Christin Ritz

I will contact 1 elected officials to voice my opinion on the importance of restoring farmland in my region, including both public and private land.

I will spend 20 minutes a day removing litter and debris from my local beach. Most of the debris found is single use plastic and removing it will benefit the local marine life.

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

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

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

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 15 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 5 friends, family and/or colleagues.

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

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 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 30 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

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

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

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 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 contact 1 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws, as well as the rights of local people to protect and restore the land in their communities.

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