Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Mia Nicer

Students of Sheridan's Sustainability Class

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
669 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1,440

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

1,770

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

2,127

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.6

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

30

minutes

spent learning

Mia's actions

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Smart Seafood Choices

Ocean Farming

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

I will source 20 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 1
DAILY ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

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

COMPLETED 28
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

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 60 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 16
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 30
DAILY ACTIONS

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 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Calculate the carbon footprint of my household

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Recycle Everything I Can

Recycling

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

COMPLETED 32
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Learn about Carbon Offsets

I will visit Tradewater’s website to learn more about carbon offsets, and why they are a necessary solution in combating a climate crisis.

UNCOMPLETED
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
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?
Mia Nicer 11/04/2021 12:26 PM
During this challenge I learned the three pillars to sustainable seafood are Environmental Sustainably, Social Responsibility, and Economic Vitality. Environmental Sustainability is wild or farmed seafood harvested in ways that do not harm the environment or other wildlife, ensuring a healthy, resilient ocean ecosystem. Social Responsabilty ensure fair, safe working conditions for the people who produce seafood. Economic Viability is when businesses demand sustainable seafood and make it profitable for farmer and fisherman who participate in environmentally and sustainable ways. Using these three pillars and the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch Seafood Recommendations LINK: (https://www.seafoodwatch.org/recommendations) for my country and region will not only help make sure my diet falls within the guidelines of what is advised but also help me do my part in getting our seafood, oceans, and the environment into a better and more sustainable place than it is today. Another thing I learned today is for the NY Area Atlantic Rock Crab and Eastern Oysters are listed as seafood to avoid and Yellow Perch was listed as a best choice option.

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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?
Mia Nicer 10/24/2021 11:00 AM
I chose this challenge to do my reflection on this week because it has been the one challenge I find my self slacking on weekly. I tend to only write down notes once a week and want to incorporate it as a daily habit. With the money it says we can save, I would rather use this money on traveling to see my sons who are not with me while I am in school or on fun activities with my family.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

After you determined your carbon footprint, did you see what different choices you can make in order to reduce it?
Mia Nicer 10/24/2021 10:44 AM
Currently my carbon footprint for my household that includes myself and my 2 little ones is 2.98 compared to the 4.00 of the average household. I found my numbers good but I would like to make them better. Three ways I noticed I could improve on is finding out if our energy source is renewable energy and if not, switching to one. The other ways are even though my meat intake is low per week, it could be lower and we can walk more or take public transit when further and skip the occasional rideshare.

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Mia Nicer 9/28/2021 3:52 PM
My drawdown ecochallange has been going great so far!! I found I have been walking more and learning to eat mindfully then I would have before the challenge. :) I also learned this week what can be and is not recyclable.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

While 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?
Mia Nicer 9/28/2021 3:42 PM
Since starting this challenge I have started using the salad versus the dinner plates when home. It really does help.
*Aside from environmental benefits, I find it to be very good for my and my children's health and keeps us from eating more than we should and not wasting food

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?
Mia Nicer 9/28/2021 3:40 PM
Reuse and Repurpose- I trade and buy used clothing versus buying new when I can. I also give away items to family, friends, and strangers that we do not need that others could use or we donate. I try to fix items we have that may break if it's possible.
*Incorporating these "R's" does make me feel great. I get to contribute less to our waste and possible give something to someone they need.

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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?
Mia Nicer 9/28/2021 3:22 PM
This was actually a difficult challenge for me. I found it hard with my kids and schedule. When I have been able to, my eating experiences have been really quite enjoyable. I have noticed I eat slower and taste the food better when I have less distractions.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing & Renewal

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Mia Nicer 9/28/2021 3:19 PM
I have been trying to walk as much as I can the past 2 weeks. If I commute, I get off a few stops early or walk a few stops more before getting on a bus or train when my commute is too far too walk the whole distance. I've definitely enjoyed the fresh air, exercise and sounds of birds. If it was possible, infrastructure changes I would make would be more green spaces and less or lower built buildings.

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