Ecochallenge.org

2020 People's Ecochallenge

October 7 - October 28, 2020

Gina Dowd

PCC EcoPanthers

"Healthy habits!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,107 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

2.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

306

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

290

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

300

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

340

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

650

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

340

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

6.1

pounds

food waste prevented
UP TO

13

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Gina's actions

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

Do at Home

I will reduce food waste and save money by prepping for 1 meal(s) each day, only buying the ingredients I need.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Forage for My Food

Do at Home

I will use the resources below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

Do at Home

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 15 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Spend Time Outside

Do at Home

I will replace 5 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

Do at Home

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

Do at Home

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Go Get a Check Up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Know My Health

I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Take Control

Do at Home

Both systemic and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Engage In Active Listening

Do at Home

I will practice actively listening to a friend, family member, co-worker, acquaintance, or someone who I may disagree with in at least 2 conversations.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Joyful Movement

Do at Home

I will spend 5 minutes doing an activity where I'm both moving my body and enjoying myself.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

Do at Home

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Research Voter Suppression

Do at Home

I will spend at least 15 minutes finding out what local laws, policies, and practices keep people from voting in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Watch a Documentary about Racial Injustice

Do at Home

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about systemic racism.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

De-Clutter My Home

Do at Home

I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Meditate

Do at Home

I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 10 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.

COMPLETED 21
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
Nature Support Local Pollinators

Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

Gina Dowd 10/28/2020 6:33 PM

Pollinators are part of nature and have a purpose in our ecosystem. We need their help pollinating much of the fruits and vegetables we eat.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Plant an Herb Garden

Consider the ways you can garden: a plot of land? a patio container? hanging basket? windowsill gardens? What would work best for your living situation and lifestyle?

Gina Dowd 10/28/2020 6:29 PM

I use a combination of gardening spaces: garden in the backyard, some herbs inside and some in a pot in the front yard. My newest plant (thanks to the ecochallenge!) is a potted Bay Laurel. I'm keeping it in for the winter and look forward to using the bay leaves in cooking.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Know My Health

How do you deal with the physical and emotional stress of the big problems we face? How can you help others cope?

Gina Dowd 10/28/2020 5:14 PM

I'm finding peace in routine and working on improving my health. So many things are out of our control right now. It helps to focus on what I can control.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Go Get a Check Up

How do you practice self care?

Gina Dowd 10/28/2020 5:09 PM

I practice self care with meditation, exercise, and healthy food.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Take Control

How do environmental health, community health, and your personal health intersect?

Gina Dowd 10/27/2020 2:02 PM

Environment plays a big role in how likely people are to engage in healthy activities. Air quality, city planning, medical resources, food options, etc. all impact people's decisions.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community Research Voter Suppression

What are the ways in which voters are prohibited from or discouraged from voting in your region and/or state? What could be done to get rid of these barriers?

Gina Dowd 10/27/2020 1:46 PM

Oregon is ahead of the curve on mail-in voting, so it's already more accessible than many other states. One barrier I see is the idea that individual votes don't matter. This isn't true, especially when it comes to local candidates and measures. More outreach could be done to encourage participation.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

How does food sovereignty address the complex transition from localized food systems to modern global food systems?

Gina Dowd 10/27/2020 1:42 PM

When people grow their own foods locally, they are less reliant on global food systems. Costs are reduced. The food also tends to be fresher and have more nutrients. Another benefit is the community connection.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Try a New Way to Prep

Canning and pickling food is a great way to have delicious summer fruits and vegetables all year round. Just make sure to follow the canning and pickling guidelines from the USDA or another trusted source. What are some foods that you would like to preserve and enjoy later in the year?

Gina Dowd 10/27/2020 1:39 PM

Strawberry freezer jam and canned peaches & pears are some of my favorite foods to preserve.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community Watch a Documentary about Racial Injustice

What did you learn about racial injustice in the documentary(ies) you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of sustainability?

Gina Dowd 10/27/2020 1:20 PM

I watched The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson. This documentary highlighted the discrimination and unfair distribution of resources in our society. It takes action from government, institution, and social groups to make changes in social justice and the environment.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing and Renewal Engage In Active Listening

What was it like to actively listen to someone? How did both people and the conversation(s) benefit from active listening?

Gina Dowd 10/27/2020 1:07 PM

Active listening allows the speaker to feel heard and the listener to receive the intended message. The main benefits are the sense of connection and ability to take appropriate action.

Read More