Bennett Meeks

UTKSUST21

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
860 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2,152

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

56

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

5.0

minutes

spent learning

Bennett's actions

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 35 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

Methane Digesters

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Bennett Meeks 4/21/2021 8:24 PM
This was an interesting one-time challenge because it did not take the form of a challenge like I believed one would. I watched a video on Methane Digesters which goes into detail on how the anaerobic breakdown of composts can be harvested as a renewable resource. And what had caught my eye the most about this form of renewable energy, is that the process can be kept relatively small in size, unlike windmills - which need ample space and a large turbine to offset the costs. I would highly recommend this video to anyone interested.

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- Bennett Meeks 4/21/2021 8:27 PM
  Methane Digesters Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aULRryCVMyY
  Extra Info: https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/methane-digesters
  
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Bennett Meeks 4/21/2021 8:18 PM
Today: the final day of our challenges as classes have been winding down. My greatest takeaways is that I love this project and I am flabbergasted that it does not have more popularity. This is literally a tool that keeps you accountable and could be used in any number of sustainability challenges in offices or classes - to make a conscience effort exactly as our class just did.
The weather was lovely today, only a little cloudy but the cooler temperature kept me cooler as I walked through the beautiful campus of the University of Tennessee. I also enjoyed some peanut butter toast and yogurt today for breakfast. And a vegetable ramen soup for an early lunch and dinner.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?
Bennett Meeks 4/21/2021 8:07 PM
My vision of a sustainable community has always included solely renewable resources as the forms of energy, and a conservation of the Earth's ecosystems which would seem foreign to us. I have also become very intrigued with agricultural improvements, such as polyface farming. Our government, companies, lobbyists, and public mindset would have to shift dramatically in order for these changes to occur, and for a sustainable world to be created.

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Bennett Meeks 4/20/2021 6:02 PM
Today I ate a breakfast of rice with some veggies again for breakfast and had some leftovers which carried into lunch as well. I also enjoyed some spinach ravioli for dinner, with a sauce I made from scratch. I have really loved how this challenge has made me think critically about what I am consuming and allows me to be so creative while shopping and cooking to making sure I can replace the meat I used to consume.

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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?
Bennett Meeks 4/20/2021 5:59 PM
I have noticed a lot as the seasons have changed in Knoxville, and I especially love how this daily challenge has allowed me to take care of my body - and has allowed me to go to several new spots around Knoxville and see what I could find. My favorite places that I had discovered was many paths along the Tennessee River, which has allowed me to find several new kayak drop-ins as well. I have been trying very hard to clean up as I walk too, and take a trash bag with me, but I've noticed some lower income areas tend to have more litter. These places can also have very poor walkability, too. I have attached a photo from a blooming dogwood tree, Virginia's state flower, which is my home state from my walk today.

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Bennett Meeks 4/19/2021 5:20 PM
I have fallen in love with this challenge because it has really given me the opportunity to embrace a lifestyle that I always found excuses not to dive into. I've been feeling so much better about what I am consuming as well as physically feeling enhanced by the natural goodness of Vegetarianism. The walking has helped immensely too. Today, I was only able to walk for a little bit more than an hour, but the weather was so breezy and bright. Absolutely delightful. For my meals today, I ate rice and sweet potato for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and a ramen stir fry with only veggies, of course, to finish out the day.

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