Cindy Abramowitz
"conscious consumption as part of sustainability involves making informed and deliberate choices."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 140 THIS WEEK
- 644 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO70minutesspent learning
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UP TO560minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO12plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO14poundswaste composted
Cindy's actions
Climate + Air
Consume only Needs vs Wants
The more stuff we consume, the more greenhouse gasses we put into the atmosphere. I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach this month and only buy things I need.
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 30 minutes learning about regenerative agriculture and find out if any nearby farms practice regenerative agriculture.
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.
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
Smart Seafood Choices
We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 30 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and 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.
Freshwater + Oceans
Dishwasher Efficiency
Hand washing dishes can use more energy and hot water than a dishwasher. To save water, I will use a dishwasher and scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
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 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
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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Cindy Abramowitz 4/15/2024 8:26 AMI have enjoyed propagating native flowering plants the past few years. Does anyone have recommendations for edible plants that would be easy to grow from cuttings? Thank you.-
Sarita Patankar 4/15/2024 12:01 PMHerbs like rosemary, sage, and peppermint or spearmint can be grown from cuttings
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Cindy Abramowitz 4/10/2024 1:01 PMI'm trying my best, but I forgot to bring produce bags to the grocery store, so did the best I could at the time by bagging all my produce in one produce bag and then doing without bags for the other items.-
Max Moncur 4/10/2024 1:23 PMNever thought to bring produce bags, that’s a great idea!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Regenerative Agriculture and MeWhat did you learn about the practice and benefits of regenerative agriculture? How can you support healthy farming practices for people and the planet?
Cindy Abramowitz 4/05/2024 8:54 AMThere is no one definition of regenerative agriculture. It can mean different things to different people, but generally it refers to a set of practices that restores soil and ecosystem health, addresses inequity, and leaves our land, waters, and climate in better shape for the future. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Smart Seafood ChoicesMany 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?
Cindy Abramowitz 4/03/2024 3:29 PMThis has been a great source of information: Seafood Watch. We also enjoy catching our own fish at some local bodies of water. Not only does it make us appreciate even more what we are eating, but it is also fun and educational for our family. -
Cindy Abramowitz 4/02/2024 8:05 AMI enjoy doing this annual challenge as it pushes me to think about and reflect on the actions that I should take and am taking. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Low Water GardeningWhat are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
Cindy Abramowitz 4/02/2024 8:03 AMIn Central Texas, there are definitely concerns about drought, and as the population continues to increase in the area, the concern becomes increasingly urgent.-
Lauren Ferguson 4/05/2024 2:32 PMI share the same concerns about drought in Central Texas. Austin often has mandatory water-use restrictions. Changes need to be made to better conserve water in the city.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Consume only Needs vs WantsConsuming only what we need vs. what we want can be really hard to do. What has been challenging about committing to this action for a month? What have you learned about yourself? Will you change any habits going forward?
Cindy Abramowitz 4/02/2024 8:01 AMI really don't need junk food, and as I work to consume only what I need versus what I want, this is one area that I can work on more. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests 30 for 30 in NatureWhat have you noticed about how it feels to spend consistent time outside?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Compost Food WasteNew 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?
Cindy Abramowitz 4/02/2024 7:31 AMComposting is great. We compost all of our food waste and use it in our garden. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Use a Reusable Water BottleWhat did you learn about the amount of plastic we consume and what actions will you take to reduce your use of plastic?
Cindy Abramowitz 4/02/2024 7:30 AMThere is a lot of plastic used for single use purposes, for example, individual yogurt containers. One way to reduce that use is to purchase in large containers and use from there.