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Victoria Ward's avatar

Victoria Ward

Team Earth - W&C

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 278 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    0.0
    beautification projects
    supported
  • UP TO
    10
    minutes
    spent learning

Victoria's actions

Land, Water, and Air

Learn to Choose Forest-Friendly Foods

Our food choices can help protect forests and wildlife. I will spend 10 minutes learning how to choose foods that are grown in ways that protect forests, such as avoiding products linked to deforestation and seeking certified sustainable options like shade-grown coffee or palm oil-free products.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Reduce Food Waste

Wasting food also wastes water, energy, and resources. I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during the Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation, and commit to reducing my food waste throughout the challenge.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Land, Water, and Air

Calculate My Carbon Impact

Knowing our carbon footprint is the first step to reducing it. I will calculate my carbon impact and identify lifestyle changes that could reduce the carbon footprint and impacts on the environment. I will share my commitments to lowering my impact on the feed.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Conduct a Home Energy Audit

Reducing energy use helps protect the air and climate. I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy and reduce pollution.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Join a Cleanup Effort

Working together to clean up public spaces helps the environment and builds community. I will participate in 1 community cleanup efforts in my neighborhood or local area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Well-Being

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Well-Being

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Environmental issues often impact marginalized communities the most. I will spend 60 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Collect Rain Water

Rainwater collection reduces water waste and supports gardens. I will install a rain barrel or collect rainwater to use for 2 outdoor tasks, such as watering plants or cleaning.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Wildlife

Log Species to Help Scientists

The more we know about the wildlife around us, the better we can protect species. I will download a wildlife monitoring app and log 2 animal or plant species I discover.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health and Well-Being

Audit Toxic Products in my Home

Many common products contain harmful chemicals. I will spend 60 minutes researching chemicals found in products I use, and I will make a list of products I'd like to replace with safer options.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land, Water, and Air

Produce No Waste for a 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.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Plant (or Adopt) a Plant

Landscaping with native plants, gardening, and having plants inside can have benefits for nature and our health. I will plant or adopt a new plant or grow one from seeds and post a photo of it to the feed.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Wildlife

Remove Invasive Species

Removing invasive species (species that are not naturally found in my area and can outcompete native plants) can help beautify nature around me and protect local biodiversity. I will learn about invasive plants in my area and, if possible, support or participate in at least one effort to beautify nature near me by removing invasive species.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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
    Wildlife
    How did it feel to plant something, and what kind of gardening did you do (indoors, hydroponic, outside in a garden, etc)? What did you plant and where? Feel free to share a photo to the feed!

    Victoria Ward's avatar
    Victoria Ward 4/17/2025 2:21 PM
    I am trying to start some seeds indoors (basil using seeds that I saved from a plant a few summers ago, tomatoes, agastache, and sunflowers). Unfortunately, some of the basil seedlings seem to have developed some mold, but the tomatoes seem to be sprouting.

    Back in January, I also started some milk carton greenhouses in the yard to try to grow butterfly weed, autumn joy sedum, and coneflowers from seeds I harvested last fall. I am starting to see the first signs of butterfly weed and coneflower seedlings! I get so excited when a new seedling first sprouts in what looks like a barren patch of soil. The seeming impossibility of it gives me such a sense of hope.

    • Kerry Keck's avatar
      Kerry Keck 4/17/2025 2:28 PM
      Those include some excellent flowers to support our pollinators (bees & butterflies, especially). I've been trying to raise native plants from seeds for a couple years. I'm getting better at it!

  • Victoria Ward's avatar
    Victoria Ward 4/09/2025 5:43 AM
    I have been trying to go waste free for years now, and it has really raised my awareness of how hard it can be. There are days I get super close but go to a club meeting that only has paper plates and disposal utensils or eat one piece of candy with a wrapper that is then thrown out. Even though I still aspire to reach zero waste, I am pretty sure that thinking critically about my habits has substantially reduced the amount of waste I generate.