2019 People's Ecochallenge

October 2 - October 23, 2019

Blake Wilcox

"As a homebody, I have found myself increasingly disconnected from the environment. My goal through these challenges is to reengage with nature and focus on minimizing my footprint."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
535 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

120

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

44

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

100

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

90

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

120

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

31

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Blake's actions

Energy

Use an Energy Meter

I will use an energy meter to monitor my energy use and identify opportunities to save power.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 20-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

High Impact Action Track

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Health

I will spend 60 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

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

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 20 minute(s) each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Install a Toilet Tank Bank

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water each day by installing a toilet tank bank.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

I will spend at least 45 minutes finding out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Visit a Waste Management Facility

I will spend at least 60 minutes visiting a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about the waste stream.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 3 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 1 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

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 Practice Gratitude for Earth

Kathleen Dean Moore says that a sense of gratitude leads to a sense of moral obligation. Do you agree? How do we cultivate a sense of gratitude as individuals, and as a society?

Blake Wilcox 10/20/2019 9:00 PM

It's easy to feel neutral about the destruction of ecosystems when you have never experienced them firsthand, and seen why they're important. Creating awareness for the wonders of nature and what it provides for us will easily create a moral obligation to be kind to the earth. Communications campaigns may be the perfect tool to create this awareness and appreciation.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Switch to Cold Water

What do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?

Blake Wilcox 10/16/2019 2:33 PM

I think switching to cold water was a great first step to committing to sustainability in my household practices. I also plan to start using plant-based soaps and detergents when possible. This challenge had the broader implication that I should just be more aware of my daily activities and what impact they can have. I think I'll use this money to invest in different sustainability-focused household cleaning products.

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- Barbara Willard 10/21/2019 10:41 AM
  
  It's always great to start with easy and build your way up.
  
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- Lauren Paris 10/17/2019 9:11 AM
  
  I found that Lush has great options for plant-based beauty products that are also zero-waste! I love the shampoo bars. They are a little pricier than store-bought beauty care, however, they last so long and have less of a negative impact!
  
  Read More
Blake Wilcox 10/08/2019 3:31 PM

I got sick this week and it completely hindered my progress. I was taking 5 minute showers (cold ones for the most part) and eating as many vegan/zero waste meals as possible. But this whole weekend, I've been eating like garbage and taking long hot showers in efforts to feel better. This has given me motivation to get back on track as soon as I feel better, though!

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- Annamarie Pas 10/10/2019 7:29 AM
  
  I hope you are feeling better! Great progress though; way to stay on track!
  
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- Barbara Willard 10/09/2019 1:04 PM
  
  I'm so sorry to hear you've been ill. It is hard to change our schedule around, especially when we aren't feeling well. Give yourself a pat on the back for what you have done and what you can still do!
  
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- Jeannette McMillan 10/09/2019 9:26 AM
  
  Feel Better!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

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

Blake Wilcox 10/04/2019 6:49 PM

I watched a PBS documentary called Regaining Food Sovereignty that came out in 2013. This documentary talked in detail about Native American communities in northern Minnesota and how their food traditions have been corrupted by white settlers. The settlers sometimes provided them commodities in exchange for moving to reservations and corrupting their lands. These commodities were white rice, white flour and other foods that Native American bodies were not used to digesting. When these native communities had food sovereignty, they farmed, hunted, and gathered what was culturally and physically appropriate for their bodies. The modern food systems have corrupted this- now many native communities are reliant on "fry bread" and fast food. This has led to native populations having the highest rates of obesity and diabetes of any racial group in the United States.

Read More
- Barbara Willard 10/09/2019 1:04 PM
  
  This sounds great. I'll have to check this out.
  
  Read More
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?

Blake Wilcox 10/03/2019 7:29 AM

In the United States, we have the privilege of having many options available when it comes to protein. Poorer countries eat meat because given their resources, it is necessary to sustain life. However, meat production takes a terrible toll on the planet, so if people have the financial and locational privilege to eat meat alternatives, they should do so. I have been vegetarian for over a year and I'm trying to transition to be fully vegan. Making sure I eat at least one vegan meal a day during this challenge will help me achieve this goal.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Water 5-Minute Showers

Five minute showers are an impressive step toward reducing your water footprint. What is the next step you can take?

Blake Wilcox 10/03/2019 7:25 AM

With water conservation, I also plan to install a toilet tank bank in my apartment's toilet and reduce the energy used when washing my clothes by using the cold cycle when available. This challenge has already made me more aware of my water use (and waste).

Read More
- Hector Cervantes 10/03/2019 10:23 AM
  
  Yes, I love how you want to use cold water to wash your clothes. I just found out that washing clothes in cold water is more helpful for the environment. One of my challenges is actually to start washing my clothes in cold water now.
  
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Blake Wilcox 10/02/2019 8:03 PM

I'm excited for these challenges. It's definitely a good way to hold myself accountable for the changes I've been trying to make for a while. Plus, I'll be able to do a lot of the household challenges with my good friend and roommate, Grace!

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- Barbara Willard 10/09/2019 1:05 PM
  
  I absolutely LOVE this picture of the two of you. You're so cute!
  
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