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Michelle Ryan's avatar

Michelle Ryan

Green Spoon Crew

"See the good. See the good. See the good. -Sharon Salzberg"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 705 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    Carbon Footprint
    Calculated
  • UP TO
    1.0
    water footprint
    calculated
  • UP TO
    270
    minutes
    spent learning

Michelle's actions

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Biodiversity + Wildlife

Endangered Species

Wildlife and biodiversity play an important role on our planet and are being threatened each year. I will spend 20 minutes each day learning about the current status of local or global wildlife and how I can align my actions to support their livelihood.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Freshwater + Oceans

Smart Seafood Choices

We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 10 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and share what I learned on the feed.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Freshwater + Oceans

Learn About Water Justice in My Area

I will spend at least 10 minutes a day using the resources provided to learn about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate + Air

Calculate My Carbon Impact

Carbon emissions can show up in many surprising ways in our life. I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how lifestyle changes could reduce the carbon footprint and impacts on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Freshwater + Oceans

Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans

I will spend 10 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land + Forests

Regenerative Agriculture and Me

Regenerative agriculture focuses on farming and ranching in a way that supports life and restores the soil. I will spend 10 minutes learning about regenerative agriculture and find out if any nearby farms practice regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land + Forests

Garden for your friends and neighbors

My neighbors have been impressed by our garden that we've expanded yearly and they've asked me to grow them a few things. They're older and most likely don't have the energy to tend to their own garden. I'll start growing butter lettuce in the next month or two for my lovely neighbor across the street. It's so rewarding!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land + Forests Forest-Friendly Foods
    What did you learn about forest-friendly foods? How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?

    Michelle Ryan's avatar
    Michelle Ryan 4/25/2024 5:08 AM
    Changing our diets for the planet is always easy in the beginning, it's the sticking with it that's tricky!

  • Michelle Ryan's avatar
    Michelle Ryan 4/11/2024 5:27 AM
    Ugh. The more I read about water injustice near me and all around me for that matter - the more frustrated I get. We literally have water issues in every state, EVERYWHERE! I was ignorant to think it was just here and there.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land + Forests Regenerative Agriculture and Me
    What did you learn about the practice and benefits of regenerative agriculture? How can you support healthy farming practices for people and the planet?

    Michelle Ryan's avatar
    Michelle Ryan 4/10/2024 5:40 AM
    North Carolina's top ranking ag is tobacco, potatoes, turkey, cucumbers, and hogs. We're learning that our systems aren't sustainable long-term so we're working towards becoming leaders in regenerative agriculture. Super cool!

  • Michelle Ryan's avatar
    Michelle Ryan 4/10/2024 5:13 AM

  • Michelle Ryan's avatar
    Michelle Ryan 4/09/2024 4:30 AM
    Dr. King once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Climate + Air Calculate My Carbon Impact
    Where in your life do you emit the most carbon? What change are you willing to make in your daily life to reduce this output?

    Michelle Ryan's avatar
    Michelle Ryan 4/08/2024 8:42 AM
    Yikes, my carbon footprint isn't that great. I have some work to do!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Freshwater + Oceans Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
    What did you learn about freshwater and oceans you did not already know? In sharing this information with people in your life, which conversation was impactful to you?

    Michelle Ryan's avatar
    Michelle Ryan 4/08/2024 5:36 AM
    "Life in the deep sea is difficult, so many fishes there have special adaptations to improve their ability to feed and to mate. Deep sea anglerfish may not regularly encounter suitable prey, so they have very large mouths and stomachs and long, pointy teeth in order to facilitate capturing and swallowing anything that they find. They also have a lure, like all anglerfishes, that they use to attract prey. The deep sea anglerfish’s lure is filled with bacteria that make their own light. Using a muscular skin flap, a deep sea anglerfish can either hide or reveal its lighted lure. By pulsing the light and moving the lure back and forth, they successfully attract pelagic crustaceans, fishes, and other prey."

    I totally thought this was just in the cartoons. lol.

  • Michelle Ryan's avatar
    Michelle Ryan 4/08/2024 5:31 AM
    I've been checking in daily and learning about water injustice near me, and I've learned that we have new and unregulated poultry farms, next to our pig farms, that are causing seriously contaminated water, due to runoff, around our underserved communities, who are too scared to speak up, due to possible fines they may have to pay for water problems and issues that are out of their control. All this is happening right next to me, in my state, and I had no idea. Super infuriating.

  • Michelle Ryan's avatar
    Michelle Ryan 4/04/2024 2:27 PM
    Earth Day
    I am the Earth
    And the Earth is me.
    Each blade of grass,
    Each honey tree,
    Each bit of mud,
    And stick and stone
    Is blood and muscle,
    Skin and bone.
    And just as I
    Need every bit
    Of me to make
    My body fit,
    So Earth needs
    Grass and stone and tree
    And things that grow here
    Naturally.
    That's why we
    Celebrate this day.
    That's why across
    The world we say:
    As long as life, As dear, as free,
    I am the Earth
    And the Earth is me.
    — Jane Yolen
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Freshwater + Oceans Understand My Water Footprint
    What did you learn about your water footprint and what are you going to do to reduce and be aware of the water you use?

    Michelle Ryan's avatar
    Michelle Ryan 4/03/2024 10:54 AM
    Yay, my water footprint has decreased since last year. This makes me so happy.