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Mary Gerken
"To respect & be kind to my Mother and all fellow beings. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,138 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO67milestraveled by foot
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UP TO67milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO29pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO1energy auditconducted
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UP TO87plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1waste auditconducted
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UP TO27advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO1community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO2,265minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO105minutesspent learning
Mary's actions
Land + Forests
Mindful Eating
Strengthens my awareness of our spiritual oneness with Mother Earth and promotes active care of creation by being mindful what I take into your body. Give thanks and treat all beings with respect and kindness. Consider my food choices & consider becoming more plant-based.
Action Track: Community
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.
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.
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.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Invest in Nature
A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 45 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.
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.
Climate + Air
Use Muscle Power
I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.
Climate + Air
Online Energy Audit
Energy use and waste is often invisible. I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.
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.
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.
Freshwater + Oceans
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 45 minutes learning more about the importance of freshwater + ocean conservation, and how I can reduce my water use. I will share what I learn with people in person, on social media, and 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
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
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will organize or participate in a trash pickup at a local river, beach, or natural body of water.
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 QUESTIONLand + Forests Personal Waste AuditWhat are the results of your waste audit and what did you learn? How can you reduce your waste going forward?
Mary Gerken 4/30/2024 7:48 AMPlastic is my main source of waste although I've lowered it substantially. It was a GREAT exercise and I plan to continue to do again to see how I'm progressing. It means less times to the trash can! I also have noticed that when I take steps, others notice even if I don't say anything. I am a difference and You too make a difference. -
Mary Gerken 4/30/2024 7:43 AMWell! Sometimes it takes a bit to remember to bring a reusable water bottle or bag, BUT I've GOT it now! It's a strange concept to some because they think - I can recycle that BUT the best to not to use in the 1st place. I have again enjoy the EcoChallenge this April and tomorrow is a new month and the play and work continues! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Online Energy AuditWhere did you do an energy audit (work, home, school, other) and what did you learn?
Mary Gerken 4/30/2024 7:23 AMDid an energy audit at home and learned that there are easy, inexpensive ways to save energy. In some ways it's by using mindfulness that I become aware of where I'm using the energy. The websites through "Learn More" where a great resource. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Zero Waste DayWhat was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
Mary Gerken 4/30/2024 7:18 AMThis is it, the last day of the challenge and although other days I've gotten close, I haven't been able to do a Zero Waste Day! Today is the day! I compost most "waste", it's the plastic I can't get around! I was excited to find a shipping store that takes boxes and packing materials. I don't have lots but I neighbor gets a few from Amazon so took his too! Felt good. Of course, it was only one stop of a few to combine tasks. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Mindful EatingWhat actions did I take during my meal to be more mindful? OR how can mindful eating be helpful to Mother Earth?
Mary Gerken 4/30/2024 7:05 AMWhen I am eating mindfully, I am fully immersed with the food that I am taking into my body. I am thankful and then more aware of what "went into" the meal. I will not waste, I will be grateful and therefore honor that which gave to me. I am a vegan, one, of many reasons is becoming mindful when eating. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Community Join a Cleanup EffortHow does working with others to clean up your community make you feel? What results did you see? Please consider posting a photo of your cleanup!
Mary Gerken 4/23/2024 10:05 AMBuilding community, even a temporary one to do a cleanup, empowered me. I make a difference with my actions & relationships. -
Mary Gerken 4/21/2024 5:34 AMI harvested 4 papaya yesterday, sharing with neighbors and friends. Mother Earth provides such delicious bounty for us - I feel so grateful and blessed. This morning, a pair of cardinals was enjoying my yard so I was enjoying them. I hear their chirping from inside now. I am in AWE. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Low Water GardeningWhat are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
Mary Gerken 4/18/2024 6:10 PMSt Pete FL's water comes from another county because we're on a peninsula. My home is on "high" ground but not far from Tampa Bay if a hurricane came along. I have a few water barrels and a rain garden that the gutters feed. -
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 QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Go Plastic-FreeWhere did plastic show up on your life that surprised you the most? What plastic alternative products did you discover you may switch to?
Mary Gerken 4/07/2024 6:26 AMIt's everywhere, and sometimes you just don't notice. I've learned that you should NOT heat plastic so I don't microwave with it. Well, most coffee makers are made with alot of plastic! How did I miss that? I'm going to the thrift store for a French press coffee maker - glass & metal.