I'm doing my part by continuing to grow and maintain native plants in my yard that require little additional water throughout the year to thrive and give habitat to so many local animals and insects. This year I'm tearing out the remainder of the grass in my back yard (5' by 20' swath) for clover.
Julie Barton
"working to do my best for our planet"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 85 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0plastic bottlenot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0plastic strawnot sent to the landfill
Julie's actions
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 1 hours in my community.
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
Say No to Plastic Straws
An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When marine wildlife ingest plastic, they have a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.
Freshwater + Oceans
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
It'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 10 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Freshwater + Oceans
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.
Land + Forests
Forest-Friendly Foods
I will look for sustainable palm oil products with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSP) label. I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation and opt for ones that help sustain healthy communities and forests.
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
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.
Land + Forests
Carry My Trash
I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me this month, to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill. I will post on the feed my reflections, conversations, and actions I will take moving forward.
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.
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 QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Low Water GardeningWhat are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
Julie Barton 4/01/2024 12:23 PMMinneapolis had hardly any snow this winter, thus the Minnehaha Creek watershed, which I live near/enjoy daily, that flows into the Mississippi, will be experiencing low water levels all spring, if not longer. This means higher levels of pollutants for the young wildlife along the creek, and less hunting ground for the egrets/cranes/other predators.
I'm doing my part by continuing to grow and maintain native plants in my yard that require little additional water throughout the year to thrive and give habitat to so many local animals and insects. This year I'm tearing out the remainder of the grass in my back yard (5' by 20' swath) for clover. -
Julie Barton 4/01/2024 12:10 PMGlad to join my fellow U.S. Bankers for the earth month ecochallenge 2024! Can't wait to see how we all do to protect, conserve, and promote our planet!