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Bev Larson's avatar

Bev Larson

Plastic Free July Planning Team

"Reduce the use of plastics AND reduce food waste."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 180 TOTAL

Bev's actions

Food

Zero-waste Cooking

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 3 meal(s) with zero-waste each day.

COMPLETED 0
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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

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

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?


  • Bev Larson's avatar
    Bev Larson 4/15/2018 11:32 AM
    This doesn't fit into the categories, but I have to "brag!" After reading the attached article I convinced by husband to use oxyclean instead of chlorine bleach on our concrete patio.

  • Bev Larson's avatar
    Bev Larson 4/11/2018 2:03 PM
    I love surprising store clerks when I say "No bag, please!" 

    • Susan Allen's avatar
      Susan Allen 4/12/2018 9:00 AM
      Add me to this !!!

    • Krystina Jarvis's avatar
      Krystina Jarvis 4/12/2018 6:11 AM
      Me too!  I also love the shocked faces when I ask for no straw or no cup (although I think the Chipotle people may be getting used to that one by now :D)

  • Bev Larson's avatar
    Bev Larson 4/09/2018 7:08 PM
    I volunteer at a food pantry once a week.  We receive a lot of produce from grocery stores but unfortunately,, some of it is at or near its expiration date. I hate to see it go to waste, but we can't make people to take food that is way past its prime. They deserve fresh food, like everyone else.  At the end of the day I brought home a large bag of withered peppers and yellowed, wilted kale and collard greens. Onto the compost pile it went. Much better than putting it in a landfill.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Keep Track of Wasted Food
    An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?

    Bev Larson's avatar
    Bev Larson 4/09/2018 6:59 PM
    I would rather spend that money traveling to see my grandchildren. 
  • 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?

    Bev Larson's avatar
    Bev Larson 4/06/2018 8:12 PM
    Although I am concerned about wasted resources, I am even more concerned about the amount of food that could be used by people who experience food insecurity. We need to do a better job of channeling surplus food to pantries, shelters and food banks. 

    • Bev Larson's avatar
      Bev Larson 4/07/2018 1:17 PM
      Krystina, I have seen Wasted, and it really is an eyeopener.  I volunteer at a food pantry so I see how widespread food insecurity is. 

    • Krystina Jarvis's avatar
      Krystina Jarvis 4/07/2018 12:13 PM
      Have you seen the documentary Wasted yet? It does such a great job of demonstrating the immense amount of food waste in our country and why it's so rare that any gets donated. Highly recommend!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials Recycle Everything I Can
    How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?

    Bev Larson's avatar
    Bev Larson 4/05/2018 5:31 PM
    I already do the above. Now I am working on rethinking before buying. 
  • 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?

    Bev Larson's avatar
    Bev Larson 4/05/2018 5:23 PM
    I think that many of us plan our diets around meat because it is easy. It's also a habit.

  • Bev Larson's avatar
    Bev Larson 4/05/2018 4:50 PM
    I joined the challenge because it will help me to reduce my carbon footprint. I'm hoping to learn new habits. 

  • Bev Larson's avatar
    Bev Larson 4/04/2018 7:02 AM
    We have a compost bin (aka wildlife feeding station) but --as you can tell by the name--I don't manage it properly.  I pledge to actually cover the scraps and stop feeding the deer.