Audrey Strawderman

National Aquarium

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
596 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

5.0

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

13

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

14

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill

Audrey's actions

Food

Skip the Straw

I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Start Composting

I will start a compost collection at home, work, or school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Plant a Garden

I will plant an herb or vegetable garden in my home, workplace, or community garden

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Fresh as a Daisy

I will use deodorant either from a bar or a jar or I will make my own.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusables at Work

I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Estimate Your Plastic Consumption and Go #PlasticNeutral

I will visit rePurpose website, complete the 3-minute plastic consumption calculator, and explore how I can reBalance my annual plastic footprint.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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
Food Start Composting

Do an inventory of how much food waste you would save from going to the landfill if you start composting all of the time. What are the added benefits of having compost that is readily accessible?

Audrey Strawderman 7/15/2019 8:33 AM

It is so beneficial diverting food waste from landfills and dumps. These items are made to break down naturally and return to the earth; composting is the solution to facilitate that. It is a natural way to introduce more nutrients into the soil and grow more crops. With space dwindling in dumps and landfills, why take that space up with naturally decomposing matter?

It is important to have this option readily accessible to encourage many people to start composting, because often it seems that the barrier lies with people not wanting decomposing plant matter to be stuck in their homes with no places to put it, or just not knowing where to begin. Having a strong community-based composting program or pile is a great way to have questions answered and encourage more people to contribute without having to put in all the effort of starting a compost pile themselves. The more we contribute to greater the reward for our own gardens and the planet!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Skip the Straw

Have you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.

Audrey Strawderman 7/10/2019 11:48 AM

I have noticed a significant change in my community. Many restaurants and cafes that I frequent now will only provide a plastic straw upon request or simply will not provide them at all. Many places have also switched to paper straws.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care Fresh as a Daisy

Do some research on the toxic side affects of aluminum deodorant. After reading the side effects, can you think of instances where you may have experienced the side effects from this form of deodorant?

Audrey Strawderman 7/10/2019 11:38 AM

No, I have not experienced adverse effects, but I was interested in trying this challenge to save plastic packaging waste and money over time.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Plant a Garden

Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?

Audrey Strawderman 7/10/2019 11:14 AM

It is so rewarding being able to grow all kinds of vegetables, herbs, and fruits and use them in my own recipes! It is very relaxing after a long day to tend my garden and see such impressive results. I have also noticed bees in my yard which are attracted to some of my flowers!

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