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Mickella Geary's avatar

Mickella Geary

Co-op Climate Action Network (CCAN) - Organic Valley

"Our cows kick grass and eat it too! "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,541 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    3.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    10
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    235
    minutes
    spent learning

Mickella's actions

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Advocate For Greener Vehicles

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will assess the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on electric and fuel-efficient vehicles.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

#47 Bioplastic

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 3 friends, family and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Learn about Temperate Forests

#12 Temperate Forests

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

#46 Water Saving - Home

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

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

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

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

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

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

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Choose LED Bulbs

#33 LED Lighting (Household)

I will replace 10 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Launch a Recycling Program

#56 Industrial Recycling

I will set up a recycling center at my workplace or school.

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 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore), #8 Solar Farms

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Plan to Insulate

#31 Insulation

I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

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 19
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 17
DAILY ACTIONS

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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

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 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Online Energy Audit

Multiple Solutions

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

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
    Materials Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips
    What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

    Mickella Geary's avatar
    Mickella Geary 4/25/2018 4:28 PM
    I am most concerned about how careless we have been in our actions towards the health of our planet. We take down forests and destroy river valleys and try to control the uncontrollable. In the end, mother nature will always win. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants
    Name some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?

    Mickella Geary's avatar
    Mickella Geary 4/25/2018 4:23 PM
    Some human activities that impact the water systems locally and globally are the use of toxic pesticides and herbicides that run off into water or seep down into the ground water. Another big issue in our watersheds and ocean is trash. So much plastic is being dumped into our waterways and oceans that it destroys the water and plant life. To improve the health of water systems we need to find alternatives to toxic pesticides and herbicides as well as educate better on pollution. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 1
    How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

    Mickella Geary's avatar
    Mickella Geary 4/25/2018 4:19 PM
    My diet unbeknownst to me was actually really impacting deforestation with my use of products with palm oil in them. To decrease my negative impact I need to look at the products I am currently using and find alternative options for them. To increase my positive impact I can continue to not eat meat or drink coffee.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use Learn about Temperate Forests
    As you learn more about the scope and seriousness of the environmental challenges we face, what impact does that have on your thinking and actions? What are the parts that feel overwhelming? What parts help you feel hopeful?

    Mickella Geary's avatar
    Mickella Geary 4/25/2018 12:39 PM
    It has a major impact on my thinking and actions for sure. The part that is overwhelming is wanting to save the entire world all at once, but I feel hopeful that challenges like this and organizations are out there focusing on the issues and providing simple ways to help change bad habits that contribute to the challenges we are facing. I feel like just by making changes in my own life and being a good example give me hope that others will follow suit and together we can make a larger impact. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Learn More about Silvopasture
    Had you heard of the term silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

    Mickella Geary's avatar
    Mickella Geary 4/25/2018 8:27 AM
    I have heard about the term silvopasture before doing this additional research. I think the biggest advantage of it is the growth in diversity that you can get out of land. It maximizes the output and quality of the property you are managing. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation Learn More About Geothermal Energy
    Geothermal energy is reliable, abundant, and efficient. Project Drawdown states that public investment will play a crucial role in its expansion. What kind of investment seems most feasible for you?

    Mickella Geary's avatar
    Mickella Geary 4/25/2018 7:19 AM
    I think for me, this is something that I want to incorporate in the home that I plan to build within the next 5-6 years. I want to install a full geothermal system to cool and heat my home. By planning over the next few years, this will allow me to budget accordingly to fully install the system. 
  • 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?

    Mickella Geary's avatar
    Mickella Geary 4/25/2018 7:14 AM
    My vision of a sustainable community looks like a more robust recycling program to start. Next would be to create a compost center and more accessible large item recycling center. To see this vision come to life in my own community would take education and incentive to get people started; much like this challenge!  

  • Mickella Geary's avatar
    Mickella Geary 4/25/2018 7:09 AM
    Final day of the challenge but leaving with a list of great life changes!! Cant wait to dig further into my home improvement project list this summer.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
    Now that you know the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates, how will you view expiration dates differently?

    Mickella Geary's avatar
    Mickella Geary 4/24/2018 9:18 AM
    I definitely wont be wasting as much food. I will look more closely at the specific product and determine the best course of action before just tossing it in the garbage. 

  • Mickella Geary's avatar
    Mickella Geary 4/24/2018 9:12 AM
    Today I had the best experience watching our recycling guys stop and have to load more than they probably expected from one house!