Sharing information with my teen son about how his life could be impacted by the water crisis, especially after I’m gone carried a serious tone but was necessary. Making him aware and teaching him how to conserve is very important. Ex.: in partnership with National Geographic Colorado college shares methods of water conservation. Reusing water from your shower in your toilet, avoiding rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher and more, are all helpful way to be “water wise”. Something new I learned is the numerous invasive species impact in freshwater systems, algae and rising temperatures being huge issues. Shorelines, people building on them and moving in, are a major factor in the health of freshwater and a large contributor to the increased invasive species. All the major factors of influences and severely interconnected per Peter Sorensen with TEDTALK on YouTube.

I use little oil at home and try to avoid frying food items mostly for nutritions sake. When researching I found it surprising how many ways you can recycle and reuse (+ store) fats and oils. To dispose of cooking oil, you can reach out to a local recycle facilities or use any container you would otherwise not be able to recycle anyway to throw it away in the trash. This is something’s I think parents and guardians should teach children since I was not aware and a young adult.

On the go I sometimes use the straws given me, when in reality I could opt for a reuseable straw or simply remove the lid that requires the straw. I have mostly done away with plastic grocery bags and opt to shop in person with reuseable bags as well. For “throw away” bags I opt for brown paper.

The more meat consumed, the more energy and resources are used up. Eating meat feeds the systems that mistreats thousands of animals. Avoiding meat reduces the demand and hardship on the planet and other communities

As a community we all share the same public areas. Day to day it is always upsetting to see unnecessarily litter (some even blows in my yard from my neighbors), but it is even more upsetting when it is in a public shared space like a park. Picking up the trash makes me feel better knowing the land is being respected and that people, children, and animals are safer.

Each person can control their waste amounts. I like to learn how I can further reduce the waste I create.