I will spend at least 45 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks
Cook With Seaweed
Seaweed Farming
I will use seaweed in a new recipe.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Land Sinks
Explore My Area
Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 90 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Land Sinks
Research Peatlands
Peatland Protection and Rewetting
I will spend 60 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Transportation
Purchase a Carbon Offset
Efficient Aviation
If I buy a plane ticket, I will purchase a carbon offset.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Transportation
Go for a Daily Walk
Walkable Cities
I will take a walk for 20 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.
It was a fascinating day for my neighborhood walk, with so many people out and lots of opportunities to consider the infrastructure on our streets (or lack thereof). While the transformation of Capitol Hwy, with wide sidewalks, bike paths, and green spaces, and our new fancy neighborhood park (Spring Garden) has lots of beautiful paths, play structures, and community spaces, many of the side streets lack sidewalks and proper lighting. In fact, multiple times, I had to jump out of the road to avoid an oncoming car. Sadly, I almost saw a dangerous accident, with cars coming from opposite directions on a blind hill, along with a parked car on one side and a pedestrian on the other. It was dusk and the man was not wearing any reflective clothing. It was a scary moment, and almost surreal, given that I was paying close attention to everything. I pray no one gets hurt...
I am loving tracking the changing colors of the leaves. Being in touch with seasons really make me feel connected to the planet and cosmos. Interestingly, my Ecochallenge adventures began in the Midwest, so we were able to experience 5 seasonal shifts, with the beginning of the month with 90 degree temperatures in Indiana, followed by shifts in weather, temperatures, and fall colors as we made our way north through Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. By the end of the trip, we were in the 50s in the daytime and 30s at night, so the leaves definitely changed quickly. Now, we get to enjoy Fall all over again in Portland!
Much of Indonesia's peatlands have been drained so they could be replaced with palm oil or pulp and paper plantations. How can you make choices that help to protect peatlands, even if you live far away from one?
This is such an important question! We were surprised last week when we discovered that two products that we bought had palm oil in them. We try to avoid palm oil whenever possible, but we were shopping quickly and did not take the time to read the ingredients. It is so essential to know the ingredients and supply chains of the food and products we consume.
It was interesting to discover this when we actually were in Northern Minnesota. The article on the power of peatlands really touched my heart and inspired me to continue to make a difference. Thank you, Drawdown Ecochallenge for being such an amazing educational experience!
A round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles emits just over 1.5 tons of CO2—per person. That’s a lot of carbon! What can you do to reduce the number of flights you take per year?
We have been traveling a lot this year - much more than normal. While it has been amazing to see family and friends while celebrating weddings and mourning at funerals, we would like to focus staying closer to home and enjoying the beauty in our own backyard. We hope to stay more local for the foreseeable future and will make decisions to support that goal.
