Planting trees is very rewarding for yourself and for the environment. Knowing that something you planted is going to live far beyond your years is very satisfying and cultivates a connection to the world around you!
Julie Hanson
"We Battle for Mother Earth!"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 835 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO159pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO60plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO30advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO1,275minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO8.0treesplanted
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UP TO180minutesspent learning
Julie's actions
Land + Forests
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.
Land + Forests
Regenerative Agriculture and Me
Regenerative agriculture focuses on farming and ranching in a way that supports life and restores the soil. I will spend 60 minutes learning about regenerative agriculture and find out if any nearby farms practice regenerative agriculture.
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.).
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Invest in Nature
A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 60 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Seek Alternative Gifts and Souvenirs
When traveling, I will seek souvenirs that support local communities and do not cause harm to the environment or wildlife.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Endangered Species
Wildlife and biodiversity play an important role on our planet and are being threatened each year. I will spend 60 minutes each day learning about the current status of local or global wildlife and how I can align my actions to support their livelihood.
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.
Freshwater + Oceans
Understand My Water Footprint
Each of us has a water footprint, directly linked to our daily activities as well as the water required in the production of things we use each day. Understanding our water use is important for a healthy planet. I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste, then share what I learned on the feed.
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.
Land + Forests
Borrow Before I Buy
Why buy something I will only use once or a few times if someone nearby has it for me to borrow, and why not share something I have that someone may only need a few times a year? To reduce my consumption and waste, I will create or support the sharing economy with friends, family, colleagues or neighbors.
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.
Land + Forests
Zero Waste Day
The impacts of our waste are far reaching. I will create zero waste for an entire day and share my reflections and learnings on the feed.
Land + Forests
Personal Waste Audit
The waste we create daily can go unnoticed. I will track the waste I create in a day and post a photo log on the feed to see how much I create and where I can make different choices to reduce my waste going forward.
Land + Forests
30 for 30 in Nature
Studies have shown that when we spend consistent time in nature, our health improves, our creativity increases, and our connection to the planet gets stronger. Each day of the Ecochallenge, I will spend 30 minutes outside (in a large or small patch of nature), then share my observations, reflections, and learnings on the feed.
Freshwater + Oceans
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
Itr's estimated over a billion water bottles are thrown away each year. Even if they were recycled, that still uses energy and resources from the earth. I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Freshwater + Oceans
Go Plastic-Free
Millions of tons of plastic is produced each year worldwide. Each day, I will conduct a plastics audit of what I buy and use throughout the challenge (kitchen, bathroom, personal care products, etc.), to see how single-use plastic shows up in my life. I will find plastic-free alternatives to these products and advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, product manufacturers, at work, or on campus.
Action Track: Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 4 hours in my community.
Action Track: Community
Plant Trees
Trees capture carbon and produce oxygen that is essential to life on earth. I will support this important piece of nature by organizing or joining a community group to plant 1 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
Action Track: Community
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will organize or participate in a trash pickup at a local river, beach, or natural body of water.
Action Track: Community
Share My "Why"
I will record a video to share why I am taking action this Earth Month, a sustainable swap I've made, and/or a local conservation effort in my area.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Plant TreesHow is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
Julie Hanson 4/29/2024 12:41 PMOn Sunday, I planted 9 trees and two shrubs! Well, actually, my son did all the planting - and I "supervised & gave encouragement!" We planted 3 Douglas Fir, 2 Vine Maples, 2 Cherry Trees, 1 Birch, and 1 Giant Sequoia, plus 2 lilac bushes! It rained when we were done so they were well- watered too. Some of them look like little sticks now, but they have big dreams to grow tall and lush.
Planting trees is very rewarding for yourself and for the environment. Knowing that something you planted is going to live far beyond your years is very satisfying and cultivates a connection to the world around you! -
Julie Hanson 4/22/2024 11:16 AMI went to the lake to hang up my little sign and came away with a big bag of trash (mostly recyclables). This is a very small lake and there are no facilities or trash cans, so I think it's something I'll keep checking in on - and picking things up, if necessary!-
Banu Erdim 4/22/2024 1:27 PMLove it! Very inspiring Earth Day post! Thanks for sharing, Julie!
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Julie Hanson 4/16/2024 12:46 PMI'm really enjoying this challenge because it's made me think a lot about ways to reduce or remove plastic from my life. I still remember when milk came in glass bottles, and it seemed most things came in cans or paper wrapping. Things were made out of metal and would last for ages - or could be repaired. We didn't really think about what happened to containers when you were done. You returned the bottles to the store for a refund, or it just went in the trash. Or it could re-purposed (I remember my mom always saving the wax-paper lining from our cereal).
Along came plastic packaging, and we all thought it was the greatest thing because it was lighter, cheaper and didn't break like glass. Now many years later it is evident that there is no room in our world for that kind of thinking! Plastic is something that from the beginning was meant to be thrown away. Nobody thought about recycling it until it became a huge problem and doing it after-the-fact has led to mountains of plastic garbage with nowhere to go. We need to solve this problem soon, for the sake of Humanity - and our Earth!-
Ann Lloyd 4/16/2024 2:06 PMCBS Sunday Morning had a good segment this week about the myth of plastic recycling. I thought it was worth watching https://www.cbsnews.com/news/critics-call-out-plastics-industry-over-fraud-of-plastic-recycling/.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Keep My Community CleanHow does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?
Julie Hanson 4/08/2024 9:41 AMI've made it my personal mission to clean up trash wherever I go. On Sunday I went to my favorite little fishing lake and was appalled at the garbage that had been left there. I picked up litter for about half an hour, and sadly, most of it was plastic. The rest were recyclables like cans, glass & paper. The next time I go, I'm going to bring a "please don't litter!" sign and post it. Hopefully others will see that it's been cleaned up and try to keep it that way!