Megan Hirschey

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

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 at least 15 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

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

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

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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

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

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

I will spend 15 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

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

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

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

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

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

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

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 2 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 5 friends, family and/or colleagues.

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 spend at least 30 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

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

I will contact 5 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 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 cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water a day or 330 gallons (1,230 L) a month by installing a toilet tank bank.

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

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

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