Keisha Armstrong

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

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.

I will give 1 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

I will start a compost bin where I live.

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

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

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

I will set up a recycling center at my workplace or school.

I will spend at least 120 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

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.

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

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.

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

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

I will spend at least 45 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 500 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

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.

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

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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

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

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

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

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Solutions.

I will spend 120 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

Shopping from a Vegan or Cruelty Free brand is better because Cruelty-Free products are generally healthier. When you opt for products not tested on animals, you're also ditching the bad chemicals like parabens, sulfates, and synthetic dyes. Vegan cosmetics have proven to be better for those who have sensitive skin because they're composed of fewer ingredients than some non-vegan cosmetics. The addition of additional ingredients can increase your chances of developing a rash, acne, dry skin and so on.

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 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 30 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.