Mari-Lynn Flaig

Comerica Michigan Green Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,136 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

825

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

180

minutes

spent learning

Mari-Lynn's actions

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Bee Happy

I will work towards setting up a solution on my property to help encourage bee habitat. Bees are very important to our food chain. If they go, we cease to exist.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Explore Other Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions

All Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions

I will spend at least 120 minutes researching other Drawdown Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 25
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?

Mari-Lynn Flaig 4/28/2021 4:52 AM

I've found if I put off exercising until after work I am more apt to find an excuse not to. I started by getting used to getting up an hour early each day. Then I started exercising, starting with fifteen minutes, and worked myself into one hour sessions, increasing by fifteen minutes when I knew my flubby body could handle it. I could barely wear my smart watch, now I'm on the third hole in. The walking part is cool, because some days I get to see the sunrise and it sets my mood for the rest of the day.

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Mari-Lynn Flaig 4/26/2021 4:50 AM

I talked to my neighbor and a friend this weekend about the importance of bees and why we should reconsider the dandelions as weeds approach to a green lawn. One of them told me what pesticide they use, and when I went over the ingredients, they decided it was worth considering not doing that anymore (although he likes his lush green lawn). I left him with the thought of at least considering cutting the applications in half, and he said he will try that. Less is better than not doing anything at all. no arm twisting here, the idea is to get him to change his mind - not strong arm someone into something they dont' want to do.

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Mari-Lynn Flaig 4/23/2021 4:55 AM

I've drawn my three "children" into the small plate thing, but I don't think it works for them. I tried one small plate for the three parrots, but they -as toddlers do- fight over the food. I either have to use one big plate for the three of them, or three smaller plates, one for each of them. Over this last week, they seem to like the food on my small plate better than the food on their plates. I guess sharing is a good way to lose the extra pounds. It's funny because it's the same chopped veggies. No matter how it shakes, as long as we are all happy and it helps the earth, it's a good thing. Have a great day!

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Mari-Lynn Flaig 4/22/2021 5:20 AM

I still have to figure out the smaller portions, using the smaller plate. For some reason I use the smaller plate, but I still have things left over that I end up not eating. I wonder if anyone else has that same issue.

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- Holly Windom 4/22/2021 6:57 AM
  
  Hi Mari-Lynn: I have this issue but have to start measuring portions. This is not fun but a cup of this and 1/2 cup of that makes your plate appear unfull . Your body will be full after a week of this and weight loss comes with this too. Good Luck.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Go for a Daily Walk

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

Mari-Lynn Flaig 4/08/2021 5:07 AM

I live just off of a very busy main artery in town called Auburn Road. I have witnessed more than one pedestrian / auto or bicycle / auto accident over the years. I wish they would install overhead crosswalks in selected areas, so that the children crossing the street could do so safely. I enjoy seeing new things on my journey, each day I find something new I didn't realize was there. I accidentally found a geocache that was placed kind of out in the open. There is a small library outside the rectory of the local church, someone had been placing canned goods in there for people in need. I think I will bring some more canned food to the church and thank them for their efforts. I also got to hand feed a squirrel this morning. Unshelled raw peanuts they seem to like. It's almost like crack so don't feed them too many if you do.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Explore Other Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

Mari-Lynn Flaig 4/06/2021 5:14 AM

I have done some reading about the farms in my area, and have been researching the City of Rochester Hills for information on what I can and can't do in terms of sustainability. I'm finding that this community is run more like a homeowner's subdivision where people are more concerned about what things look like than how they function. I plan to ask the council for approval to allow for bee friendly zones, but I want to have all my ducks in a row when I ask. I'm hoping I can get the support of my neighbors on this. Stay tuned.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Smaller Portions

While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come from eating/serving smaller portions?

Mari-Lynn Flaig 4/01/2021 5:13 AM

Before the ecochallenge began, I purchased a few extra side salad plates, and put away the dinner plates. We actually started using them last week. It's working out so well already that my husband said he appreciated the change. I think this solution is a permanent one. They clean faster too.

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Mari-Lynn Flaig 3/23/2021 1:31 PM

I have been reading about how bees are important to our food chain and will actively search for solutions to the decrease in population this time. I feel more engaged by focusing on one goal, rather than trying too many during these challenge sessions.

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- Kristin Bloser 3/30/2021 7:42 AM
  
  That's a great point Mari-Lynn. Sometimes we try to tackle too much at once, and it gets overwhelming. I like your approach to making progress!
  
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