Earth Month Ecochallenge: Drawdown

April 1 - April 30, 2021

Anna Giberson

Medicalz Unitz

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
900 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

18

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

456

miles

not traveled by car
UP TO

456

miles

traveled by carpool
UP TO

150

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

120

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

630

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

51

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1,033

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted

Anna's actions

Industry

Recycle Everything I Can

Recycling

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Bioplastics

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and BIPOC-majority neighborhoods. I will avoid buying and using 1 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Repurposing an old bedframe

I repurposed an old bed frame to save it from our landfills!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Watch Seaspiracy on Netflix

Inform yourself about the fishing industry and the harm it causes our ecosystem.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Practice the 5 R's

Recycling

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

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

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

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

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 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 60 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Buy Bamboo

Bamboo Production

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Try Carpooling

Carpooling

I will commute by carpool 25 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Plant Trees

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Connect With A Nonprofit

Health and Education

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Learn about Biochar

Biochar Production

I will spend 20 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Purchase a Carbon Offset

Efficient Aviation

If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Support a Community Garden

Multiple Solutions

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Smart Seafood Choices

Ocean Farming

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

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

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture, Regenerative Annual Cropping

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place -- your deep knowledge of and appreciation for your surroundings?

Anna Giberson 4/28/2021 1:54 AM

Spending time outdoors and disconnecting is so magical. You really notice how alive our planet is and I feel like it helps me with peace and perspective. Nothing like a breath of fresh air!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Reduce Single-Use Disposables

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Anna Giberson 4/28/2021 1:52 AM

I am the worst about using the pitchers at work! I started bringing an extra water bottle to have my caffeinated drinks in. I also want to purchase a reusable straw. I really like to use glass containers instead of plastic bags in my lunch as well :)

Read More
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?

Anna Giberson 4/28/2021 1:49 AM

I noticed that I am less likely to overeat when I have smaller portions and I have more leftovers!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Climate Resilience Plant Trees

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?

Anna Giberson 4/28/2021 1:48 AM

I really enjoy plants in general but planting a tree was so cool because I know it will grow so big and be around for so long!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Buy Bamboo

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?

Anna Giberson 4/26/2021 1:31 AM

Lots of bamboo products are available! I found some on Amazon. An alternative to bamboo is cork!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Support a Community Garden

What are the multiple benefits of community gardens, including carbon sequestration? Why do these benefits matter to you?

Anna Giberson 4/24/2021 6:07 AM

Community gardens are such a happy place. They help build a stronger sense of community as well as do good for the planet. Also, the food that you grow yourself always tastes better! Since plants are the easiest way to sequester carbon, community gardens are super sustainable.

Read More
Anna Giberson 4/17/2021 1:14 AM

Today I watched Seaspiracy, a documentary on Netflix that shows the true extent of the harm of the fishing industry. For those who haven’t watched, this documentary is a must see.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Try Carpooling

List some of the places you frequent often (work, grocery store, natural areas). Could you choose one or two days a week to schedule driving with a friend, neighbor or co-worker to these places?

Anna Giberson 4/14/2021 2:45 AM

I really only go to work and to take my little sister to school. We already carpool with our neighbors to get to and from school. However, I could definitely do more to coordinate carpooling with coworkers.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Smart Seafood Choices

Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?

Anna Giberson 4/14/2021 1:31 AM

My diet choices fall within the guidelines for my region. To ensure that you are following the guidelines I need to be cognizant of how much seafood I consume each week as well as what seafoods I am consuming.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Eat Mindfully

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?

Anna Giberson 4/14/2021 1:20 AM

I have really enjoyed practicing eating mindfully. I feel that I am more aware of when I am full and eating has become a more relaxing process overall. I have found that I look forward to the time to myself.

Read More