"Excited to develop some lasting habits during this year's ecochallenge!"
Coleman's points
- 0 TODAY
- 175 THIS WEEK
- 775 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO160minutesbeing mindful
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UP TO78more servingsof fruits and vegetables
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UP TO645minutesspent exercising
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UP TO1.0sharing economyexplored
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UP TO30minutesspent learning
Coleman's actions
Personal
Exercise Daily
Daily movement supports our physical and mental health. I will spend 45 minutes each day exercising in a way that feels good to me, such as walking, running, stretching, or dancing.
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.)
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.
Community
Offer a Skill or Service
Sharing our talents can benefit those around us. I will offer my skills or services that contribute to local self-sufficiency, such as teaching a repair skill or helping with a neighbor's garden.
Biodiversity and Wildlife
Participate in a Habitat Restoration Project
Healthy habitats support resilient wildlife populations. I will join 1 restoration efforts, such as planting native plants, cleaning a natural area, or repairing trails to protect biodiversity.
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.
Work and Organizations
Host a Cleanup Event with Colleagues
Shared projects at work strengthen teams and build organizational resilience. I will host or join 2 cleanup events with colleagues, classmates, or group members to improve our environment and strengthen collaboration.
Personal
Meditate
Meditation helps build resilience and clarity. I will spend 10 minutes each day to meditate or create a moment of silence each day to reflect on things important to me.
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.
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.
Personal
Go Get a Check Up
Regular health check-ups help prevent problems before they start. I will schedule or attend a medical, dental, or mental health check-up to take care of my well-being.
Personal
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.
Personal
Reduce Refined Sugar
Cutting back on refined sugar can improve energy, mood, and overall health. I will limit my intake of sugary snacks and drinks by reducing refined sugar in meals or snacks each day.
Water
Collect Rain Water
Rainwater collection reduces water waste and supports local needs. I will install a rain barrel or collect rainwater to use for outdoor tasks, such as watering plants or cleaning.
Community
Swap and Share with Others
Swapping and sharing resources reduces waste and builds community bonds. I will participate in 1 swaps or sharing activities, like borrowing items, attending or hosting a swap meet, or giving away items I no longer need to support a sharing economy with friends, family, colleagues or neighbors.
Community
Host a Gathering
Bringing people together helps strengthen bonds. I will organize and host a gathering, such as a potluck, coffee meet up, or shared meal, for friends, family, colleagues, or neighbors to foster connection and community spirit.
Soil and Food
Learn How to Save Pollinators
Bees and other pollinators are vital to ecosystems and agriculture. I will spend 45 minutes learning how to support local pollinators and take at least one action—such as planting native flowers or avoiding pesticides—to help sustain resilient ecosystems and harvests.
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.
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 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Community
Join a Group
Belonging to a group can help build friendships and a sense of purpose. I will explore online or in-person groups or clubs that share my interests or goals and join a group to connect with others.
Water
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.
Water
Create My Own Water Action
Everyone’s water needs and use are different. I will create an action that works for my life and supports water resilience—and make my commitment public by sharing it in the feed to inspire others.
Water
Save Water When Washing Dishes
Dishwashers can save water — if used wisely. I will only run the dishwasher when it’s full and skip the pre-rinse to reduce water and energy use. If I don't have a dishwasher, I will turn off the tap as often as possible while washing dishes.
Participant Feed
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REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonalHow 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?
Coleman Young 4/14/2026 10:58 AMEating more fruits and veggies always make me feel physically better. I typically don't eat meat during the week, only on the weekend occasionally. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaterWhat did you notice about how mulching helps the soil and plants? How does this small action connect to bigger ideas of water resilience?
Coleman Young 4/13/2026 10:17 AMI cleaned out my gutters before mulching and found almost only pine straw in the gutters. So, I reused that in addition to some mulch.-
jon garrett 4/13/2026 6:50 PM- Parent 🐻
I always use what I take out of my gutters in compost instead of throwing it in the trash.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunityHow did you participate in the sharing economy? (Consider posting a photo!) What are the benefits of sharing resources, and how does this strengthen resilience in your relationships and community?
Coleman Young 4/10/2026 12:12 PMI did some spring cleaning and donated all the clothes I haven't worn in a while. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONSoil and FoodWhat did you learn about the role of pollinators in food systems? Did you take any action to support pollinators? If so, share a picture in the feed!
Coleman Young 4/09/2026 11:49 AMIn the future, I’d love to get into beekeeping. For now, I’m focused on establishing pollinator-friendly gardens across my property to ensure they have the resources they need when the time comes.-
Barbie Bell 4/10/2026 8:21 PM
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REFLECTION QUESTIONSoil and FoodWhat 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?
Coleman Young 4/08/2026 9:45 AMI'm planning on building a larger vegetable and herb garden, but waiting this year to see how the sun hits where I have in mind. In the meantime, I have 4 blueberry bushes that are starting to flower!-
jon garrett 4/09/2026 1:53 PM- Parent 🐻
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Barbie Bell 4/08/2026 8:05 PMI want to do a blueberry bush too. I have to wait until next year. I already have too much planned for this season already. -
Caroline Phillips 4/08/2026 9:58 AM- Plant-Based Foodie 🥬
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REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonalBefore you started this challenge, did you think you were 'addicted' to sugar? How do you feel now? What was the most challenging part of reducing refined sugar, and how did you overcome it?
Coleman Young 4/07/2026 9:28 AMThis one has been tough. I normally have some sugar in my tea, and haven't found an alternative I like outside of honey-
jon garrett 4/07/2026 12:27 PM- Parent 🐻
I have always enjoyed my tea sugar free, and coming from the south where tons of sugar in tea is the standard I have always been looked at as strange. But, I have always liked the actual taste of the tea with its bitterness and not brown sugar water.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity and WildlifeWhat native plants did you choose, and how do they support wildlife in your area? Share a photo in the feed!
Coleman Young 4/06/2026 9:40 AMI planted quite a few new plants in my yard over the weekend. One of them is this Rhododendron that should bloom a butter yellow in the future. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaterHow did changing your dishwashing habits make you more mindful of water use? What other small changes can you make to conserve water in your household?
Coleman Young 4/04/2026 1:04 PMI'm trying to remember to turn the faucet off whenever I'm not actively using it.-
Barbie Bell 4/04/2026 8:41 PM
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REFLECTION QUESTIONPersonalWhat motivated you to schedule or attend your check-up, and how did it make you feel afterward that you completed this action?
Coleman Young 4/02/2026 3:36 PMJust went and got my annual teeth cleaning. Love the way feels to have super clean teeth! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity and WildlifeWhat natural features did you leave in place, and what wildlife do you think could benefit from them?
Coleman Young 4/01/2026 12:03 PMI don't have many deciduous trees in my yard, but I've been scattering my grass clippings and pine needles at the base of my trees as well as leaving the sticks in piles for the birds to make nests with.