This list could be a mile long! Bees help pollinate the food we eat and contribute to food security, they pollinate the flowers I enjoy in my garden, bees make honey I enjoy in tea or sweets and so much more. I will continue to make choices for my home garden that are good for pollinators (especially native flowers) and I won't use pesticides in my garden. This is our first spring with our garden so it is our first time seeing how our garden can help support the bees.

I have known of the overall idea of "leave no trace" for a long time, though I was not familiar with the 7 principles until this challenge. I was happy to see that I practice all of these principles. One principle I can work to be even better at is "dispose of waste properly," specifically spilled food waste. I can recall a time where I spilled a small quantity of dog food at a camp ground and did not think to pack it out. Improving on cleaning up food waste would be better for nature, but also better for those using the campsite after me.

I spent time learning how to be a responsible tourist. Specifically, I learned tips for an upcoming group trip to a beach. Some tips I know I will be including are:

• Choosing reef safe sunscreen (I am already the one purchasing sunscreen for the group, so I will happily make this decision for us all)
• Packing out all our trash on the beach day
• Using re-usable water bottles (we all have them for the trip)
• Respecting wildlife-- there are usually bird nesting grounds near where we stay.

My fiance and I are new home owners. Luckily for us, our home is beautifully landscaped, but, we need to learn how to take care of everything well. This weekend I spent time learning the names of some of the flowers in our front garden and how to care for them. Specifically, I learned about how to care for two types of flowers we have in abundance (grape hyacinth + daffodils) when they stop blooming to help prevent seeds from spreading and to promote healthy blooms next year!

• a new-to-me restaurant that had delicious food
• a bar in my neighborhood that we had never been to
• a new local supermarket that opened near our home
• a chain smoothie place, with a franchise near our home owned by a local couple
  
  I particularly enjoyed the new market, we will be shopping there more often.

This month I turned off the water while waiting for my hair mask, which I use every other week, to sit for ten minutes. I used this time to save water and apply skin care products instead.

This month I was extra mindful of vehicle idling. My car auto shuts off the engine while stopped, when the brake pedal is pressed fully. Turning the wheel or letting go of the brake will start the engine. I always knew my car had this feature, but I never specifically looked up how/when to engage it before this challenge.

I have been enjoying oranges lately! I've noticed eating more fruits and veggies helps me to cut down on other sugary or processed foods.