April 4 - April 25, 2018

Natalie Gardner

"I hope that my participation in this challenge will not only be beneficial for the planet, but will also inspire others to take the step towards a more eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle! "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,104 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

20

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

40

miles

traveled by bus
UP TO

230

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

8.2

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Natalie's actions

Transport

Use Public Transit

#37 Mass Transit

I will use public transit 10 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to 2.04 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Learn about Temperate Forests

#12 Temperate Forests

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Use Muscle Power

#49 Cars

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 15 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Go Paperless

#70 Recycled Paper

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by opting into paperless billing and subscriptions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 2

#5 Tropical Forests

I will replace or remove products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Recycle Everything I Can

#55 Household Recycling

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

#47 Bioplastic

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Materials

Choose Recycled Paper

#70 Recycled Paper

If I have to buy paper products, I will only purchase products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Research Retrofitting Incentives

#80 Retrofitting

I will spend at least 15 minutes finding out if my city, region, or state offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Buy Bamboo

#35 Bamboo

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Explore Other Buildings and Cities Solutions

All Buildings and Cities Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings and Cities Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

#6 Educating Girls, #7 Family Planning, #62 Women Smallholders

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Explore Other Electricity Generation Solutions

All Electricity Generation Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Generation Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Keep Track of Wasted Food

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during the EcoChallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

#30 Methane Digesters (large), #64 Methane Digesters (small)

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 20
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
Electricity Generation Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

Natalie Gardner 4/24/2018 4:12 PM

Predominantly, we would need to cease using fossil fuels if we are to seriously consider having a sustainable community. Through my research I have found myriad alternatives to using fossil fuels, including methane digesters. I believe we need to have more discussions, spread more information and lobby our government to start making effective change.
Knowledge is power.
Before this year I was ignorant with regards to what effect my lifestyle was having on the planet. Now that I've made appropriate changes (and will continue to do so for the rest of my life), I can see that every action makes a difference. We just need people to listen and understand why this cannot go on any longer. I believe in the good in people and will never give up hope that things cannot be changed for the better.

Read More
Natalie Gardner 4/24/2018 4:07 PM

Last day of the challenge! I hope everyone has had an awesome time competing in the Drawdown EcoChallenge and is trying extra hard now that we are at the final stretch :) Good luck and have fun!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Use Muscle Power

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?

Natalie Gardner 4/24/2018 4:06 PM

I don't believe my transportation choices affect me too much, but only with regards to time. I love going for walks and walking from the train station to university, as it gives me time to think and just enjoy myself in the present. Driving is equally enjoyable, whether I'm the passenger or the one behind the wheel. Be that as it may, I much prefer transport options that I know are not harmful for the environment. I often feel guilty that when learning to drive we have to aimlessly take long trips just to get my hours up. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do about this, as it is state law. Nevertheless, once I have my driver's license I know I will still predominantly use muscle-power transport and public transportation as my main modes of travelling.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Use Public Transit

How has your access to various kinds of transporation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?

Natalie Gardner 4/24/2018 4:02 PM

Public transportation in my opinion is actually great. I love the effortlessness of taking the train and being able to admire your surroundings. I have always been an avid fan of transportation (as odd as that sounds). I love taking the buses, trains, planes; so taking public transport to university was seriously as no-brainer. The fact that this also reduces my daily carbon emissions by at least 2 pounds is beyond fantastic!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than other countries, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How do we start shifting a meat-focused food culture?

Natalie Gardner 4/24/2018 4:00 PM

I think we could begin to shift a meat-focused food culture by introducing healthy, delicious, plant-based alternatives. Businesses such as Grill'd are already on this trajectory. Whilst I believe this is an enormous task, there are an innumerable amount of plant-based, vegan swaps that could appropriately substitute the flavour of meat. I believe people just need to be that bit more open minded to understand that their consumption habits do have an effect on the planet, and that there are great meat alternatives available.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Smaller Portions

Fun fact: Your brain and stomach register feelings of fullness after about 20 minutes of eating. While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come out of this?

Natalie Gardner 4/23/2018 7:17 PM

As a result of eating smaller portions, it is very likely that you will not eat more than what is necessary. Therefore, you will be less likely to feel bloated after a meal and will have consumed a 'healthy' amount of food (depending on what food you ate). I have been swapping out large plates/bowls for our smaller plates/bowls for most of my meals, and have noticed that I am not eating hardly as much but am still feeling full afterwards. Consequently, eating with smaller plates or eating smaller serves can be beneficial.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food composting

Producing uneaten food squanders many resources—seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, hours of labor, financial capital. Which of these motivates you the most to change your behavior regarding food waste?

Natalie Gardner 4/23/2018 7:13 PM

I have always been a person concerned about food waste. Composting is very much an interest of mine, and as of today we have begun our own compost bin! Our council has recently changed it regulations with regards to composting and has begun accepting food scraps in our green bins. As a result, my mum and I decided that we should get a new compost bin to account for this.

However, I do not believe this should mean we can throw food into our compost bin and not question why it was not eaten. Thus, I believe it is necessary for us to start a weekly meal plan and to be conscious of when foods will be going out of date. Perhaps then we will start to see a change in the amount of food that goes to waste in our household.

Read More
Natalie Gardner 4/23/2018 7:08 PM

Only two days of the challenge to go! Everyone appears to be ramping up now, so I will do my best to learn and do as much as I can before the end of day 22 :) Good luck everyone!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Explore Other Transport Solutions

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

Natalie Gardner 4/22/2018 8:31 PM

Overall, transportation accounts for 14% of global electricity emissions. However, this statistic may continue to rise, as the economic growth of countries often engenders the increased movement of goods and people. As a result, I will persist with being mindful of how I use transportation and will continue to rely on public transportation as my main and somewhat sustainable means of travelling.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

How do you address your own feelings of concern, fear or despair about climate change?

Natalie Gardner 4/22/2018 8:18 PM

Since educating myself about the current state of affairs of our environment, I have become deeply traumatised by the lack of care humans have given to the planet. It can be hard some days, especially when you come across a pile of litter or people using plastic water bottles and single-use coffee cups. You wonder why people do not understand the immediate impact they are having and the dire situation we are in (particularly with regards to those living in small coastal islands). What's worse is when people tell me my efforts are fruitless and that I might as well just give up.

However, if I were to live my life, condoning unethical practices and simultaneously hurting our planet, I would be ashamed to be me. Even it it's true, even if I can't do anything to reverse climate change, I'll be damned if I do not try. We do not deserve this planet and the bountiful resources it has provided us. From now on, I am going to treat this planet the way it deserves to be treated: with love and respect.

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