Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

October 1 - October 31, 2023

Alex Ericksen

KEEN US

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
728 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

sustainable seafood meal

consumed
UP TO

82

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

9.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

1,541

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

5.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

2.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

1,215

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

60

minutes

spent learning

Alex's actions

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Composting

Composting, Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost or worm bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Cook With Sustainable Seafood

Improved Fisheries

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Talk With a Local Grocer

Improved Fisheries

I will ask my local seafood market or grocery store if their seafood is sustainable and share the Seafood Watch resources so they can stock sustainable options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Tend A Garden

Conservation Agriculture

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

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Research Cement Alternatives

Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Improve a Bus Stop

Public Transit

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or implementing some other small improvement.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 30 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Host a Film Screening

Family Planning and Education

I will host a virtual film screening and discussion about women's and gender equality issues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Visit the Coast

Macroalgae Protection and Restoration

I will visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and look for the presence of macroalgae/seaweed.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meals each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED 30
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
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

What did you cook and how did it turn out? Can you share a recipe on the feed for others to try?
Alex Ericksen 10/05/2023 10:34 AM
I enjoy eating sustainable farm raised salmon. I usually pick mine up from New Seasons they have a phenomenal Saphire Salmon that is farm raised. I like to stuff the salmon with different viggies and glaze a teriyaki or BBQ like sauce over the fish and then air fry it for 10 mins at 400. The crusty out edge with the savory veggies inside is delicious! Throw it with some couscous or jasmine rice and your set, BOOM!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Alex Ericksen 10/05/2023 10:31 AM
I live in the suburbs of Portland OR and I sincerely enjoy the green everywhere during this time of year and the fall leaves beginning to come in. There is loads of walking paths and sidewalks to choose from so I have no recommendations for improving the area I walk in.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

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?
Alex Ericksen 10/05/2023 10:30 AM
I think that the ego of eating special meats in different cultures is a big problem. We do not need to consume cow yet milk, cheese and beef are such large portion of American diet. I have not had cow for nearly 10 years and I can say that not only does my gut thank me I feel lighter and healthier. Not to mention the Carbon footprint reduction that can happen from not eating meat. We should all be doing it at least once a day to reduce the harm to our planet and our bodies.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come from eating/serving smaller portions?
Alex Ericksen 10/05/2023 10:24 AM
In high school I attended a Track and Field camp at the U of O where we had a nutritionist come speak to the athletes. He emphasized the point of how large our stomach actually is and how much we actually need to sustain ourselves. Snacking 6-7 times a day with a handful of different foods is one of the best things for your metabolism and goes hand in hand with smaller portion sizes.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Have you ever had a significant experience in nature that altered your perspective or focus? If so, please describe it.
Alex Ericksen 10/05/2023 10:22 AM
Recently I attended a music festival and at the opening ceremony we all closed our eyes, took in breath and listened. Listening to the wind, the waves splashing on beach, felt the ground we were routed to and in that moment it felt like we connected with something that was much lager than the day to day grind we constantly focus on. I encourage anyone and everyone to have a peaceful moment in nature and connect with the earth and realize how fortunate we all are to be here in this moment.

Read More