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Welcome to 2019 People's Ecochallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an 2019 People's Ecochallenge expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org
2019 People's Ecochallenge
October 2 - October 23, 2019
Gillian Turner's avatar

Gillian Turner

ACHS

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 266 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    130
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    840
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen

Gillian's actions

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 10 minute(s) each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Forage for My Food

I will use the 'Learn More' resources below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.

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

Simplicity

De-Clutter My Home

I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Less Screen Time

I will replace 60 minute(s) of screen time each day with other activities.

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
    Simplicity Less Screen Time
    What did you notice in implementing this challenge? Was it hard to choose other activities over screen time? How did you decide to spend your time?
    Gillian Turner's avatar
    Gillian Turner 10/23/2019 9:20 AM
    I chose to replace screen time with listening to audiobooks and found that it wasn't too difficult. I am enjoying re-listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks! Instead of sitting still in front of a screen, I was able to walk around doing chores and cooking while still being entertained. 
    Read More
  • Gillian Turner's avatar
    Gillian Turner 10/17/2019 11:10 AM
    For anyone who is interested, I found a website that lets you see what food is in season based on your location! Eating local, seasonal food means that it will be fresher and you are supporting the local economy instead of buying food that is out of season and has to be shipped in from elsewhere. https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/why-eat-seasonally
    Read More
    • Savanna Jones's avatar
      Savanna Jones 10/22/2019 11:36 AM
      Thank you Gillian! This will be interesting to use as a reference! I usually only know by what is at the local farmer's market, so this is super helpful!
      Read More
    • Jacqui McGrath's avatar
      Jacqui McGrath 10/18/2019 4:51 AM
      This is awesome - thank you, Gillian! I'm going to share it with my botany students :)
      Read More
  • Gillian Turner's avatar
    Gillian Turner 10/09/2019 9:04 AM
    I've been enjoying spending more time outside and watching the sunset from my balcony! Our building was under construction and we didn't have a balcony for over 3 months. Since it's back, I've noticed how much of a difference it makes to have easy access to the outdoors from our 3rd-floor apartment! 
    Read More
    • Jacqui McGrath's avatar
      Jacqui McGrath 10/10/2019 8:08 AM
      Beautiful! Thank you for sharing. I agree - even little doses (and simply viewing) nature is nourishing. That's great you got your balcony back!!
      Read More
  • 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?
    Gillian Turner's avatar
    Gillian Turner 10/07/2019 2:28 PM
    I am interested in foraging because I grew up in the country with lots of opportunities to live off of the land, but I moved to the city for college and felt less connected to nature and sad that I didn't have access to a garden or orchard anymore. As part of this activity, I signed up for Fallen Fruit, which is a foraging map that anyone can add to. It was so cool to zoom in on the map of Portland and see the exact location and type for lots of different fruit trees around the city! 
    Read More
    • Jacqui McGrath's avatar
      Jacqui McGrath 10/08/2019 7:32 AM
      Fallen fruit sounds amazing!! If you like hawthorn berries, I remember gathering them around this time of year deep in the Tryon Creek State Park somewhere (I wish I remembered the name of the trail). There are "gleaning" groups in some cities, too, though I'm not sure about Portland.  I volunteered with one called the "Bounty Hunters" when I lived in Petaluma, CA, and we'd get calls from people who were happy to let us gather fruits, etc, that they couldn't use (or in some cases, couldn't harvest themselves due to physical limitations). I agree with you that collecting food is an awesome way to connect with Nature. 
      Read More