Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Anne OBrien

Team Southcoast

"Emphasizing the "reduce" and "reuse" part to eliminate the need to "recycle". :)"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
827 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

80

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

34

meatless or vegan meals

consumed

Anne's actions

Land Use

Buy Bamboo

#35 Bamboo

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Express My Support

#54 Walkable Cities

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Choose Better Wood Products

#38 Forest Protection

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 40 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 5
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?

Anne OBrien 4/25/2018 5:43 PM
Had a great time! Great work Team Southcoast!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

How does environmental quality influence your sense of community?
Anne OBrien 4/17/2018 5:09 AM
Environmental quality means shopping at smaller stores, from farmers' markets, and from farmers themselves. This means a lot more community interfacing than I would normally experience buying cello-packed tomatoes in the self-checkout line at the supermarket. When you know your farmer, you learn their methods, and understand why you are likely only having scallions and kale locally in spring, instead of hothouse tomatoes.

Read More
Anne OBrien 4/08/2018 6:49 PM
My daughters and I helped Be the Solution to Pollution clean Fort Phoenix today! It was energizing and it galvanized an understanding for my 11 year old - why we care. If we don’t care, no one will. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot - nothing is going to get better - it’s not.”

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?
Anne OBrien 4/07/2018 2:55 PM
Any time I can reduce my dependency on fossil fuels is a win. I intend for my next vehicle to be hybrid or electric.

Read More
Anne OBrien 4/07/2018 12:30 PM
Picked up some stones at the Sea Witch today and supported a women owned business! Tough task, I know. 🤣

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?
Anne OBrien 4/06/2018 4:03 PM
I don’t know if I would call bamboo “readily” accessible in Fairhaven, but it’s certainly available nearby if you are looking for it. Euro (woman co-owned store) and Down to Earth (also I think woman co-owned) have bamboo items to purchase. If I can’t get bamboo, I go for the most recycled and most durable option like compressed wheat straw.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. How can you better support communities by supporting women?
Anne OBrien 4/06/2018 10:25 AM
I can better support women-owned businesses by just asking questions! Don't worry about offending anyone - ask if the business is owned, or co-owned, by women.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

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?
Anne OBrien 4/06/2018 10:24 AM
All of it! Seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, and labor; but my biggest motivator for not wasting food (and taking only what I need) is the fact that there are SO many people, near and far, not getting enough to eat, or aren't getting nutritious options.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials

How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?
Anne OBrien 4/04/2018 5:50 PM
Sugru! It's a moldable glue. I've learned recently that, from furniture to appliances, it gives new usability to SO many things.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

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?
Anne OBrien 4/04/2018 5:47 PM
I think there's lots of things you could glean about North American culture from its love of red meat... and full disclosure, I enjoy steak and bacon too. I think it speaks to our addictions to salt and fat and fast food, our love of convenience, and our complete disconnect from food sources. Plants are more work for less energy (therefore, not something the average person will "crave" after a lifestyle that is accustomed to sugars and processed meats) and fresh veggies go bad, whereas frozen/canned meat does not. Normalizing "meat free" days and stopping the "meat replacement" (veggie burger, veggie meatballs, etc) mentality could help break our meat fixation.

Read More