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Welcome to Drawdown EcoChallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Drawdown EcoChallenge expert in no time!

Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown
Drawdown EcoChallenge
April 4 - April 25, 2018
Barbara Peterson's avatar

Barbara Peterson

Sustainable Floridians-Brevard

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 291 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    25
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    12
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    12
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    60
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    6.0
    zero-waste meals
    consumed

Barbara's actions

Food

Zero-waste Cooking

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Support Nutrient Management

#65 Nutrient Management

I will buy from organic and local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 3 meal(s) from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 30 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

#47 Bioplastic

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 25 friends, family and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 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

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
    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?
    Barbara Peterson's avatar
    Barbara Peterson 4/08/2018 4:06 AM
    I had only heard of permaculture before now. With the focus on treesabd woodlands, this brings up more consideration for biodiversity. I grew up in western Kansas and trees were down by the rivers and mostly planted in towns and as shelterbelts in the farm lands for wildlife and windbreaks. Silvopasture is a fantastic concept for symbiotic relationships of fertilization of trees as well as shelter for animals. The trees would also helps in keep excess nutrients from animal wastes sequestered from running into streams and watersheds.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials Eliminate Toxic Plastics
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
    Barbara Peterson's avatar
    Barbara Peterson 4/08/2018 3:41 AM
    Yesterday, I forgot that I do not need a straw to drink my water at a restaurant. I looked down out table of 12 butterfly surveyors and noticed that only 4 ofus had picked up and used the straw left on the table. The irony was that I had been picking up litter as we walked on our survey. 

    I vote for folks bringing their own reusable straws, coffecups and bags to shopand  eat out.
    Read More
  • 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.
    Barbara Peterson's avatar
    Barbara Peterson 4/08/2018 3:34 AM
    There continues to be a general lack of concern about the amount of trash and litter on our planet.  A day does not pass where I pick up a piece of litter from either the condo orout  and about on errands, work or enjoying a park or refuge. Humans seem to have the general attitude that someone else will take care of things for them. Instilling personal responsibility for ones actions is paramount. Otherwise we will need to continue blaming everyone else for our problems.
    Read More
  • 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?
    Barbara Peterson's avatar
    Barbara Peterson 4/08/2018 3:14 AM
    I would rather see that the money would go to seeing that the underprivileged had a better quality of food on their plates.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Support Nutrient Management
    How does environmental quality influence your sense of community?
    Barbara Peterson's avatar
    Barbara Peterson 4/08/2018 3:11 AM
    When you actively participate in promoting high quality actions such as growing food without synthetic fertilizers and no pesticides, you see and feel the results. From this you can credibly share the value of doing so.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Zero-waste Cooking
    In North America, up to 65% of food waste happens at the consumer level. Chef Steven Satterfield advocates for utilizing every part of a vegetable. How can you incorporate using an entire vegetable, including the skins, tops, and stalks during your next meal prep?
    Barbara Peterson's avatar
    Barbara Peterson 4/08/2018 3:06 AM
    Beets are easy, we like the leaves and stalks chopped and steamed. Celery parts all go into the smoothie and stew. Otherwise,things like banana peels go to garden compost.
    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?
    Barbara Peterson's avatar
    Barbara Peterson 4/08/2018 2:58 AM
    Start shifting by example. I share my Whole Food Plant Based meal with neighbors and bring to pot luck dinners. Also purchase cook books for family and friends. I bring up the discussion in the chemistry classes that I teach. It is so awesome the hear young folks becoming passionate about eating nutrient rich fruits and vegetables!

    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Support Local Food Systems
    Dependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these advantages inspire you the most?
    Barbara Peterson's avatar
    Barbara Peterson 4/08/2018 2:45 AM
    I started veggie  gardens at the condo a few years ago. It feels good to go out and work with like minded neighbors. This morning, I will bring in cabbage, Swiss Chard, and tomatoes. Photo was taken  In December. The shopping center should be reopened in 6 weeks. Having Publix closed fro rebuildinghas made me appreciate a garden all the more!
    Read More
  • Barbara Peterson's avatar
    Barbara Peterson 4/02/2018 6:26 PM
    It feels good to connect with you on this topic. I am working on zero waste, composting, and eating eating fresh, locally grown food. After completeing the e-Cornell, Plant Based Nutrition Course this winter, Wayne and I are committed to a fantastic diet that is not only nutrient dense, can reverse chronic diseases, but is good for the environment in many ways. This is all very time consuming as most meals are made from scratch. A great deal of planning is required to not let fresh food spoil before it is cooked. It is ironic that it takes so much effort to revert back to the way I learned to cook with fresh produce from the garden. I have resurrected  a worm composter for kitchen waste.  
    Read More
    • Barbara Peterson's avatar
      Barbara Peterson 4/03/2018 2:45 AM
      I had the worm computer on our screen porch for a while. During a period of neglect, the worms crawled out all over the place! It was a mess and I felt so bad for causing them distress! Now it is outside and I share it with a neighbor. 
      Read More
    • Beth Beek Blackford's avatar
      Beth Beek Blackford 4/02/2018 8:02 PM
      I took one look at the Forest Friendly Foods 2 challenge under Land Use and blanched!  3 of the 4 foods responsible for deforestation are among my favorite things, so my hat is off to you for reinventing your diet.  When I first learned about veganism, I wondered how I wouldn't starve first.  Thankfully, my food coop at the time had regular potlucks, and it was a wonderful learning experience.
      Also, my step-mother had a worm composter in her kitchen.  Where do you keep yours?
      Read More