the universe, with the planet Earth." Respond to Berry's assertion.

Joanna Do 10/14/2019 9:47 AM

Father Berry's assertion reminds me of gratitude and to be grateful for the passing seasons, and being mindful of our place in the universe and on Earth.

Read More
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?

Joanna Do 10/14/2019 9:45 AM

Eating less meat is a food choice that would do more good and less harm. The water and land resources used to grow animal protein is much higher than that of protein from plants.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Learn More about Food Deserts

What are the implications of access to nutritious food for a community?

Joanna Do 10/11/2019 10:40 AM

Lack of access of nutritious food for a community leads to obesity and unhealthy food choices. This mainly happens in communities of poverty and poor education.

Read More
Joanna Do 10/11/2019 10:32 AM

The challenge is going well. It is nice that this challenge is the same time as a walking challenge at work. It gives me twice the incentives to go outside, enjoy nature and get some steps in.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Go for a Daily Walk

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

Joanna Do 10/09/2019 6:59 AM

Walking around my neighborhood allows me to appreciate the care and detail that each person takes for their yard and house. I notice the plants and flowers that my neighbors have planted more than if I was driving, and appreciate all the dedication in keeping our neighborhood looking great.

Read More
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?

Joanna Do 10/08/2019 6:55 AM

I use straws every time I get a beverage at fast food restaurants. Instead of getting straws I remove the lid and drink out of the cup. My husband recently had oral surgery and could not use straws, so for me it was being more aware of the convenience of straws verses just drinking out of a cup it was worth the switch.

Read More