Ashley Blount

I will plant 3 trees in my community, public parks, or backyard.

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, including electronics and metals.

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 1 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

I will replace manual thermostats with smart ones.

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

I will practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

I will spend 30 minutes learning about carbon offsets, and why they are a necessary solution in combating a climate crisis.

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Drawdown Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation, and commit to reducing my food waste throughout the challenge.

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

I will support a community garden by volunteering, donating, or advocating for a new or existing one.

Using the Seafood Watch guide, I will feature a sustainable seafood ingredient in a new recipe.

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

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.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

I will use seaweed in a new recipe.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions, and opting out of junk mail.

I will test drive an electric bike at a local distributor to see if it makes sense to use one in place of my car, or to extend the area I can cover by bike.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.