Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Shani Katav

Students of Sheridan's Sustainability Class

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
280 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

181

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

5.0

more servings

of fruits and vegetables
UP TO

6.6

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

80

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

donations

made

Shani's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

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

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Encourage my company and/or organization to measure and manage their carbon footprint

Organizations have a responsibility to make sustainable business decisions. To understand how to improve sustainable practices, it’s important to start with understanding the current impact. I will share the Tradewater Business Carbon Calculator with my organization.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

Indigenous Peoples' Forest Tenure

I will donate to Native American Rights Fund, which protects tribal natural resources and environmental rights and promotes Native American Human Rights.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Keep Track of Wasted Food

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.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

More Fruits And Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 3 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

I will source 40 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 3
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 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Research Businesses Owned by Women, POC, or Immigrants

Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders

I will spend 30 minutes each day researching businesses owned by women, people of color, or immigrants that I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Make School More Affordable

Health and Education

I will raise funds to help make school affordable for girls around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Explore Other Transportation Solutions

All Transportation Solutions

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Women-Owned Businesses

Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders

I will shop from women-owned business(es) today.

COMPLETED 3
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
Transportation

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?
Shani Katav 4/11/2022 11:15 AM
Being in New Paltz there aren't many options in terms of transportation solutions. The best one I have discovered is The Loop bus. I don't have a car and it can be hard to get to work. In the morning I have been able to consistently take the loop. I learned that it is a haul bus. If you see it coming from any direction you can signal them to stop and hop on. In the afternoon the bus only comes once an hour. This can make things tricky and inconvenient for me when I get out of work. It used to run twice the hour but they recently changed it. New Paltz should definitely consider expanded their options when it comes to alternative transportation methods. They should consider electric scooters for rentals. College students would utilize this constantly and is efficient for the environment.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?
Shani Katav 4/11/2022 11:10 AM
Saving money on food waste is essential. That statistic just shows how much food goes to waste with just one family. On a larger scale, America as a whole wastes a ton of food per year. This is not okay considering the amount of people who go to bed hungry each day. I have been trying my best to use all of the groceries I have been buying. I have been limiting myself to eating out only on the weekends and not everyday. This helps me eliminate throwing away food and saves me money. I would rather use this money on anything else! I could use this money to pay bills, spoil myself, give back to the community, or even invest.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. What have you done in the past to support women-owned businesses? How can you better support communities by supporting women?
Shani Katav 3/24/2022 12:30 PM
I love supporting women-owned businesses. Recently I have been trying to find alternatives to products I purchase with women-owned businesses. Being in college, women around me are constantly selling and providing services. I try my best to support whenever I can. I recently purchased an ashtray from a women who is also a peer. She makes them by hand and paints them herself very beautifully. I was very happy to support her business because I know the time and effort she put into her work. As a female it is important support other women to see each other grow and flourish. Sometimes when it comes to women supporting women they community isn't always welcoming or supportive, it is more competitive. This is not a good environment because we should not be competing against one another instead lifting each other up. We are living in a mans world and in order for this to change we need to work together.

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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?
Shani Katav 3/24/2022 12:12 PM
My eating experience is very different when practicing mindfulness. I have come into the habit of watching something while I eat. I will watch anything from pointless youtube videos, Tik Toks, Netflix etc. I realized this was making me eat more than I even wanted. I also realized I would get distracted. I would find myself watching and not eating and then beginning to eat again. Recently I have been trying to not watching anything while I eat. This helps me focus on eating and focus on realizing when I am actually full. This has been a rewarding process because it has helped me feel good. Now after I eat I don't feel over stuffed because I am stopping once I feel full. This also helps not waste food. This is something I will continue to implement when I eat because it feels better for my body and helps me save on food waste.

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