Skip to main content
Jamie Grace's avatar

Jamie Grace

Carnegie Mellon University

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 65 THIS WEEK
  • 96 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    4.0
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    120
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    35
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    3.0
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    1.0
    single-use bag
    not sent to the landfill

Jamie's actions

Freshwater + Oceans

Low Water Gardening

Grass lawns are water-intensive and on average require about 30 percent of a household’s water consumption. Native plants are water-efficient and help maintain the balance and diversity of local ecosystems. I will plant native species with water-efficient plants to conserve water and improve the habitat, then post a photo on the feed to share.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land + Forests

Explore My Area

When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 60 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood, office, or campus (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land + Forests

Compost Food Waste

Food in the landfill is one of the main sources of greenhouse gasses. I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill per day by composting my food.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Biodiversity + Wildlife

Use Reusable Bags

Plastic bags can be mistaken for food by many wild animals and can end up in habitats that harm wildlife. I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Biodiversity + Wildlife

Leave No Trace

I will respect and protect biotic communities by practicing the seven principles of Leave No Trace whenever I am outside.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Biodiversity + Wildlife

Reduce Animal Products

One kilogram of beef and cheese emits 71kg and 24kg of greenhouse gasses, while 1kg of rice, grains, and legumes emits between 2-4kg. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts emit less than 1kg per 1kg. I will reduce my climate impact by enjoying 2 meatless meals and/or 0 vegan meals each day this week.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Biodiversity + Wildlife

Save the Bees

Bees are vital to ecosystems. To help save the bees, I will learn which local flowers provide nectar and plant them in my backyard or in a pot on my balcony.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Community

Keep My Community Clean

At times it may not feel like it's up to us to keep our community clean and healthy, but we all have a role to play. Each day I am outside, I will pick up any litter I see.

COMPLETED 2
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
    Biodiversity + Wildlife Leave No Trace
    Educator Stephanie Kaza advises her students to focus on what they care about most when addressing the enormity of ecological problems. Is there a specific area you feel particularly called to work on?

    Jamie Grace's avatar
    Jamie Grace 4/15/2024 6:49 AM
    I feel particularly pulled to effective planting either with natives or native friendly trees, shrubs, and plant. Restoring the canopy and planting an array of pollinators are acts with many benefits, producing shade, absorbing water while we are having increased flooding, improving air quality, reducing the localized temperature, maintaining habitat spaces for wildlife and insects, and encouraging a healthier ecosystem for birds and insects come to mind for purpose.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land + Forests Compost Food Waste
    New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? How will you use your compost once it is ready?

    Jamie Grace's avatar
    Jamie Grace 4/15/2024 6:45 AM
    I am not new to composting, but I've been keeping with it now for about 6 or 7 years. It never stops shocking me how much goes in the bin and how much less goes to the trash. Free compost for the garden is a bonus, that goes right in my pollinators garden or on my rose bushes to break down and give it nutrients.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Freshwater + Oceans Low Water Gardening
    What are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.

    Jamie Grace's avatar
    Jamie Grace 4/15/2024 6:42 AM
    Flooding and occasional drought are a concern along with pollution. We have a tremendous amount of rainfall and have been experiencing mild to intense drought periods during the hottest part of the summers. It has been a challenge for gardeners to find plants that can tolerate both that do not also need a lot of watering and attention. Our water pollution issue is even less easy to solve if municipalities aren't improving the infrastructure.