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River Stewart's avatar

River Stewart

Fantastic No Plastics

"I like biking to school. I would like to get to the point where I bike/walk places more than I drive places."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,278 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    87
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    17
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    33
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    23
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    16
    miles
    traveled by bike

River's actions

Materials

Use Less Power

I will use as little power as possible. Examples turning off lights or using candles instead of lights, not using water on my toothbrush, and collecting rainwater so a hose isn't necesary.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

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

Food

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 3 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

fix a bike

I will fix my bike so that I can ride i.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

Bioplastics

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 23 friends, family and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

I will use a form of public transport to reduce emissions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Go by Bike

Bicycle Infrastructure

I will commute by bike 4 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 2

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

COMPLETED 0
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
    Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 2
    How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?

    River Stewart's avatar
    River Stewart 1/31/2020 10:23 PM
    It was quite easy because I don't use very much of those products. I did some research and most of the products that I use are certified and grow their cocoa trees on a farm and therefore are planting the trees not just cutting down the ones in the forest.

  • River Stewart's avatar
    River Stewart 1/30/2020 9:06 PM
    Though our month of drawdown challenge is ending, I look forward to continuing with the program. Thank you to everyone involved, this has been very educational.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 1
    How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

    River Stewart's avatar
    River Stewart 1/24/2020 8:44 PM
    I consume a lot of dairy in a week and I didn't know this but apparently dairy, meat, and eggs have a huge impact on deforestation. I also drink coffee from time to time and that too is a leader of deforestation. I don't use palm oil very often, but again, I didn't know this either, palm oil is a common form of what is marketed as vegetable oil. I could remove or reduce this food from my diet.

    https://www.treehugger.com/green-food/5-consumer-products-linked-illegal-rainforest-destruction.html

    https://www.treehugger.com/green-food/5-consumer-products-linked-illegal-rainforest-destruction.html
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Buildings and Cities Go by Bike
    How does using human-powered transportation make you feel compared to using other methods of transportation?

    River Stewart's avatar
    River Stewart 1/23/2020 8:57 PM
    I love human-powered transport, I think it is a superior way to get around because not only do you cut emissions you get exercise. 15% of carbon emissions on Earth come from cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, and other vehicles. Also, just walking can be a nice way to reset my brain after a hard day. 

  • River Stewart's avatar
    River Stewart 1/16/2020 9:24 PM
    Hi, does anyone have any ideas for fun crafts to do to reuse non-recyclable material? Like ways to repurpose an object after it's been used? 

    • Erin M's avatar
      Erin M 1/18/2020 2:13 PM
      Check out this artwork by Joel Glassman! I was lucky and stumbled upon his art show up in Grants Pass - LOVE the work! http://www.inthisplayground.com/portfolio/joel-glassmans-menagerie/
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
    How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

    River Stewart's avatar
    River Stewart 1/14/2020 9:30 PM
    I can make sure that I don't buy a product that I can't finish before the product goes bad. Also, I can buy food that is near its due date if I know I can use it quickly.

  • River Stewart's avatar
    River Stewart 1/14/2020 9:28 PM
    I just learned about the differences between the best by, sell by, use by, and expiration dates.
    Sell-by date: The purpose of the sell-by date is to tell the store when the product should be sold to keep customers from complaining about its condition. Stores also use this to tell when to rotate their products.
    Best-by dates: these dates are for the customer, they inform them when the product tastes the best or closest to what the brand wants it to taste like.
    Use-by dates: When an item is past its use-by date it could be a  little iffy and up in the air if you should use it. These signify when the product should be used to ensure the safety and prevention of food poisoning.
    Expiration dates: When a product expires it is no longer entirely safe to consume it. Still, if you want to use it it's probably ok.
    All these dates are put in place to help people to not waste food. If your not sure you can use the product before it goes bad and you have to throw it out you really shouldn't buy it. The harvesting, transportation, packaging, and production that goes into wasted food makes up to 3.3 billion metric tons of Co2 annually. 

  • River Stewart's avatar
    River Stewart 1/09/2020 9:42 PM
    I have been really bad about walking or riding my bike places. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to remind yourself?

    • River Stewart's avatar
      River Stewart 1/14/2020 9:00 PM
      Thanks, that's a good idea. I will try that tomorrow. Also thanks Erin for getting me and my family into this amazing program.

    • Erin M's avatar
      Erin M 1/11/2020 2:43 PM
      You could park your bike in your front hallway...? : ) Or maybe just put your helmet there as a trigger?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips
    What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

    River Stewart's avatar
    River Stewart 1/07/2020 6:10 PM
    I fear that my children or grandchildren are going to live in a world where there is no way to improve the climate and rising heat. I really hope that there will be a human race in the next century.

  • River Stewart's avatar
    River Stewart 1/07/2020 6:08 PM
    I hadn't heard about bioplastic before today but I did some research and apparently it's not actually that much better for the planet. it takes fuel to ship it and it often uses GMOs in the process of production. Also, it often requires a special plant to break it down. So really it doesn't have enough pros to weigh out the con. It's not a sustainable bioproduct.

    • Davis Wilkins's avatar
      Davis Wilkins 1/12/2020 5:05 PM
      I appreciate reading your analysis; it makes me want to read about it myself.

    • Davis Wilkins's avatar
      Davis Wilkins 1/12/2020 5:05 PM
      I appreciate reading your analysis; it makes me want to read about it myself.