Earth Month Ecochallenge: Drawdown

April 1 - April 30, 2021

Arlene Marsh-Hackett

JAC Sustainability

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
795 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

36

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

60

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

140

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

770

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

97

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

44

zero-waste meals

consumed

Arlene's actions

Transportation

Muscle Power on Earth Day

I will cut green house gas emissions related to my commute to John Abbott College on Earth day, April 22. I will only use muscle-powered transportation (walk, bike, skateboard) for my commute.

UNCOMPLETED
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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Save Rigaud Mountain

Rigaud Mountain is an expansive natural resource that we rely upon to run many of our Outdoor Education courses, here at JAC. It is under extreme pressure from development and mismanagement, and in desperate need of protection. Facing COVID and the Climate Crisis, the need to protect our few remaining local intact forests, is more stronger than ever. We need them, for our health and wellness, and they are disappearing. If you are able, please support this important cause and take a few moments to forward this letter to others who understand its importance. The petition and funding pages are accessible through the "Learn More" button.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Explore Other Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions

All Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions.

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 19
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 20
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Composting

Composting, Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Nutrient Management

Nutrient Management

I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

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

Zero-waste Cooking

Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Keep Track of Wasted Food

Reduced Food Waste

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.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

I will source 30 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 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

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 Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Clean air, clean water and healthy food are just three reasons to care about regenerative agriculture. What are some other reasons? How could/does regenerative agriculture positively impact you and your community?

Arlene Marsh-Hackett 4/30/2021 1:45 PM

Regenerative agriculture allows the soil to capture carbon from the air and reduce greenhouse gases. This same carbon captures allows for nutrients to build in the soil. Better nutrients means healthier soil and plants that are more resistant to disease and pests. It allows for increased resilience to floods and drought as healthier soil retains more water.

Read More
Arlene Marsh-Hackett 4/27/2021 7:59 PM

I joined Ecochallenge to support the efforts of the team members, to learn and to prove to myself that I can incorporate daily actions in my everyday life that will make a difference in protecting the planet.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Reduce Animal Products

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our bodies, our planet, and other people?

Arlene Marsh-Hackett 4/26/2021 2:14 PM

There is an association of prestige, affluence and dominance associated with meat eating. There is also the perception that daily meat consumption is required to grow into an intelligent, strong and healthy person. The consumption of meat does have a negative impact on our overall health, especially when high in fat content. It is associated with cancer, heart disease, stroke and high cholesterol to name a few. The cruel and unethical raising and slaughter of the animals humans consume is also bad for the planet. Forests are destroyed to make grazing land available. This releases carbon dioxide and destroys the lands ability to sequester it. People are violently forced off of their land by corporations. Wildlife and plant life are destroyed in the process. Habitats are lost. Species become extinct.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Keep Track of Wasted Food

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. How would you rather use this money?

Arlene Marsh-Hackett 4/26/2021 1:24 PM

I would use the $1,500 to build structures for a vegetable garden and to purchase fruit trees.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Muscle Power on Earth Day

Did you have any obstacles getting to and from campus with your "muscle transportation" of choice?

Arlene Marsh-Hackett 4/26/2021 1:17 PM

Thanks to Covid-19 and an understanding employer, I was permitted to work from home.

Read More
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?

Arlene Marsh-Hackett 4/26/2021 1:14 PM

Deforestation, factory farming, fracking, use of fertilizers, sewage disposal, mining, undersea oil exploration, pipelines, burning coal, driving cars reliant on gasoline, consuming, all impact the health of our water systems. We can improve the health of our watersheds and the ocean by stopping or reducing the activities that release CO2 into the air, that introduce toxins into our waters, being mindful of our consumption and waste, supporting corporations/company's that are taking steps to help the planet, being an activist and educator, and not behaving so entitled and privileged.

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?

Arlene Marsh-Hackett 4/24/2021 6:41 PM

Using smaller plates and serving smaller portions helps us to avoid obesity and the health risks and costs related to it.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Zero-waste Cooking

In North America, up to 65% of food waste happens at the consumer level. Chef Steven Satterfield advocates for utilizing every part of a vegetable. How can you incorporate using an entire vegetable, including the skins, tops, and stalks during your next meal prep?

Arlene Marsh-Hackett 4/23/2021 1:05 PM

I would have to ensure that all parts of the vegetable are edible by researching this information. Knowing that it is all safe to eat, then I would have to experiment with how to incorporate the entire vegetable. This might involve closing my eyes when I eat or making use of my blender more often.

Read More
- Roxane Millette 4/23/2021 6:15 PM
  
  Respect. I find that courageous Arlene.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Support Nutrient Management

How does environmental quality influence your sense of community?

Arlene Marsh-Hackett 4/23/2021 1:00 PM

When I am surrounded by nature, I am happier and have a greater sense of connection with those sharing the experience of being outdoors. Green spaces make me aware of my responsibility to care for the land and the other species that inhabit it.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Support Local Food Systems

Dependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these (or other) advantages inspire you the most?

Arlene Marsh-Hackett 4/23/2021 12:52 PM

I am inspired most by supporting small local farms, especially organic farms where animals are treated more humanly and fruits and vegetables are grown in a healthier manner.

Read More