Skip to main content
April 1 - April 30, 2021
Kit Ramos's avatar

Kit Ramos

JAC Sustainability

"making an impact no matter how small"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,052 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    27
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    85
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    65
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    300
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    605
    minutes
    being mindful

Kit's actions

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants

Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders

I will spend 30 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

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

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

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

Tend A Garden

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

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 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Recycle Everything I Can

Recycling

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.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 15 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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
    Action Track: Accelerating Solutions Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants
    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?

    Kit Ramos's avatar
    Kit Ramos 4/30/2021 8:38 AM
    A great example of how supporting women owned businesses can support the community is how some of these businesses have pivoted to helping essential workers during the pandemic. An article on the Women Owned website showcases some of these business owners who have reinvested their income into creating masks for health care workers or donating food and gift baskets to those in need among many other helpful initiatives!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
    How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

    Kit Ramos's avatar
    Kit Ramos 4/19/2021 2:47 PM
    I learned that a portion of food waste is caused by consumers mistaking best by dates for expiry dates and throwing out perfectly edible food as a result. Learning about these different dates on products will hopefully help me be more conscious when buying food products and reduce my own food waste.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Tend A Garden
    Have you ever had a significant experience in nature that altered your perspective or focus? If so, please describe it.

    Kit Ramos's avatar
    Kit Ramos 4/17/2021 12:36 PM
    Last fall I worked on planting flowers with my mother in our front yard. Gardening always seemed like a big project that I never thought I could handle. But this spring, we saw the flowers bloom and it motivated us to start a small vegetable garden this season! It feels so nice to learn more and more about this hobby every year!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Accelerating Solutions Save Rigaud Mountain
    After signing a local petition, how does it make you feel?

    Kit Ramos's avatar
    Kit Ramos 4/09/2021 6:27 PM
    It's good to feel like you have a voice in important local matters and have a simple way of helping a cause you feel strongly for.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Go for a Daily Walk
    What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

    Kit Ramos's avatar
    Kit Ramos 4/07/2021 5:52 PM
    I find that my neighborhood makes it possible to enjoy walks during the day or night since there's plenty of lighting when it gets dark. I would say that I'd like more sidewalks as there are only a few that stretch along the bigger roads. Otherwise, walking has been a great way to take a break and enjoy the weather outside! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Eat Mindfully
    Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?

    Kit Ramos's avatar
    Kit Ramos 4/04/2021 6:56 PM
    My experience eating mindfully so far has been great! Without distractions I feel more relaxed while eating, and I can concentrate on my food and the portions I'm serving myself.
  • 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?

    Kit Ramos's avatar
    Kit Ramos 4/01/2021 6:27 PM
    Producing meat is costs more in terms of money and resources, which is why richer countries are able to purchase and consume more meat. An unbalanced diet with excessive amounts of meat can also cause health issues.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Industry Recycle Everything I Can
    How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?

    Kit Ramos's avatar
    Kit Ramos 4/01/2021 3:21 PM
    Replacing single use plastic items with reusable products is an easy way to incorporate one of the five R's! It feels great to know I'm reducing the waste I produce!

    • Melissa Tomecz's avatar
      Melissa Tomecz 4/02/2021 5:17 PM
      Agreed!  I started using bees wax wraps to put my sandwiches in.  No more Saran wrap---even my husband has to admit this works great :)