Ecochallenge.org

2020 People's Ecochallenge

October 7 - October 28, 2020

Vanessa Castaneda

Columbia Bank

"Let's learn, grow and be active for social justice and reversing climate change!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,107 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

2.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

475

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

8.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

2.0

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

440

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

6.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

2.0

trees

planted
UP TO

1.0

community event

hosted or attended
UP TO

2,102

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

1,250

minutes

spent learning

Vanessa's actions

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

Forgiveness

Do at Home

I will begin, or continue, on the journey of forgiving myself and/or other(s). I may do this through journaling, meditation, prayer, and/or talking with a licensed healthcare professional.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Family Game Hour

Do at Home

I will spend quality time with family and friends by playing low-tech game(s) and/or through the spirit of imagination.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Plant Trees

Do at Home

I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Support Native Communities

Do at Home

I will use the resource links provided and spend 60 minutes learning about the native populations that lived in my area prior to colonization, and what I can do to support those that still exist.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Exercise Daily

Do at Home

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 15 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Eco-Friendly Gardening

Do at Home

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer in My Community

Do at Home

I will volunteer 3 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Watch a Documentary about Racial Injustice

Do at Home

I will watch 5 documentary(ies) about systemic racism.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Go for a Daily Walk Outside

Do at Home

I will take a walk outside for 60 minutes each day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

5-Minute Showers

Do at Home

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

Do at Home

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Connect with a Nonprofit

Do at Home

I will connect with a local nonprofit, environmental or otherwise, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Get Involved in the Water Justice Movement

Do at Home

I will spend at least 10 minutes using the resources provided to learn about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Tend a Garden

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Join An Outdoor Project

I will join an outdoor restoration project in my community while observing best practices in my region for not spreading COVID-19.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Sign Up to Vote

Do at Home

I will make sure I’m registered to vote. While I’m at it, I’ll sign up to help others register too!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Go Get a Check Up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Research Voter Suppression

Do at Home

I will spend at least 60 minutes finding out what local laws, policies, and practices keep people from voting in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn About Trans, Femme, and Nonbinary Experiences

Do at Home

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the experiences of trans, femme, and/or nonbinary people.

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 30 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home

Do at Home

I will spend 60 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

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

Food

Buy From a Farmers Market

Do at Home

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

Do at Home

I will spend 20 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

Vanessa Castaneda 10/28/2020 3:10 PM

So happy we did this EcoChallenge again this year. I always learn new things, find myself involved in my community and feel inspired to continue. I have since signed up for three more weekend events, and can't wait find out more on how to get involved in something new. I really want to learn more about getting involved in cleaning water ways, and water rights. My kids are also finally at an age where I can also get them involved in things like tree planting events, and volunteering. Can't wait to do this again next year!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
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?

Vanessa Castaneda 10/28/2020 11:03 AM

I watched 6 different docutmentaries, and I've learned that I'm so ignorant on the history (and current) in Social Justice. Civil rights or the Gay rights movements-seem to have been skipped or skimmed over in my education. I learned so much, and highly encourage everyone to KEEP LEARNING WHAT THEY DON'T TEACH IN SCHOOLS.
I'm making it a new habit to watch one each week so that I can become far more educated. Because when you know more history, the more you can understand what and why things are happening now. You have a better, more educated voice to state your opinions. You can understand where you stand, and what needs to be done now.

Read More
Vanessa Castaneda 10/28/2020 10:32 AM

Had a great time playing JENGA with the kids yesterday, we had a fun night and will continue a game night theme in the future.

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Vanessa Castaneda 10/26/2020 5:08 PM

So excited to check out a new trail with this one:

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Vanessa Castaneda 10/26/2020 9:34 AM

Over the weekend, I went shopping for my kids clothes and for my own. Second hand stores are the best! You feel more environmentally friendly, and you end up finding all kinds of interesting things for great deals! For my kids, they needed coats and hats, which I found with ease and at a screaming deal. I also got a few board games so we can have a game night (prompted by this challenge). Can't wait to play some Jenga and Uno!

Read More
Vanessa Castaneda 10/23/2020 5:36 PM

I have been watching documentaries on Racial justice as well as Food Sovereignty. My goal is to watch five documentaries on these topics for this challenge. And although I'm not yet finished with that goal, I thought I would mention some really incredible docs here for anyone with interest to look into.

Watch "13th". Really. It's so good, informative and leaves the viewer troubled with new information. If you want to understand what's going on with the justice system and a very core racist system-this one will deeply affect the way we see criminals and their rights. Above all, how we convict them, and what it really means when we say "justice for all".

Another one I suggest isn't an actual documentary, but it is informative. "Pose" is a wonderful series that follows the LGBQT community in New York during the 80's. It's a drama, but it's moments of comedy and it's incredibly lovable characters make it such a treat to watch while leaning about "Ball culture", the AIDS pandemic and how the gay community took care of one another when society shunned and attacked.

"United Skates of America" is another awesome documentary found on HBO that shows skating culture in the Black community. It's incredible to see all the moves that I didn't even realize was possible with roller skates! It looks into how generations of families are raised in skating rinks, and how skating nights become both a huge relief from the day-to-day and brings together a community. It also shows the racism that occurs in skating rinks, and how the shut down of rinks across the country is both devastating as well as a cultural attack.

I will post more films, as I get closer to finishing this goal. :)

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Forgiveness

How has the process of forgiving, or contemplating forgiveness, benefited you?

Vanessa Castaneda 10/23/2020 4:52 PM

It's been beneficial to simply sit and think on some things. My family and I have had a rough month, so forgiving has been a must. It's nice to feel like I can let go on some feelings-but I've found it better to spend time thinking about how to make things better.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Take Control

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

Vanessa Castaneda 10/23/2020 2:21 PM

When you have a healthier community, you have a healthier environment, and it goes both ways. Environmental health affects everyone's physical health whether it's clean air, clean water, or enough trees and plants around.
It's proven over and over again that our physical health is more tied to our lands, waters and air more than we believe.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Join An Outdoor Project

How well do you know the area you live in? In what ways is a deep knowledge of your surroundings -- known as a 'sense of place' -- important to you?

Vanessa Castaneda 10/23/2020 12:59 PM

I've lived here most of my life, it's the only home I remember. I constantly learn new things about this place though! Eugene has a very active hand in creating public spaces. We have an incredible diversity in parks, and it feels as though I learn about a new one every other week.
I like the sense of mystery and the need to explore. I've been trying to educate myself more on our native species of plants and animals.
I also leaned that the stolen land that I call home used to belong to the Kalapuya nation. I'm trying to learn more about the history of this place, and am always humbled by how little I know. All the more reason to keep learning!

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Vanessa Castaneda 10/23/2020 10:35 AM

Took this crazy thing on a long walk to the ponds yesterday. We found lots of birds, a beaver and some frogs hopping around. :D

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