Donna Ferron

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

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.

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 4 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

I will spend at least 4 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

I will spend at least 4 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 4 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

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

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

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

I will replace or remove from my current diet the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products that are known to contribute to deforestation.

I will spend 5 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

I will explore the interactive map in the links below to find a supermarket that does not use HFC refrigerants near my home.

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will research and tell 1 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

I will sign up for a Master Recycler/Composter program in my area.

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

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 connect with a local nonprofit working on issues affecting women, girls, and/or trans and nonbinary people in my community, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

I will spend at least 8 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

I will spend 13 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

I will write 1 letter(s) or email(s) per day to a public official or representative to advocate for policies that protect wetlands.

I will source 2 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 calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce my negative impact on the environment.