Ecochallenge.org

2019 People's Ecochallenge

October 2 - October 23, 2019

Georgia West

Office of Community & Civic Life

"No one but ourselves can free our minds and souls."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
786 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

3.0

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

38

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

285

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

270

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

18

organic meals

consumed
UP TO

20

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted

Georgia's actions

Health

Know My health

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Research My Investment Portfolio

I will find out what stocks and bonds are in my investment account portfolio to determine if they align with my values (e.g. environmental, social responsibility, community).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Go get a check up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Choose Organic Ingredients

I will enjoy 1 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

High Impact Action Track

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Health

I will spend 30 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

High Impact Action Track

Plant Trees

Nature

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 2 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

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.

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
Water Eco-friendly Gardening

What are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.

Georgia West 10/23/2019 9:00 AM

We find ourselves in a little secure hub, as drought is a problem on many surrounding areas but Portland is not yet affected by it. Here is our chance to learn about how to be more conscious consumers.
Our front yard is slowly transforming with every month a new plant. The design inspiration is East Oregon and more savanna-like environment. We a little pine tree that is our new Christmas tree, that we decorate with lights and balls every year. I love it so much!!! And we get to share with our neighbors too.

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Georgia West 10/23/2019 8:56 AM

Hey everyone, this is the last day! Last get those last points in!!!!!

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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?

Georgia West 10/21/2019 9:51 AM

Create a meal plan before getting to the farmers market will not only help me reduce costs but also wastes.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

How does food sovereignty address the complex agrarian transition to modern food systems?

Georgia West 10/21/2019 9:49 AM

Local and small farmers contribute significantly to reducing CO2 emissions on our current production systems. But the costs are high to the folks investing on this form of market and really need policies and financial incentives for producers so we can achieve more consumers and provide to populations that are unable to afford the current produce costs.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Try a New Way to Prep

Canning and pickling food is a great way to have delicious summer fruits and vegetables all year round. Just make sure to follow the canning and pickling guidelines from the USDA. What are some foods that you would like to preserve and enjoy later in the year?

Georgia West 10/16/2019 4:01 PM

Last night I tried making my own yogurt. It turned out good and now a have a big batch of it for the couple weeks to come. I'm working too on a kombucha batch but haven't had the same easy time as for the yogurt. If any of you are a kombucha brewer and have some tips to share I'd love to hear it!!!

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Georgia West 10/16/2019 10:57 AM

If you have been thinking a garden project during this ecochallenge I recommend you watch this amazing TED talk https://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la?language=en best spent 10 minutes of learning for the day.
I've watched this talk probably a 248 times. Yeah, to the green revolution!

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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?

Georgia West 10/16/2019 10:49 AM

Meat is such an expensive product, therefore more readily available on richer countries. I agree the amount of meat intake is a problem, but I also considering my overall food intake. I eat so much more than needed specially on stressful days. Any tips there on how to change the mind set for a more conscious food consumption?

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Use a Reusable Water Bottle

While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?

Georgia West 10/16/2019 10:46 AM

Working on a office set up makes it pretty easy to have my water container over my desk and refill it at my needs. I'm now starting to work on increasing the water intake. Aiming for half of my weight in ounces of water.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Go get a check up

How do you practice self care?

Georgia West 10/09/2019 3:12 PM

Currently it has been hard to practice self care. Slowly, I'm trying to reincorporate it in little doses. As I walked to work, instead of reflecting about the work day, I committed to appreciate and enjoy the sky throughout the whole path. It was actually fun to look for shape in the clouds and color patterns in the sky.

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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?

Georgia West 10/09/2019 3:08 PM

YES! The other day my colleague and I went for a 15 minutes walk break. We talked about other things then work. It was a great opportunity to get to know them a little closer.

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