Ecochallenge.org

Earth Month Ecochallenge 2025: Conservation

April 1 - April 30, 2025

Ericka Baragona

Emerson Global Pride

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
575 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

70

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

160

gallons of water

saved
UP TO

19

more servings

of fruits and vegetables
UP TO

7.0

steps taken

to protect pollinators
UP TO

115

minutes

spent learning

Ericka's actions

Community and Connection

Keep My Community Clean

A clean community benefits everyone. Each day I am outside, I will pick up 12 pieces of litter to keep my community clean.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Health and Well-Being

Enjoy Fruits and Veggies

Adding fruits and vegetables to our meals nourishes our body and the planet. I will prepare and enjoy 2 servings of a variety of colorful fruits and veggies.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Community and Connection

Become a Sustainability Aficionado or Invite a Colleague!

Become a Sustainability Aficionado or invite one of your colleagues to join if you're already tuned into the program.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community and Connection

Join your local Green Team or participate in an Earth Month activity organized by them

Get involved! Join your local Green Team to connect and work on local sustainability initiatives. Or, participate in one of the many Earth Month activities they've organized.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Begin a meeting with a “Sustainability Moment”

Kick off your meetings with a "Sustainability Moment" to keep environmental awareness top of mind. Even better, develop new "Sustainability Moments" tailored to your specific location and work, making the connection between sustainability and your daily activities even stronger!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Learn about our new Sustainability Pathways initiative

Learn about our new Sustainability Pathways initiative and implement 1 action under each of the pillars from the most appropriate persona.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Sustainable Innovation

Take the Green Pill Trainings on Emerson Learn

Learn about sustainability by taking two Green Pill modules on Emerson Learn. Choose the topics that appeal to you most!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Take Shorter Showers

Conserving water helps protect this precious resource. I will shorten my showers to 5 minutes to save water and reduce energy use - each time saving up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water!

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Health and Well-Being

Explore Resources for Managing Anxiety

Anxiety can be overwhelming, but resources and strategies can help. I will spend 30 minutes exploring resources that help manage anxiety and stress to support my mental and psychological well being.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Land, Water, and Air

Join a Cleanup Effort

Working together to clean up public spaces helps the environment and builds community. I will participate in 2 community cleanup efforts in my neighborhood or local area.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Wildlife

Learn to Grow Plants Your Way

Growing plants can be rewarding and can create habitats big and small for wildlife. And, we can grow things almost anywhere! I will spend 30 minutes researching options for growing plants either inside or outside.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Wildlife

Protect Pollinators with a Plant or Mini-Habitat

Pollinators need a little help from their friends like us! I will take 2 steps to protect pollinators, such as planting a pollinator-friendly plant, installing a pollinator hotel, or by leaving leaf litter for pollinators to call home.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Plant (or Adopt) a Plant

Landscaping with native plants, gardening, and having plants inside can have benefits for nature and our health. I will plant or adopt a new plant or grow one from seeds and post a photo of it to the feed.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

Ericka Baragona 4/15/2025 5:45 AM
- Community Builder 🤝
- 17-DAY STREAK
Today, Emerson Learn is celebrating the first year since launch. So, I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to share Environmental Sustainability Community in Emerson Learn. Click on the link to take curated courses on environmental sustainability, including many of the Green Pill offerings, and even earn a few points by doing so.

Read More
- Sabina Lionte 4/25/2025 12:03 AM
  - Adventurer 🏔
  - 17-DAY STREAK
  Great reminder Ericka! Thanks for sharing!
  
  Read More
Ericka Baragona 4/14/2025 11:44 AM
- Community Builder 🤝
- 17-DAY STREAK
Tending to our garden has become a form of mindfulness—each small task, whether it’s pulling weeds, watering, or planting new life, becomes a chance to slow down and be present. There’s no rush here, just rhythm.

Beyond the peace it brings, gardening is also a way to give back to the earth. Every plant we nurture helps support biodiversity, improve soil health, and create a little haven for pollinators and wildlife.

In a fast-moving world, the garden reminds me to breathe, to connect, and to care—for myself and the planet.

Read More
- Jessica Ehrley 4/16/2025 9:18 AM
  - TEAM CAPTAIN
  - Pet Parent 🐾
  - 16-DAY STREAK
  Any favorites you've planted that you'd like to share? I've still got seedlings taking up my dining room table awaiting the promise of the last frost before they're moved outside. I've got sunflowers, pumpkins, cucumbers, peppers, cantaloupe, spinach, zucchini and edible flowers.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community and Connection

How did keeping your community more clean connect you more to your local area? Did picking up litter change your perspective on the cleanliness of your community?
Ericka Baragona 4/11/2025 7:21 AM
- Community Builder 🤝
- 17-DAY STREAK
Picking up litter shifted my perspective. Instead of seeing "someone else's problem," I started seeing shared responsibility. I felt more connected, not just to the physical space, but to the people around me. Every bottle or wrapper I picked up reminded me that we all have a part to play in shaping our environment.

It wasn’t just about cleanliness—it was about community. And being a part of something bigger than myself.

Read More
- Sabina Lionte 4/28/2025 11:29 PM
  
  Adventurer 🏔
  
  17-DAY STREAK
  So inspiring, thank you for sharing!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Well-Being

What resource or strategy stood out to you the most, and how might it help in managing anxiety?
Ericka Baragona 4/10/2025 5:53 AM
- Community Builder 🤝
- 17-DAY STREAK
Stretching helps release physical tension stored in muscles, which is often a byproduct of anxiety.

Tips:

Focus on the neck, shoulders, and hips – common tension spots.

Hold stretches for 30 seconds to a minute to allow your body time to relax.

Incorporate deep breathing as you stretch – inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth.

Try gentle yoga poses like Child’s Pose, Cat-Cow, and Forward Fold to calm your nervous system.
Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Wildlife

Are you a gardener or house plant lover? Why or why not? What do you need to elevate your plant care skills?
Ericka Baragona 4/07/2025 5:54 AM
- Community Builder 🤝
- 17-DAY STREAK
My whole life, I have been a plant killer and not a plant nuturer. Last month I purchased 4 plants for my home office and to my surprise they are still alive. I enjoy the tranquility they bring to the space and get excited every time I see a new sprout. My next adventure is repotting, so I have been researching best methods in preparation. :)

Read More
- Jessica Ehrley 4/08/2025 2:34 PM
  
  TEAM CAPTAIN
  
  Pet Parent 🐾
  
  16-DAY STREAK
  At the start of the quarantine portion of the covid pandemic, I ordered 4 plants and was determined to keep them alive! I also downloaded an app called Planta, using the free version for a long while, and it was so helpful in keeping my plants alive. 5 years later, all of those plants are still alive and my collection has grown, almost 20-fold (holy smokes I have so many plants!).
  Best of luck on your plant parenthood journey!
  
  Read More
Ericka Baragona 4/03/2025 5:27 AM
- Community Builder 🤝
- 17-DAY STREAK
Earth Month is a great time to take simple steps toward a more sustainable future. Here are a few things I am doing to make a difference:
- I will reduce waste by recycling properly and choosing reusable alternatives.
- I will conserve energy by turning off lights and electronics when not in use.
- I am supporting businesses that prioritize sustainability.
- I am joining a local clean-up event organized by Emerson to help keep communities clean.
- I will advocate for policies that protect the environment.
Small actions add up. What steps are you taking this Earth Month?

#EarthMonth #Sustainability #LetsGoGreen
Read More
- Jessica Ehrley 4/03/2025 12:33 PM
  - TEAM CAPTAIN
  - Pet Parent 🐾
  - 16-DAY STREAK
  Great actions, Ericka! I hope you'll share some new reusable products you find along the way this month, or trusted ones you've been using. Thanks for participating with Pride!
  
  Read More