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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
Carolyn Weaver's avatar

Carolyn Weaver

Bedford Mothers Out Front (and friends)

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 421 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    140
    minutes
    spent learning

Carolyn's actions

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Local Perennial Biomass

#51 Perennial Biomass

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

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

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

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?

  • Carolyn Weaver's avatar
    Carolyn Weaver 4/11/2018 11:39 AM
    Under Materials, there is an action requiring the purchase of a "Toilet Bank" which is essentially a pouch filled with water set inside the tank to displace .8 gallons of water, thereby reducing the amount of water used with each flush.   We already have plastic water bottles filled with sand and sealed sitting inside our older 6 gallon toilet tank.  They take up most of the space in the tank.  I wish I could check the box for that action item because we are saving a considerable amount of water!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Electricity Generation Learn More about Biomass
    Had you ever heard of biomass techonology before this? What did you learn that surprised you? Share this with your friends!
    Carolyn Weaver's avatar
    Carolyn Weaver 4/10/2018 1:43 PM
    I learned that a small town in Oregon heats several public buildings using biomass technology based on the waste products of their surroundings.  I's really like to see what can be done in New England and Boston in particular using biomass technology as a heat source.
    Read More
    • Sue Swanson's avatar
      Sue Swanson 4/10/2018 8:27 PM
      I agree. There are some really interesting things going on!
      Read More
  • Carolyn Weaver's avatar
    Carolyn Weaver 4/08/2018 5:00 PM
    I bought stainless steel straws yesterday.  They come with a long narrow brush for cleaning and can go in the dishwasher! 
    Read More
  • Carolyn Weaver's avatar
    Carolyn Weaver 4/07/2018 2:55 PM
    Hey friends!  You can earn a quick 100 points just by donating $20 to EcoChallenge!  Its a win-win!!
    Read More
  • Carolyn Weaver's avatar
    Carolyn Weaver 4/07/2018 2:52 PM
    In reading about expiration dates I came across a link to food waste, followed by a link to a Guide to Conducting Student Food Waste Audits.  I can't wait to share this news with my Mothers Out Front Teammates!!!    

    Here's the link Guide_to_Conducting_Student_Food_Waste_Audit_11-20-2017.pdf

    And here's the link to the reflection question I answered regarding an article in Forbes about expiration dates.  https://www.forbes.com/sites/eustaciahuen/2017/06/30/foodlabels/#ade919d59366
    Read More
    • Carolyn Weaver's avatar
      Carolyn Weaver 4/07/2018 2:59 PM
      Oops.  Here's the correct link to the Student Food Waste Audit.
      https://www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/Guide_to_Conducting_Student_Food_Waste_Audit_11-20-2017.pdf
      Read More
  • 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?
    Carolyn Weaver's avatar
    Carolyn Weaver 4/07/2018 2:47 PM
    "Best by" dates are guidelines for the consumer to get the freshest flavor from the product.  They are not intended to mean "use by a certain date or toss".  Food is usually safe and edible beyond the best by date, it just may not be as tasty.  Each product is different and its up to the consumer to decide the point at which it is no longer safe to eat.  Sell by dates are for the retailer.  Use by dates are also not set in stone.  An article in Forbes Magazine explains how these expiration dates can vary by company because they are not federally regulated.  There's a good app called Foodkeeper that was created by the USDA that shows how long food lasts.
    Read More
  • 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?
    Carolyn Weaver's avatar
    Carolyn Weaver 4/05/2018 3:35 PM
    We need to reconsider our entire process of handling waste removal.  The use of methane digesters would be a huge step in reducing methane gases, while creating biogas and digestate.  The question is "who will profit?"  Financially, that is.  We all profit in the long run!
    Read More
  • Carolyn Weaver's avatar
    Carolyn Weaver 4/05/2018 3:08 PM
    Spent 30 minutes reading about the pros and cons of hybrid vs. electric vehicles.  I'm thinking a hybrid would be right for my family.
    Read More
  • Carolyn Weaver's avatar
    Carolyn Weaver 4/04/2018 3:33 PM
    Just learned about an agroforestry practice called silvopasture.  It combines grassland and trees for grazing to enhance the land, cattle, and reduce carbon emissions.  Very interesting!
    Read More
  • Carolyn Weaver's avatar
    Carolyn Weaver 4/04/2018 11:41 AM
    I'm hoping more people will join our team as there are so many people already doing many of these things.  The challenge comes in doing even more, which is beneficial to all!
    Read More