Earth Month Ecochallenge: Drawdown

April 1 - April 30, 2021

Headwaters Communities In Action

Climate Action in Dufferin

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
818 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

36

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

215

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

320

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

274

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched

Headwaters Communities 's actions

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants

Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders

I will spend 20 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Contact your Elected Officials

Abandoned Farmland Restoration

I will contact 2 elected officials to voice my opinion on the importance of restoring farmland in my region, including both public and private land.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture, Regenerative Annual Cropping

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

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

Electricity

Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics, Distributed Solar Photovoltaics

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.

UNCOMPLETED
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

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Smart Seafood Choices

Ocean Farming

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Multiple Solutions

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

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 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 60 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Local Perennial Biomass

Perennial Biomass Production

I will spend at least 15 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Building With Carbon Storing Waste Products

Engineered Sinks

I will spend at least 45 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

Methane Digesters

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research Cement Alternatives

Alternative Cement

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 10 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

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 26
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
Transportation

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Headwaters Communities In Action 4/30/2021 10:11 PM
I walk on my own property, on a trail through fields and trees, so I enjoy every step and wouldn’t change a thing! What I notice are the differences when weather changes, the sounds of critters and birds, the neighbouring properties, the budding trees and the spots where my dog catches a scent.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

Concrete is a good example of a material that most of us encounter every day, but its carbon footprint may not be obvious. What other everyday materials might have a large carbon footprint? How can you find out more?
Headwaters Communities In Action 4/30/2021 10:05 PM
I don’t think people know about the impact their air conditioners have, not only for energy use but the refrigerants are terrible for the environment when disposed of. There are alternative coolants but nothing yet with much green cred that I’m aware of. That’s not a “material” but that’s what I thought of.

Another material that I think might have a high carbon/environmental foot print is the actual material in the clothes we wear.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education

What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?
Headwaters Communities In Action 4/30/2021 9:55 PM
I think there are still some men (and even women) who are dismissive of women or who feel like their position of authority or power will be undermined or diluted if women add to the competitive field, as though if women get more opportunities, men will have fewer. Sadly, I also think there remains an unconscious bias against women with children and a perception that they will be less reliable, less committed, or somehow distracted at work or in office.
There are also many (and I’d say/hope more) men who champion for women’s rights, respect their unique perspectives and professional contributions, see them as peers and do not try to undermine their success. So I’m hopeful these barriers will break.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?
Headwaters Communities In Action 4/30/2021 9:38 PM
No buying gas, no oil changes and engine maintenance (for all-electric, which is what we’ve decided on), quieter ride and less vibration. I have reservations about lithium, but believe that continued R&D will improve the environmental impact of the batteries.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

Good job on choosing recycled paper! How can you take your action a step further?
Headwaters Communities In Action 4/30/2021 9:29 PM
If I buy paper I buy recycled, but better still if I don’t use paper at all.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?
Headwaters Communities In Action 4/30/2021 9:25 PM
I think that as our towns and business set good examples and then people want to engage with that, support those efforts and do what they can. That encourages more sustainable businesses and municipal decisions until eventually you tip the scales. I think a sustainable community is also an equitable community, where well-being of people land and water is prioritized higher than economic growth, which does not guarantee a better quality of life for a town, nor benefits across the population.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?
Headwaters Communities In Action 4/30/2021 9:16 PM
I eat more slowly, and have space to let my mind drift and decide where to land, rather than feeding it more inputs from a device or reading material. I think more about the food I’m eating, and sometimes end up getting more creative about the work issues I broke from to go eat.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

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?
Headwaters Communities In Action 4/30/2021 9:11 PM
The big demand for and ubiquitous availability of meat has forced some producers to prioritize efficiency, on concentrated operations that force accelerated growth at lowest cost. If NA ate meat like other healthier countries do, as a condiment instead of centre stage, then smaller, diverse farms where animals are a key part of regenerative agriculture, could meet the more reasonable level of demand,

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?
Headwaters Communities In Action 4/30/2021 8:52 PM
I’m not sure that any guidelines could ensure a sustainable fishery. Even the so-called sustainably-sourced labels are now colluding and unreliable. As long as there is demand for fish, there will be nets and dragging and devastating by-catch.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Climate Resilience

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. What have you done in the past to support women-owned businesses? How can you better support communities by supporting women?
Headwaters Communities In Action 4/30/2021 8:42 PM
To help support women-owned businesses, I have switched to giving donations in honour instead of teacher gifts and Christmas gifts (everyone has everything they need, and often more). One of the charities I give to provides micro loans for women farmers in developing countries, or I buy fair trade crafts by women’s cooperatives through our local retailers. I also love out local fierce female farmers, crafters, artists and restaurateurs and try to give them as much business as I can, and recommend them to others.

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