Earth Month Ecochallenge: Drawdown

April 1 - April 30, 2021

Susan Rigby

ECO-NCMNS

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
436 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

22

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

190

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

120

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

155

minutes

being mindful

Susan's actions

Buildings

Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Multiple Solutions

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Learn about the Legacy of Redlining

Multiple Solutions

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Replace Manual Thermostats

Smart Thermostats

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

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 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Hang Laundry Outside to Dry

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

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Participate in one of the NCMNS Earth Day programs on April 22nd.

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Composting with black soldier grubs

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:

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 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Explore My Area

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Plant Trees

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will plant 3 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

UNCOMPLETED
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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Tend A Garden

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

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Composting

Composting, Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

Farm Irrigation Efficiency

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 12
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

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
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Composting with black soldier grubs

Would you consider starting a composting bin using black soldier grubs?

Susan Rigby 4/30/2021 2:39 PM

I already do! They came naturally after I started my composting. The trickiest part is keeping the moisture level right for them because I don't have a "real" bin yet and too much rain gets in there. I'm motivated to invest in a quality compost bin!

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?

Susan Rigby 4/30/2021 2:38 PM

It helps me appreciate my food and it's quality more - I think it also helps encourage me to plate smaller portions! A lot of these tasks support each other which I have found to be super interesting and helpful.

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?

Susan Rigby 4/30/2021 2:37 PM

I think a lot of the time eating small portions and more often helps keep my energy levels up. Consuming a large quantity of food all at once can make me lethargic- better to keep healthy snacks ready than to feel pressure to choose between eating to the point of discomfort or wasting food.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Tend A Garden

Have you ever had a significant experience in nature that altered your perspective or focus? If so, please describe it.

Susan Rigby 4/30/2021 2:35 PM

This isn't about tending a garden, but when I lived in Boone, going hiking and looking at the Blue Ridge from the peaks really helped me realize my place in and connection to my environment and communities. Even though it can make you feel small, it also is impactful to see the wonder around you.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

Susan Rigby 4/30/2021 2:33 PM

Being more aware of what they mean empowers me to make more educated decisions about whether or not the food is actually ready to be composted or if I can still work with it. Often you can look/smell and tell, but it's good to have that extra layer of information.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Hang Laundry Outside to Dry

Did you see anything in nature while you were hanging your laundry?

Susan Rigby 4/14/2021 1:26 PM

I don't have a machine dryer, so I actually always hang my laundry! Recently there has been a bumble bee hanging around my deck. It's a single bee and I've seen it every day for the past week - I'm starting to wonder if it's the same one! Aside from my bumble bee friend I've noticed a bunch of robins hopping around the yard.

Read More
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?

Susan Rigby 4/05/2021 8:29 AM

Learning more about the flora and fauna around my home has fostered a stronger connection to my outdoor surroundings. When I'm able to identify and learn about the trees and birds I see every day, I am able to learn how they all work together. When those connections are made it helps me see how intertwined everything is and how all of my actions contribute to the well-being of the planet.

Read More