Voya Eco Action Team

I can pick up and pack out trash I see as well as anything I bring on my hike. I always talk with people when I am walking or hiking and often, they ask what I am doing. I made a great friend in my neighborhood who is 87 and spends his mornings walking, picking up trash and greeting neighbors, every day. He inspired me!

I turn off the water when soaping up and have added a bucket to water my garden. This reminds me how precious water is and how important conservation is for the planet.

Trader Joes takes comments, and they have been receptive to people asking for less plastic, more recycled paper products for packaging. This can make a huge difference in the amount of plastic floating around in the ocean, rivers and landfills.

In learning about emergency planning, I watched the Red Cross' hands only CPR training. Great training, which I hope will never be needed. But if it is, now I feel more prepared.

I prepared my area for my tomato plants last night! Nothing better than home grown summer tomatoes!

Had a close encounter of a SLIMY kind yesterday evening.... as I was clearing an overgrown patch near our back patio in preparation for planting, a 2-inch leopard slug made its way over the heel of my shoe, under my pant leg, and onto my bare ankle. GAH!! 🥴 I re-homed him/her - away from where they've been obviously feasting. Not my favorite...

So, it rains a lot in TN intermittently. I have to catch the water to apply to plants when there is no rain and cover from bugs. Recently, I used some to flush toilets to save water. Also, after mopping the floor, I used the gray water to flush. A few gallons here, a few there, it adds up!

2025 earth month ecochallenge is going well. I have invited my team. Hopefully a few will sign up. I am thinking more about these issues and enjoy reading what fellow challengers write.

We are all affected by litter on the road and in the river. The Cumberland River is the source for our water supply in Nashville, so keeping it clean is vital. When I see trash thrown from cars on the highway or bottles/cans/wrappers on local streets it detracts from the natural beauty and joy I find in walking, so now, I carry a bag and pick...

I would rather use my money for travel. Vegetable prep is vital after shopping, so they do not go to waste and are ready to cook or consume raw. I now feed my pets a lot less, because they waste too!