Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

October 1 - October 31, 2023

Linda Hammock

Cleveland Clinic Sustainability

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
698 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

40

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

1.0

lightbulb

replaced
UP TO

1.0

carbon footprint

calculated
UP TO

82

more servings

of fruits and vegetables
UP TO

365

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

10

minutes

spent learning

Linda's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture, Regenerative Annual Cropping

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

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 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Calculate My Household Carbon Footprint

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Rooftop Solar Consultation

Distributed Solar Photovoltaics

After researching the incentives at the federal, state, utility, and local levels, I will contact a local installer/distributor for a solar panel installation consultation on my house.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

Farm Irrigation Efficiency

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

Onshore Wind Turbines, Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Food Waste

Reduced Food Waste

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.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

More Fruits And Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

I will source 10 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

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

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

Have you ever had a significant experience in nature that altered your perspective or focus? If so, please describe it.
Linda Hammock 10/16/2023 5:15 AM
I live near the Indian River, an estuary river in Florida. Hearing stories from older residents of how the river used to be so clear and teaming with fish and shellfish makes me really pay attention to fertilizer use and runoff. Personally I can remember seeing bioluminescent organisms in the river in the 70's, there are none now. There have been many changes for the worse in the last 30 years.

Read More
- Thomas Saad 10/17/2023 4:30 AM
  I can be changed!
  
  Here's the story of the 70's the Cuyagoga River in Cleveland, Ohio.
  
  How many times has the Cuyahoga River caught fire?
  At least 13 fires have been reported on the Cuyahoga River, the first occurring in 1868. The largest river fire, in 1952, caused over $1 million in damage to boats, a bridge, and a riverfront office building.
  
  What caused the Cuyahoga River to catch fire in 1969?
  
  Railroad bridges near Republic Steel trapped debris in the river, causing it to pile up. Oil on the water added to its flammability. A flare tossed from an overpassing train likely provided the spark that ignited the debris. The fire lasted for less than a half hour and resulted in minor damage to the railroad bridges.
  
  In 1969 Ohio's Cuyahoga River was so fouled by industrial pollution that the river caught on fire. Public outcry over dirty rivers spurred Congress to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Clean air, clean water and healthy food are just three reasons to care about regenerative agriculture. What are some other reasons? How could/does regenerative agriculture positively impact you and your community?
Linda Hammock 10/05/2023 8:42 AM
Prevents soil erosion and depletion. More and more varied local crops available. Cover crops are good for bees. Legumes/clover good for nitrogen.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Name some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?
Linda Hammock 10/05/2023 8:38 AM
I recycle plain cardboard covered by used straw from my chicken coop for mulching. The cardboard allows moisture through and the chicken guano fertilizes as the much breaks down. I keep the mulch a few inches from the base of trees to prevent foot rot.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

Your utility company is able to tell you your average energy usage. Ask them how your energy usage compares to others in your ZIP code, region, and/or state. What other steps can you take each day to reduce your electricity usage?
Linda Hammock 10/05/2023 8:28 AM
I purchased an electric lawnmower and golf cart this year. These will be charged using power from my homes solar panels. We also use battery operated tools wherever possible. We are planning on making the golf cart street legal and using it to travel short distances around our small town.

Read More
- Thomas Saad 10/13/2023 6:55 AM
  Sounds fun! The golf cart, that is... :)
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

Identify some ways in which modern human societies have become unsustainable. What kind of roles do individuals have in creating and changing practices in society?
Linda Hammock 10/05/2023 8:24 AM
I got solar panels installed in April this year and am now saving on my electric bill every month as well as reducing my carbon footprint.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

After you determined your carbon footprint, did you see what different choices you can make in order to reduce it?
Linda Hammock 10/05/2023 8:23 AM
When I got my solar installed, I got an app that calculates my carbon saved by my panels every day. I makes me more conscious of the power I use and generate.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Producing food that goes uneaten squanders many resources—seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, hours of labor, financial capital. Which of these kinds of waste most motivates you to change your behavior regarding food waste? Why?
Linda Hammock 10/05/2023 8:21 AM
I have a composter but also feed scraps to my free range chickens, dog and cat as well as the fish in my pond. I also harvest seeds from vegetables when possible ad plant them.

Read More