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Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar

Joyce Fitzgerald

Allina Health

"Aiming to learn more about sustainability and enjoy building good habits this Earth Month! "

Joyce's points

  • 0 TODAY
  • 120 THIS WEEK
  • 642 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1,070
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    4.0
    hours
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    5.0
    sharing economies
    explored
  • UP TO
    7.0
    community events
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    28
    ideas and resources
    shared

Joyce's actions

Take the Pre-Survey

Take the Pre-Event Survey

I’ll take a short pre-survey to share what motivated me to join — and earn 15 points! (If I already took the survey by email, I’ll just mark this action complete to get my points.)

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

Mulching helps soil hold water and reduces runoff. I will mulch the base of trees or other plants at home, school, or in my community to improve water retention and soil health.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Share Information about Local Resources

Knowledge of local resources helps communities thrive. I will learn about local resources, especially mutual aid groups, and share them with others on social media, in conversations, or in other ways that help spread the word.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal

Prepare for Extreme Weather

Extreme weather events like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods can disrupt lives and upend our communities. I will take proactive steps to prepare for extreme weather by safeguarding my home and creating or updating an emergency plan and kit with essential supplies, evacuation routes, and contact information.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Soil and Food

Grow Something to Eat

Growing food builds resilience by connecting us to the soil and reducing reliance on long supply chains. I will grow edible plants—such as herbs, vegetables, or grains—in my home, balcony, or community space, strengthening both my food security and local biodiversity.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal

Go Get a Check Up

Regular health check-ups help prevent problems before they start. I will schedule or attend a medical, dental, or mental health check-up to take care of my well-being.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Attend a Local Event

Local events such as farmers' markets, festivals, or community meetings like town halls are great ways to feel part of a community. I will attend 1 community events to connect with others and learn more about my area.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal

Exercise Daily

Daily movement supports our physical and mental health. I will spend 30 minutes each day exercising in a way that feels good to me, such as walking, running, stretching, or dancing.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Work and Organizations

Check out the Environmental Sustainability AKN Page

Learn more about sustainability efforts at Allina Health. Search for Environmental Sustainability on the AKN.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track

Commuting Clean Up

I will pick up at least two pieces of trash on the way to and from work.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Offer a Skill or Service

Sharing our talents can benefit those around us. I will offer my skills or services that contribute to local self-sufficiency, such as teaching a repair skill or helping with a neighbor's garden.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Swap and Share with Others

Swapping and sharing resources reduces waste and builds community bonds. I will participate in 5 swaps or sharing activities, like borrowing items, attending or hosting a swap meet, or giving away items I no longer need to support a sharing economy with friends, family, colleagues or neighbors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Work and Organizations

Identify the fire extinguisher closest to your work space.

Confirm that you know where the nearest fire extinguisher is. And take a moment to confirm you remember how to use it with our PASS acronym: a. Pull the pin b. Aim the hose c. Squeeze the handle d. Sweep side to side

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal

Reduce Refined Sugar

Cutting back on refined sugar can improve energy, mood, and overall health. I will limit my intake of sugary snacks and drinks by reducing refined sugar in meals or snacks each day.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    How did you participate in the sharing economy? (Consider posting a photo!) What are the benefits of sharing resources, and how does this strengthen resilience in your relationships and community?

    Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
    Joyce Fitzgerald 4/22/2026 10:02 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    I am finding new homes for things I don't use by taking them to community events and using neighborhood sharing libraries. It seems like everything I find is just right for someone nearby!
    • Some too small tap shoes fit someone at my dance class
    • I swapped some seeds at a neighborhood seed library
    • Books about instruments I don't play and a bunch of picks that I don't use found eager takers at a jam night
    • A few books, stickers and stationery went to various Little Free Library boxes
    • I left summer clothing at a community closet
    • Various people at a dance event wanted some unused costume pieces
    This is much more intentional than simply dropping things off at a thrift shop donation bin. So many donations end up in landfills. I am more confident that unused items will have a new life when I personally hand them to a friend or acquaintance. Little Free Library boxes each tend to have their own character...some tend to be kids books, some tend to have little things other than books in them...so I can put things where I am confident people who want them are looking.


  • Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
    Joyce Fitzgerald 4/16/2026 6:43 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    Looking for an Earth Day event to attend? There are lots of options in Minnesota and Wisconsin this year!

    In Minnesota: https://thriftyminnesota.com/earth-day-events-in-minnesota/
    In Wisconsin: https://fabulouswisconsin.com/wisconsin-best/earth-day-events-in-wisconsin-2026/
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    What resources did you discover, and how do you think they can benefit your community? How did sharing this information make you feel more connected to your community’s needs and opportunities?

    Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
    Joyce Fitzgerald 4/14/2026 11:12 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    I am pleased that I found several new ways to reduce my own consumer footprint that can also connect me with people! I like getting food at the local co-op, but it will be much more fun to grow food in the community garden plot with neighbors. Finding secondhand goods on the internet reduces waste, but I can take a friend out to community garage sales. Online learning is great, but in person Community Ed and Fix It Clinics are opportunities to meet new friends.

  • Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
    Joyce Fitzgerald 4/14/2026 10:54 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    Thrifty Minnesota has a list of citywide and neighborhood garage sales across the state!

    Minnesota City Wide Garage Sales List - Thrifty Minnesota



  • Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
    Joyce Fitzgerald 4/13/2026 7:39 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    This morning I confirmed that there is a space for me to grow food this season at the Hub of Heaven community garden! It has been an organic garden space since 1997.

    The City of Minneapolis has info on community gardens if you are looking for a place to grow this year: Community Gardens - Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal
    What motivated you to schedule or attend your check-up, and how did it make you feel afterward that you completed this action?

    Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
    Joyce Fitzgerald 4/13/2026 7:15 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    The EcoChallenge motivated me. Why not get some points for my team and help myself at the same time? The first year I did the EcoChallenge I found that there were a few things I needed to catch up on, so predictable annual check ups like a mammogram and a dental cleaning keep getting scheduled for April every year.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water
    What did you notice about how mulching helps the soil and plants? How does this small action connect to bigger ideas of water resilience?

    Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
    Joyce Fitzgerald 4/13/2026 7:06 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    It is still a little early to do spring planting in Minnesota, but I had some seedlings that needed to be planted in their containers before they got leggy. Mulch in my outdoor containers definitely helps the soil stay moist consistently--a big help because it has been windy!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal
    How did exercising each day impact your physical and mental resilience? What activities helped you feel stronger, more flexible, or more capable of adapting?

    Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
    Joyce Fitzgerald 4/13/2026 6:45 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    I appreciate how the challenge has pushed me to think creatively and make better plans around getting exercise. I can squeeze in a bit of exercise whenever I can, the "exercise snack", is helpful.

    • Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
      Joyce Fitzgerald 4/14/2026 11:02 AM
      • TEAM CAPTAIN
      Tijana, thank you for the tips! I looked up standing core exercises--so good!

    • Tijana Bunjevacki's avatar
      Tijana Bunjevacki 4/13/2026 7:03 AM
      I take Peloton classes and they have 5-10 minute classes that you can take anywhere! My favorite "snack" is standing core class! You can literally do it anywhere in 5 min and effects add up!

    • Alejandra Martinez's avatar
      Alejandra Martinez 4/13/2026 6:50 AM
      • TEAM CAPTAIN
      • Exercise Lover 🤸
      I also read something about “exercise snacks”; I'm glad it's working for you and that you're enjoying it!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal
    Before you started this challenge, did you think you were 'addicted' to sugar? How do you feel now? What was the most challenging part of reducing refined sugar, and how did you overcome it?

    Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
    Joyce Fitzgerald 4/13/2026 6:39 AM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    I don't know if I was or am "addicted" to sugar at the beginning of the challenge, but I feel much less impulsive around sugar since the challenge started. It was a bit of a mental challenge for the first several days, but I do find myself craving sweets much less.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Soil and Food
    What did you decide to grow, and how did it feel to start (or care for) your plants? What connections did it give you to soil or food resilience?

    Joyce Fitzgerald's avatar
    Joyce Fitzgerald 4/09/2026 1:37 PM
    • TEAM CAPTAIN
    I grew two pint jars of sprouts in my own kitchen, radish and alfalfa. They grew in less than a week!

    This is where I got the seeds and screen lids for my jars: Mother Earth Gardens