Mary Dixon
5/22/2020 12:03 PM
The statistics of it all are very scary and overwhelming but it does make me feel hopeful to see lots of people taking initiative and spreading awareness.
Mary Dixon
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 331 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO6.0meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO160minutesspent learning
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UP TO10plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO5.0conversationswith people
Mary's actions
Food
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
Reduced Food Waste
I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
Food
Learn More about Silvopasture
Silvopasture
I will spend at least 20 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.
Materials
Properly Dispose of Refrigerants
Refrigerant Management
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.
Land Use
Forest-Friendly Foods 1
Tropical Forest Restoration
I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.
Food
Smaller Portions
Reduced Food Waste
I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
Plant-Rich Diets
I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Materials
Reduce Single-Use Disposables
Bioplastics
I will avoid buying and using 5 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.
Materials
Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips
Bioplastics
I will spend at least 30 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 5 friends, family and/or colleagues.
Land Use
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.
Electricity
Learn More about Micro Wind
Micro Wind Turbines
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.
Participant Feed
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand UseAs 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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterialsWhat concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.
Mary Dixon 5/22/2020 12:02 PMI think that mass deforestation is what concerns me the most. Knowing that what is needed to sustain our growing population is bringing down entire forests around the world is scary. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterialsHow do you address your own feelings of concern, fear or despair about climate change?
Mary Dixon 5/22/2020 11:59 AMI try to address my feelings of fear about our planet's future with action. Knowing that I made a difference and I am part of the solution makes me feel hopeful. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodWhile 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?
Mary Dixon 5/21/2020 8:07 PMThe food that we save can be used as leftovers and the smaller portions will make you feel better after eating. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterialsWhat single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
Mary Dixon 5/21/2020 8:06 PMI usually use plastic bags at the grocery store. Instead I brought my own bags to use so I would not have to use the paper or plastic bags provided. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodWhy 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?
Mary Dixon 5/21/2020 8:02 PMPeople in richer eat more eat because it is readily available. The process of feeding and taking care of livestock involves a large amount of land use and, in most cases, not environmentally friendly. Eating more meat is also unhealthy, having a more balanced diet with more fruits and vegetables is much better for the body. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand UseHow is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?
Mary Dixon 5/18/2020 10:25 AMI am a pescatarian so I don't eat livestock whose feed consists of corn and soy that take up lots of land. However, I do eat some animal products, such as eggs and dairy. In order to improve, I could cut back on eating animal products and eat more vegan meals. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHad you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?
Mary Dixon 5/06/2020 7:04 PMNo, I did not know what silvopasture was before today. After learning about it I think that the biggest benefit of silvopasture is the encouragement of tree growth. The grazing makes less competition for the trees for moisture. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHow does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
Mary Dixon 5/04/2020 3:28 PMLearning the difference between use by, sell by, and best by made me realize that reducing food waste can be as easy as to not worrying so much about the expiration. From now on I will make sure to not throw out anything that is only slightly past the sell-by, best by, or use by dates.