Marianne Barrier

I will spend 30 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

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.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

I will spend 30 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

I will hand one load of laundry a week outside to dry instead of using the dryer.

I will source 25 percent of my food 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.

I will Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Earth Month Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching how people can build with carbon-storing materials - including agricultural byproducts - and discuss it with my peers in person or by posting to social media.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

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

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions.

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

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

I will write or call 3 elected official(s) telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

I will calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce my negative impact on the environment.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has prepared an Earth Week event starting from April 20th to April 25th. To celebrate Earth Day, participate in 1 program on April 22nd and write a short reflection in your feed.

Learn about NC's native Diptera that has one of the widest digestive enzyme profiles, allowing for digestion of virtually all human food waste in one to two days: pre-and post-consumer; cooked, raw, or spoiled. Sign up for this workshop and discuss with your team members:

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 30 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

I will support a community garden by volunteering, donating, or advocating for a new or existing one.

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.