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April 1 - April 30, 2021
Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar

Mickey Jo Sorrell

ECO-NCMNS

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,230 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    49
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    77
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    296
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    2,242
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    873
    minutes
    being mindful
  • UP TO
    3.3
    pounds of paper
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.0
    public official or leader
    contacted
  • UP TO
    4.0
    trees
    planted

Mickey Jo's actions

Action Track: Climate Resilience

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

Electricity

Hang Laundry Outside to Dry

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

COMPLETED 24
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Local Perennial Biomass

Perennial Biomass Production

I will spend at least 60 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.

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

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 2

Tropical Forest Restoration

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

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Choose Recycled Paper

Recycled Paper

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Go Paperless

Recycled Paper

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

Bioplastics

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 4 friends, family and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Become A Master Recycler/Composter

Recycling

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Find a Local Climate-Friendly Supermarket

Refrigerant Management

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Express My Support For Walkable Cities

Walkable Cities

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture, Regenerative Annual Cropping

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

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.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Calculate My Carbon Footprint

All Drawdown Solutions

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.

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 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Plant Trees

Temperate Forest Restoration

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

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 26
DAILY ACTIONS

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 30
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.

COMPLETED
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 27
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?


  • Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar
    Mickey Jo Sorrell 4/30/2021 5:59 PM
    This has been great fun and I have learned so much. Can't wait to do it again - and to get more people involved.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Sinks Local Perennial Biomass
    Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe states that "The reason we care about climate change is because it affects the people and places that we care about." What is happening (or will happen) in your area that will affect the people and places you care about?

    Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar
    Mickey Jo Sorrell 4/30/2021 5:57 PM
    Loss of trees and green spaces, both public and private. Density of housing and business seems to be the rule - at least in my part of town. Where will the birds live? Where will people relax and recreate?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Industry Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips
    What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

    Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar
    Mickey Jo Sorrell 4/30/2021 5:39 PM
    I worry about the ocean. We are a watery planet. The health of our ocean is critical to the Earth's health, but since we don't see it, it's way too easy to ignore. How do we communicate the state of the ocean to people everywhere?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Sinks Forest-Friendly Foods 1
    How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

    Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar
    Mickey Jo Sorrell 4/30/2021 5:36 PM
    I hope it isn't. I've been a vegetarian and a gardener for 50 years. I've recently left coffee and chocolate behind (arthritis issues). As I age, life - and diet - get simpler.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Industry Find a Local Climate-Friendly Supermarket
    How close is the nearest climate-friendly supermarket to your home? How could you encourage local supermarket to reduce or phase out their use of HFC refrigerants?

    Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar
    Mickey Jo Sorrell 4/30/2021 5:23 PM
    I buy almost all my food at my local co-op, which is not listed here, so I'm going to talk to the board and see what we can do about this.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Industry Choose Recycled Paper
    Good job on choosing recycled paper! How can you take your action a step further?

    Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar
    Mickey Jo Sorrell 4/30/2021 5:22 PM
    Reduce and reuse always come before recycle. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Industry Go Paperless
    What do you want to prioritize over material 'stuff' in your own life?

    Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar
    Mickey Jo Sorrell 4/30/2021 5:21 PM
    Rather than stuff, how about experience? Instead of giving gifts, how about the gift of an experience - an afternoon at a museum or movie, a walk to the ice cream store, a special trip for kids or grandkids.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Industry Become A Master Recycler/Composter
    What could you do differently to waste less?

    Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar
    Mickey Jo Sorrell 4/30/2021 5:20 PM
    I waste very little, but my household tosses a lot of food that is bad or past its date. All of this is now funneled to the chickens and/or the compost piles.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants
    Name some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?

    Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar
    Mickey Jo Sorrell 4/30/2021 5:19 PM
    Trash. Thanks to our friends wind and water, trash anywhere ends up in the local creeks, on to the rivers and the oceans. I carry a trash bag on every walk and pick up the trash that seems to be everywhere - moving it into nearby trashcans rather than streams. I also reduce my own trash by avoiding plastic and reusing containers.

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Participate in one of the NCMNS Earth Day programs on April 22nd.
    What program did you choose and why?

    Mickey Jo Sorrell's avatar
    Mickey Jo Sorrell 4/29/2021 3:56 PM
    Sustainable agriculture - We all play a part.
    I choose this one because I'm always looking for the language and practice to support taking care of our food production.