Ecochallenge.org

2019 People's Ecochallenge

October 2 - October 23, 2019

Amanda Gates

EcoINL

"Small things, when done collectively, can have the largest impact."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,178 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

waste audit

conducted
UP TO

84

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

105

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

672

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

energy audit

conducted
UP TO

494

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Amanda'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

Community

Support Native Communities

I will use the resource links provided and spend 60 minutes learning about the native populations that lived in my area prior to colonization, and what I can do to support those that still exist.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Collect Rain Water

I will create a rain garden or bioswale or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.

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 -1
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Choose a Carbon Offset

If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Online Energy Audit

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Conserve Toilet Water

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Carry my Trash

I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

COMPLETED -2
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Personal Waste Audit

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

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

Needs Vs. Wants

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED -2
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Consider the ways you can garden: a plot of land? a patio container? hanging basket? windowsill gardens? What would work best for your living situation and lifestyle?
Amanda Gates 10/23/2019 3:58 PM
I have all the things to plant some tasty things for my kitchen - basil, arugula, and sprouts - although time has been against me and sleep a priority. But! Hoping I get it done tonight!

I have a little open kitchen that has a bar. I already have tons of house plants on the bar that have absolutely loved all the natural light. So they're about to get a few more friends! It's the perfect spot for these plants :)

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

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?
Amanda Gates 10/23/2019 3:43 PM
Before meat can be prepared into a meal, it has to grow. Growing requires resources. Resources cost money. People in other countries skip a step and eat the resources directly. Meat is a luxury.

Eating more meat affects our planet. Livestock farming has a large environmental footprint - making up 18% of human made greenhouse gas emissions. Eating less meat supports this less. Collectively, if every Monday was meatless, the demand for meat would decrease - ultimately reducing that percentage and greenhouse emissions.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health

How do you deal with the physical and emotional stress of the big problems we face? How can you help others cope?
Amanda Gates 10/22/2019 5:44 AM
Exercise is my best friend when it comes to stress. Any time I can get my heart rate up and blood bumping, I can come back to a problem to face it head on with a little more ease.
If being physically active isn't an option, I've found meditation, journaling, or spending quality time with close friends helps.
I try to help others cope by lending an ear. Not trying to solve their problems with advice but just listening and acknowledging "that sucks". That's more validating to hear than any solution suggested.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

What would a sustainable water future in your region look like? What needs to change?
Amanda Gates 10/21/2019 12:28 PM
I believe a lot of us think that because we have run off that fills the canals and rain that comes down in violent storms (as well as living next to a large river), we don't have to be conservative about water. This isn't the case - Idaho Falls is still in the high desert. And it still uses energy to use water at such a luxury.
If everyone were educated on simple habitual adjustments, collectively Idaho Falls could conserve a lot of water and energy. This could look like - turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth, using the dishwasher/laundry only when there is enough to fill the appliances, taking shorter showers, etc.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health

What environmental factors affect human health in your region, and how do they affect it?
Amanda Gates 10/21/2019 8:25 AM
I learned that Idaho Falls is in a region where indoor radon screening levels are from 2 to 4 pCi/. Radon is a carcinogen. Above 4 pCi/ becomes a concern and should be tested and have a specialist come out to take reduction measures. There are also ways to prevent increased radon exposure in the home - having windows on the lowest level and caulking cracks in foundation/walls. I had no idea about this. I'm currently in an apartment but whenever I decide to buy a house, this will be something I'll be conscious about.
Air Quality today and recently in IF has been "good". But I'd be curious to check this in late summer when it's fire season.
The UV index is low. However, when the snow comes around it will double. Sunglasses are important on sunny winter days!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

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?
Amanda Gates 10/16/2019 10:42 AM
I love the outdoors and finding any new hobby to get me out there is one I wouldn't mind trying! Especially if snacks are involved... Good thing I like plums - couple spots in IF to find them:
https://fallingfruit.org

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

Why is it so difficult to understand the impacts our purchases and waste have on other people, animals, and places? How might your experience with this challenge impact your future consumption and choices?
Amanda Gates 10/14/2019 8:51 AM
I think it's difficult to understand because we don't know. We haven't been educated to know where our trash goes beyond our dumpsters. Or been challenged to be conscious about it. We have the luxury to be ignorant. Once we throw something away, we don't see it again. It is more work to find out how our purchases affect other people, animals, and places than not.

Doing a personal waste audit has trained me to question these things. To always be wondering "how much garbage is this producing?" "Where is the purchase coming from?" "Where can it go when I have no more use for it?" Mostly because it's annoying to carry your trash around. So collecting and carrying it automatically makes you figure out ways to have the minimum amount. I'd recommend anyone to do this challenge. I can already tell it'll have a lasting impact on me.

Read More
Amanda Gates 10/13/2019 3:48 PM
Did my trash audit of the last 10 days. Left out everything I can recycle or compost for the purpose of this audit. But I learned that I don’t know as much as I thought when it comes to recycling, so if things that don’t have to go to the landfill are noticed, please let me know!
Even being conscious of trying to have the smallest impact, I learned some things seem impossible to avoid: anything medically related (Zantac was recalled for anyone who hasn’t heard yet) is tough to find not individually wrapped or in a container that can be recycled. Going out to eat, even bringing my own containers for leftovers, some things are presented wrapped. And you don’t know it until you get it! And mail🤦‍♀️ I’ve gone paperless on every bill I can think of but some don’t support it (cough cough medical bills cough cough).
But this exercise has definitely made me think twice in most choices in everyday life. Would recommend anyone to do! Even if you think you already have a gasp on your contribution to landfills.

Read More
- Melanie Shirling 10/28/2019 5:41 AM
  Do you take your own containers when you go out to eat? I've been doing it for years and have only met one other person who does it. One server was so excited about our containers that she committed to doing the same. If we forget, or if we forget a mug, we don't take our drinks with us so we don't contribute styrofoam to the landfill.
  
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- Patti Gates 10/16/2019 12:04 PM
  You're doing a great job. The zip lock baggy could be a reusable bag maybe. Sometimes pill bottles can be reused to store little things, like screws/pushpins. My mom was a great re-cycler - she grew up in the depression and they saved/re-used everything - from aluminum foil, to pieces of thread to buttons. There wasn't so much quick packaging on items then either...
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

Trace the water that flows down the drain from your house to the largest body of water nearby. What is the route it takes?
Amanda Gates 10/09/2019 8:31 AM
Whatever water doesn't get absorbed into the ground finds it's ways to the canals. Water is going to take the path of least resistance and I think Idaho Falls has done a good job to design the canals to provide farmers with irrigation in places that would have been otherwise difficult to get water sources. The canals eventually connect with the Snake River. Which connects to the Columbia in Washington State. The Columbia pours into the Pacific.

Read More
Amanda Gates 10/09/2019 6:57 AM
Today's a good day to collect water for plants/gardening - not just from rain! In my apartment complex, we have to keep our faucets dripping to prevent pipes freezing. I've been collecting that water for indoor plants/cleaning dishes. This challenge has made me much more aware and creative for ways of conservation.

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- Melanie Shirling 10/28/2019 5:42 AM
  Ohhh awesome idea to collect the water from the drips!
  
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- Kelsey Behm 10/09/2019 7:39 AM
  That is a great idea! This challenge has also made me so much more aware of my water usage.
  
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