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
Community
Express Gratitude and Random Acts of Kindness
Small acts of kindness and gratitude can brighten someone's day and create a positive ripple effect. I will express gratitude to 10 people or perform 10 random acts of kindness to spread joy and connection.
COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS
Personal
Write in a Resilience Journal
Reflection helps us adapt and grow. I will spend 5 minutes writing in a journal about challenges I face, the strengths I use, and what helps me thrive.
COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS
Community
Take Part in a Community Beautification Project
Working together builds resilience and pride in the places we care about. I will participate in 1 community projects such as a cleanup or local beautification project that strengthens connections and shared purpose.
UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Biodiversity and Wildlife
Choose Native Plants
Native plants provide food and shelter for local wildlife and help ecosystems adapt to change. I will choose native plants for my yard, balcony, or community space instead of non-native or ornamental species to support biodiversity resilience.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Participant Feed
REFLECTION
QUESTION
Biodiversity and Wildlife
What native plants did you choose, and how do they support wildlife in your area? Share a photo in the feed!
I chose native plants for a strip between my driveway and my neighbors' driveway that has several trees. For low-growing plants, I chose pasque flower, purple poppy mallow, Missouri evening primrose, wild strawberry, and violets that are already growing there in lovely patches. For taller plants, I chose orange coneflower, smooth blue aster, and flowering spurge. Based on my research on PrairieMoon.com, these plants bloom at different times of year, feeding pollinators as well as hosting caterpillars. Wild strawberries are supposed to be a great snack for birds.
I'll share a photo of the pasque flower - excited to have the state flower of South Dakota! If anyone lives in the Sioux City, Iowa area, the Loess Hills Wild Ones is having a native plant sale in mid-May: https://loesshills.wildones.org/
I'm glad to be here with you all. In an online class, it's easy to feel disconnected from each other. This Earth Month Ecochallenge reminds me of our connections: our shared planet, our shared action, and our ability to encourage and inspire one another. I'm looking forward to visiting our SUST 113 team feed throughout the month. I have a feeling it will be good for my spirits - hopefully for yours, too.
