Derrick Parker

Students of Sheridan's Sustainability Class

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
546 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

180

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

135

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

20

minutes

spent outdoors

Derrick's 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 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 20 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Shopping as Needed

I read in this class that the refrigerator is where food goes to die. I want to get into a habit of shopping for only what I need for that day. If want to stay away from buying in bulk, so I can cut down on waste.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 20 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Eat Mindfully

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

COMPLETED 8
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?

Derrick Parker 11/07/2021 4:36 PM
I'm here in Atlanta Georgia and I can't believe that they don't have to recycle. My mom lives in Dekalb county. So, recycling is determined by each state?

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing & Renewal

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place -- your deep knowledge of and appreciation for your surroundings?
Derrick Parker 10/24/2021 7:20 PM
Spending more time outdoors allows you to connect with nature. You start noticing things. Especially if you spend time in the same places. When you are consistent with spending time outdoors, you notice things, like animals, and if garbage is being picked up. You become invested in your community.

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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?
Derrick Parker 10/24/2021 7:07 PM
I am not one for waste. I usually place a medium portion of food on my plate and then go back for more if I'm still hungry. Using smaller plates are good, especially for a function where you're serving food (bday party, super bowl party etc.). This keeps people from piling food on their plates. I think it's a social thing here in U.S. People are usually not concerned with waste because they can always go out and get more food.

Eating with smaller plates makes people decide what they really want because there is limited space. And this helps with waste. Also, eating with smaller plates over a period of time can actually lead to weight loss.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?
Derrick Parker 10/03/2021 7:04 PM
One thing that I noticed when mindful eating and eating without distractions is that I chew my food (masticate) more. The more you chew, the more you help out your digestive system, leading to better digestion.

I also notice that I do more thinking without distraction. Plus I need to give my phone a break once in a while and what better time to do this than when eating.

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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?
Derrick Parker 10/03/2021 7:01 PM
I have mentioned before that I live near two really nice parks that double as wildlife sanctuaries for local birds. But my neighborhood is really diverse and a few blocks in the other direction is an industrial area. Various companies from auto repair shops to electronic manufacturers, shipping companies, Dept. of Sanitation, Amazon hub, and Fed Ex hub are there. One thing I’ve noticed is the amount of debris and garbage in the street. These areas are frequently used for illegal dumping. Sometime there is a foul smell in this area. I would like to see the City of New York patrol these areas and have them cleaned frequently.

Also, on my walks I notice all the development. From stores to malls to all the newly built apartment buildings. Growing up, this area was completely empty. Developers have left no plot of land untouched, leading to overcrowding and a reduction of quality of life. And – they are still building.

We read this week about the backlash against sustainability. The main function of a business is to generate profits and companies are reluctant to act in the public interest. Government regulations are key to support change. We can clearly see this in action in the real estate business. Yes, developers have complied with “Green” initiatives and mandates for tax breaks but will continue to develop every inch of NYC because the profits are seemingly too good to miss. I always wonder where all of these people who can afford $3000 a month for an apartment are coming from. Maybe I need to go there.

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Derrick Parker 9/26/2021 4:32 PM
Yesterday I rode my bike 14 miles. I live near a wildlife preserve, so exploring it makes me understand the importance of wildlife. I can also see that man can live in conjunction with nature without destroying it. Some of the bike paths that I ride go through the preserve.

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Derrick Parker 9/26/2021 4:27 PM
Yesterday I went to the corner store. I didn't have a reusable bag, so I carried the item back to my Apt. I live a block and a half away from the store and felt no need to use a plastic bag.

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Derrick Parker 9/23/2021 7:08 PM
Today I took my reusable shopping bags to the corner store. I usually take them to the supermarket, but today I decided that I will take them to the corner store from now on to reduce on plastic and paper bag usage.

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Derrick Parker 9/21/2021 8:34 PM
Today I brushed my teeth for the first time without the water running. This is one of my other goals to reduce water consumption.

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- Orah Scher 2/20/2023 9:00 PM
  Play as a character in Vampire Survivors and start killing zombies that are about to kill you. This game is really fun.
  
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