Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Eric McClendon

Oregon State Bar

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
421 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

3.0

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

30

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

people

helped

Eric's actions

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

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 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Women and Girls

Fund Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

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

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

I will support women-owned businesses when I shop this month.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 1 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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Test Drive an Electric Bike

#69 Electric Bikes

I will test drive an electric bike at a local distributor to see if it makes sense to use one in place of my car, or to extend the area I can cover by bike.

UNCOMPLETED
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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Women and Girls

Give a Microloan

#62 Women Smallholders

I will give 2 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

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?

Eric McClendon 4/19/2018 10:21 AM

Here is a list of the largest women-owned businesses in Oregon and SW Washington:

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/subscriber-only/2017/09/01/largest-women-owned-businesses-in.html

Read More
- Liz Hardee 4/19/2018 11:09 AM
  
  Thanks for sharing!
  
  Read More
Eric McClendon 4/17/2018 8:38 AM

Here are some alternatives to plastic straws: https://thelastplasticstraw.org/resources/

Read More
Eric McClendon 4/12/2018 11:01 AM

Here are a couple of short videos describing anaerobic digestion, which is a method of extracting methane gas from food waste.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dErUHBjR0o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQJ_03hoQPU

Read More
Eric McClendon 4/12/2018 10:45 AM

If you are interested in test-riding an E-bike, there is a place in Portland with a test course!

http://www.cynergyebikes.com/

Read More
Eric McClendon 4/11/2018 8:45 AM

I found some good info on reducing greenhouse emissions ("Drawdown") here:

http://www.drawdown.org/

Read More
Eric McClendon 4/10/2018 3:47 PM

This article has some great tips on portion control:

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20769037,00.html#add-veggie-fillers-0

Read More
Eric McClendon 4/10/2018 3:28 PM

Here is a good article on reducing water use in your home:

https://www.care2.com/greenliving/20-ways-to-conserve-water-at-home.html

Read More
Eric McClendon 4/10/2018 12:56 PM

Kiva.org is a highly rated organization for giving micro loans. You can select women as a criteria for your loans and choose what country you want her to be in. I chose El Salvador.

Read More
- Eric McClendon 4/10/2018 3:55 PM
  
  This is the story of the lady in El Salvador I gave a micro loan to. It's amazing what someone can do with a relatively small donation. I'm going to let my daughters pick the next recipient!
  
  Damaris Elizabeth's story:
  
  Damaris is married and the mother of two minor children who are her dependents. A sister also lives with her and her family. Damaris said her mother and a brother live abroad.
  
  Damaris's source of income is making tortillas to sell. She learned the trade 16 years ago from her mother, who also worked in this type of business, and taught Damaris at a very young age. Damaris works Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  
  She's going to invest the loan is a purchase of corn wholesale and a wooden table. That way she'll have the ingredients to continue making tortillas as well as better work equipment in her business. The investment will help her, because buying retail costs her more. Another advantage is that she won't stop working because of lack of ingredients.
  
  Her goal is to acquire another stove with a griddle to increase her tortilla production and hire someone to distribute the product to the eateries near her business. That way she'll earn more profits.
  
  Read More
Eric McClendon 4/04/2018 11:49 AM

OSB for the win!

Read More