Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

October 1 - October 31, 2023

Dylan Westfall

Oregon State University SUS 304

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
321 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

6.0

zero-waste meals

consumed
UP TO

872

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

8.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

170

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

42

more servings

of fruits and vegetables
UP TO

275

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

3.0

educational videos

watched
UP TO

240

minutes

spent learning

Dylan's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

Indigenous Peoples' Forest Tenure

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by participating in a training, workshop, or presentation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

Reduced Food Waste

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

More Fruits And Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 6 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Telepresence, High-Speed Rail

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Green My Job

Industry

Using Drawdown's Job Function Action Guide, I will learn about climate actions I can take at work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Find a Local Climate-Friendly Supermarket

Refrigerant Management

I will explore the interactive map in the links below to find a supermarket that does not use HFC refrigerants near my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn about Temperate Forests

Temperate Forest Restoration

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Zero-Waste Cooking

Reduced Food Waste

I will cook 1 meals with zero-waste each day.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 45 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Lights Out

I will limit my usage of electricity during 10am to 6pm to minimize my carbon footprint by ensuring lights and heat are off and plugged in electronics are unplugged to best conserve energy.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 6 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Watch Drawdown's Climate Solutions 101 Series

Family Planning and Education

I will watch Drawdown’s Climate Solutions 101 and share what I learned with others.

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
Land Sinks

As you learn more about the scope and seriousness of the environmental challenges we face, what impact does that have on your thinking and actions? What are the parts that feel overwhelming? What parts help you feel hopeful?
Dylan Westfall 10/12/2023 2:14 PM
Learning more about the systems impacting vital natural resources in my home community, such as temperate forests, helps me visualize the anthropogenic impact and its magnitude, as well as strengthens my knowledge for future conversations on the topic. I can be an educator to those around me and ensure the general public is knowledgeable on the impacts we face, such as over harvesting of timber, excess waste of paper products, damaged habitats impacting local wildlife, and hydrology changes that are reshaping the forest compositions across the Cascades. It feels overwhelming knowing that I cannot do anything about it directly. I can't change the management practices still ongoing and I can't completely remove tree product use from my life. I do feel hopeful when thinking about the little things I can do indirectly, like printing fewer documents and participating in a tree planting volunteer program. Getting the small wins will eventually lead to a change, even if it takes a lifetime and that is where I find solace in the circumstances.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

What actions will you take to green your job?
Dylan Westfall 10/12/2023 1:55 PM
I work at the College of Forestry student services office, meaning I work closely with the advisors and their scheduling procedures with students, as well as providing student resources available both in office and virtually. One practice we carry is printing out lots of flyers for each event and posting them around the building and in the FERN center, but this week I recommended to my boss that we begin posting all of our information virtually on our Fernhopper site in order to reduce our carbon footprint, and she is willing to try it out this month! I am excited to see if this works well or if we need to shift towards some middle ground agreement, but I think our carbon footprint impact will make a difference here!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

How close is the nearest climate-friendly supermarket to your home? How could you encourage local supermarket to reduce or phase out their use of HFC refrigerants?
Dylan Westfall 10/12/2023 12:48 PM
The nearest climate-friendly supermarket to my home is just a few blocks away, the First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op. They utilize appropriate recycling and redistribution of HFC refrigerants and are actively engaging in phasing out use of these materials. I can encourage local supermarkets to reduce their use of HFC refrigerants by sharing the statistics behind their usage with local legislators, and encouraging those owning small-scale corporations to consider alternative cooling methods.

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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?
Dylan Westfall 10/12/2023 12:46 PM
On my daily walks to and from campus, I have noticed that much of the road infrastructure is cracked and uneven, making it difficult for some bikers and boarders to use the road system. The roads are also narrow, making it somewhat dangerous for those not in vehicles. I have most enjoyed the nice weather and getting to listen to music and causally walk, enjoying the breeze. Considering possible changes to the infrastructure, I think changing the parking layout to offer wider streets and areas for walkers, as well as repaving some of the cracked and broken sections of roads will most benefit the local community and further incentivize walking.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

In North America, up to 65% of food waste happens at the consumer level. Chef Steven Satterfield advocates for utilizing every part of a vegetable. How can you incorporate using an entire vegetable, including the skins, tops, and stalks during your next meal prep?
Dylan Westfall 10/12/2023 12:13 PM
Looking into ways I can practice zero-food waste was both challenging and exciting as I looked for meals that I can produce involving zero-waste cooking. Using an entire vegetable in a meal, like my friend Avery and I did last night, is quite simple when making stir fry. Putting the stalks of vegetables like broccoli, onion, and celery in a stir-fry base for a soup is a great way to soften those tougher parts and absorb some flavor. I will incorporate more of these practices next time I do a weekly meal prep, which will allow me to easily produce up to 10 meals with zero-waste cooking!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?
Dylan Westfall 10/09/2023 6:43 PM
This was the most challenging one for me and one I had to let some others down in order to accomplish. I was originally supposed to work backstage for the National FFA Convention and Expo at the end of this month, but upon reflection I have decided there are other ways I can participate in convention activities from home. I will instead be judging career development events from home for the agriculture communications event, which is one of my favorites! In the future, I can avoid air travel by working remotely when possible and reconsidering some of my personal values on travel.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

What did you learn about wave and tidal energy? How do they compare to other energy sources?
Dylan Westfall 10/09/2023 6:39 PM
Regarding wave and tidal energy, I learned about the complex opinions behind utilizing this coming of age technology, as well as a case study behind qualitative preferences regarding the use of tidal energy. I found it especially interesting how wave and tidal energy is some of the most productive energy forms in use right now, but it is still operating with very little growth. It is worth noting that the research showed a decline in value of wave and tidal energy in the coming decades, though there is limited science to support either stance.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

What did you learn about indigenous peoples' land management that you can apply in your own life?
Dylan Westfall 10/09/2023 6:26 PM
I researched the Quinault Indian Nation and learned about the land displacement due to changing sea levels, as well as how culturally significant practices have changed over time. Considering how I can apply this to my own life, I think using this foundational knowledge of ecological practices and reading on ways to respect those cultural experiences will enhance my interpersonal conversations when discussing complex issues.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

How does eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat positively affect yourself, other people, and our planet?
Dylan Westfall 10/09/2023 6:09 PM
Eating more fruits and vegetables has made me feel more energized today as I tackled homework, classes, work and other responsibilities. I ate a banana, salad, broccoli and a couple tangerines before bed, increasing my intake to 8 servings. I am very pro-eating meat as I find it an important aspect of our ecosystem, but I find important value in supporting genetically modified crops in agriculture and shopping locally!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?
Dylan Westfall 10/09/2023 5:59 PM
When practicing mindfulness, I found myself enjoying some time of self reflection on my past week and the week ahead. It really gave me a moment to clear my mind and enjoy my natural setting as I ate outside of the College of Forestry building! I plan to practice eating mindfully more this term :)

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