I first engaged in the Ecochallenge with members of our church several years ago - I actually cannot remember when. Since then, we have paid attention to the amount of water we use in the shower and washing dishes by hand. Learning not to run water while brushing teeth or leaving the water running when handwashing dishes (waiting until all dishes are cleaned before rinsing) has become a daily practice. When our water bill occasionally rises, we immediately start checking faucets and toilets (usually, the rise is because of visitors during the month, especially during holidays - the pandemic has made water use even less much of the time). I wanted to do this third round of the ecochallenge just to remind me of how important all of this is and to support the program again!

I have to admit that I have loved this part of the challenge more than any other. Seeing green plants from brocolli to tomatoes to lettuces and kale growing in their containers has just made me happy! We ate some of our lettuce earlier this week. The flavors and the knowledge that we had grown some of this meal ourselves had me outside the next day, poking at the weeds and planning for more containers!

While I know that  plant-based eating is a good thing, it is difficult to go without some kind of meat when it has become such a part of my life. Consequently, going plant-based means really thinking more about my food planning. I'm sad to say that I won't be giving meat up completely, but I expect for the next few weeks, as I continue to think about this meatless existence I have sometimes led, plants will be in danger of being devoured by me more than cows and pigs will! Some of it was enjoyable, and I certainly saved some money in the process, but I'm still trying to learn how important it is to eat plants, which take up less land and do less damage to the environment than animal farming does!

Hard to believe that this is almost over. It's been good to be able to keep up with the outdoor stuff, walking and gardening. I find myself purposely walking out of the house for no other reason than to breathe and enjoy the weather, whatever it is. People who only want sunshine all the time, who never appreciate the wind and rain and cold, really are out of touch with reality on some level (a mean thing to say that really isn't meant hurtfully, just honestly). Reality exists in a much broader form when we take it all in - indoors and out, looking into the woods and onto a screen. The separation exists in us, like calling a piece of our body a separate thing from "me." Walking has reminded me of all this, and being outdoors during this month devoted to the Earth will take me outside the rest of the year!

how about using wind force to ship the yacht i was sailing today for 3 Hrs? no electricity, using human muscle to raise the sails and navigate the boat? wonderful eco activity

I wasn't able to accomplishing any of my challenges yesterday because remodeling my basement bathroom had kept me too busy. Hopefully the remodel will make it more energy efficient. I will at least install a low flow shower head to reduce water usage.