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Rachel  Huizar-Lopez's avatar

Rachel Huizar-Lopez

The Hartford Earth Team

Rachel 's points

  • 0 TODAY
  • 75 THIS WEEK
  • 313 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    120
    gallons of water
    saved
  • UP TO
    55
    more servings
    of fruits and vegetables
  • UP TO
    197
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    2.0
    individuals
    recognized for sustainability

Rachel 's actions

Work and Organizations

Recognize Someone’s Contribution

Recognition strengthens trust and connection. I will recognize 2 people in my organization for their contributions, showing appreciation that helps build resilience and morale.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Personal

Exercise Daily

Daily movement supports our physical and mental health. I will spend 15 minutes each day exercising in a way that feels good to me, such as walking, running, stretching, or dancing.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY 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

Personal

Enjoy Fruits and Veggies

Eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is a simple way to boost our personal health and support a more resilient food system. I will prepare and enjoy 4 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Water

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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Soil and Food

Preserve or Store Food

Preserving food through freezing, drying, or fermenting helps food last longer, reduces waste, and ensures supplies during difficult times. I will preserve or store food during the challenge to strengthen household and community resilience.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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

Biodiversity and Wildlife

Reduce Light Pollution

Too much artificial light can confuse and harm animals, especially those active at night. I will reduce sources of outdoor light or switch to wildlife-friendly fixtures to support healthy habitats.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Biodiversity and Wildlife

Leave the Leaves

Fallen leaves, logs, and brush provide shelter and food for wildlife. I will leave natural features in my yard or community space to help strengthen biodiversity and soil resilience.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed


  • Rachel  Huizar-Lopez's avatar
    Rachel Huizar-Lopez 4/14/2026 7:33 AM
    • Plant Parent 🪴
    I have really enjoyed being intentional about reconnecting with nature and learning about the various ways to help our environment. It's really helped me de-stress. I've also watched some documentaries related to Earth Month on Disney+, and it's been very enlightening. It's helped me to be more aware of my surroundings and the actions that we do/don't do. This ecochallenge is a great way to keep me accountable for goals that I set for myself, and it's great to see the overall impact that we have made collectively with the small changes that we make.
  • 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?

    Rachel  Huizar-Lopez's avatar
    Rachel Huizar-Lopez 4/09/2026 7:31 AM
    • Plant Parent 🪴
    I use ginger and turmeric almost everyday, so I decided to plant some of the roots and they begun to grow. The ginger grew first and now I have fresh raw ginger that is home grown. The turmeric I had to plant twice, but it is now starting to sprout. Very easy to grow and useful for many many things.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Soil and Food
    What preservation method did you try, and how did it work for you? How can these practices help reduce waste and improve food security?

    Rachel  Huizar-Lopez's avatar
    Rachel Huizar-Lopez 4/09/2026 7:26 AM
    • Plant Parent 🪴
    I invested in reusable vacuum seal bags to store my cheeses, fruits and vegetables to help preserve them longer. I have to admit they really work and I love them. I also began to grow some of my own herbs and vegetables, by simply keeping the stumps while I was cleaning them. Can't wait until the plants mature.

  • Rachel  Huizar-Lopez's avatar
    Rachel Huizar-Lopez 4/07/2026 8:18 AM
    • Plant Parent 🪴
    Went down to the coast this weekend and took the time to walk down the on the beach with family, walked 2 miles in one direction without realizing it and was forced to walk it back to return to our room. Felt a little sore afterwards, but good overall. This is perhaps the longest I have walked in a long time.

    • Elizabeth Overholt's avatar
      Elizabeth Overholt 4/07/2026 8:25 AM
      This is amazing and you got to do it with family which makes it even better. You should try to do a family walk multiple times a week.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal
    How does eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat positively affect yourself, other people, and our planet? What fruits or vegetables did you try this week, and which was your favorite?

    Rachel  Huizar-Lopez's avatar
    Rachel Huizar-Lopez 4/01/2026 2:17 PM
    • Plant Parent 🪴
    I am really making an effort to eat more fruits and vegetables in general and less meats and processed foods for health reasons. Today I had a baked potato for lunch and had my fruits as snacks throughout the day, 2 apples and a tangerine. I loved the apples the most.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Work and Organizations
    How did recognizing someone’s effort affect your relationship or team dynamic? How can appreciation strengthen trust and teamwork where you are?

    Rachel  Huizar-Lopez's avatar
    Rachel Huizar-Lopez 4/01/2026 2:11 PM
    • Plant Parent 🪴
    As a facilitator I have a class that is coming to an end tomorrow. I took the time to reflect on the past few weeks as I am preparing for their graduation, and I began thinking about those that helped me get to where I am now. There were 2 people that stood out the most. So I want to be sure to recognize them for helping me with my accomplishments. I believe recognizing others allows them to know that they are appreciated and encourages them to continue that behavior.