Sally W
"Conservation is a positive exercise of skill and insight, not merely a negative exercise of abstinence and caution. -Aldo Leopold "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 955 TOTAL
participant impact
-
UP TO5.0minutesspent learning
-
UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
-
UP TO220pieces of litterpicked up
-
UP TO1.0documentarywatched
-
UP TO7.0conversationswith people
-
UP TO45plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
-
UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
Sally's actions
Create Your Own Action
work place challenge
I will work with a team of employees to create a sustainability policy that includes waste reduction, including plastics. I picked this challenge because, as a municipal government entity, we should be examples for the citizens we serve.
Community
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.
Lifestyle
Support a Sharing Economy
I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.
Lifestyle
Complete a Waste Audit
I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.
Community
Host a House Party
I will host a house party with friends and/or colleagues to watch a movie or present a guest speaker on plastics.
Food
Minimize Packaging
I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.
Community
Keep My Community Clean
I will pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day.
Food
Use Reusable Bags
I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.
Food
Plant a Garden
I will plant an herb or vegetable garden in my home, workplace, or community garden
Food
Advocate For More Food Packaging Options
I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.
Pets
Thrifty Pets
I will purchase my pet's water/food dishes, collars or leashes from the thrift store.
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.
Lifestyle
Naked Bins
I will either line my trash cans with repurposed newspaper or paper bags, or I will not line my trash cans at all.
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?
-
Sally W 7/31/2019 1:58 PMThis was deluxe. Many thanks to Kim for organizing us!-
Kim Harris 7/31/2019 4:12 PMThanks, Sally, and thanks to Kristen who did at least as much organizing!
-
-
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Join a Cleanup EffortHow does working with others to clean up your community make you feel?
Sally W 7/29/2019 1:40 PMIt was really fun working with campers and co workers to pick up trash around Rattlesnake Creek today. Of course it makes me feel good to help clean up trash- working with the group made it even better. -
Sally W 7/28/2019 4:32 PMHow did the PRCA cleanup go? Sorry I missed it! I did my own University Ave litter pick up Friday evening with the dog :)-
Kathleen Walston Pagan 7/29/2019 12:47 PMThanks to the 7 dedicated people! Working in the rain is really commitment! Like Sally I regularly pick up litter while walking my dog. -
Kristen Bryant 7/29/2019 5:07 AMIt was really great! # city Departments were represented and also members of the community came. /we got a little soggy with the rain, but managed to clean up from the Waldo Rd Walmart to 23rd Ave! -
Kim Harris 7/28/2019 4:42 PMIt was not just PRCA; it was open to all Gainesville teams. There were 7 of us, working out in the rain mostly, but we got 23 blocks of Waldo Road cleaned up and had fun! Kristen posted some photos yesterday; you can scroll down in the feed to see them.
-
-
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Complete a Waste AuditWhat did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?
Sally W 7/28/2019 4:29 PM
This was only a week-long audit but paying careful attention to my waste habits just for one week was valuable. Transparency here:
-My recycle bins are full. Only two pieces of plastic mixed with the aluminum and glass (which includes overflow from last week when I had house guests). I only take my bins out when they are full so the paper bin was two weeks in the making
-Pet waste equaled about a twelve pack and six pack of card board box of cans worth (I use the cardboard boxes to house the waste)
-Compost-about a gallon. This is an area I need to work on. There were several items I put in there that were not scraps but food I let go bad. I can be more mindful in this department!
-Plastic trash- one little brown bag worth. See image. Not perfect but not bad. Room for improvement and this was just a tiny snapshot. I will do this again just to keep myself on track. Cheers. -
Sally W 7/27/2019 4:39 PMWaste audit update- You think you are aware until you really audit. The practice of the audit is beneficial regarding awareness and behavior, essentially promoting mindfulness. My eco challenge "action" ends Sunday but I think I might audit every week to keep myself in check! -
Sally W 7/27/2019 4:29 PMHey G'ville doggie friends- Earth Pets offers dog treats in bulk. I bring my own paper or mesh bag to load up when I shop for dog cookies. I know I should be baking treats at home but life is not in that place right now (step by step). Until then...Earth Pets for the win.
-
Sally W 7/26/2019 6:45 AMI started my waste audit this week on Monday- As I designate my waste to trash, recycle, compost, reuse, etc. I can't help but wonder how the accumulation would have been different had I completed an audit before this challenge. I was aware and made efforts before but this challenge has helped me improve quite a bit!-
Kim Harris 7/27/2019 7:38 AMA waste audit is challenging to do, but it will make a real impression on you to see exactly what you're putting in the trash and recycling. Good for you Sally! Knowledge is power!
-
-
Sally W 7/25/2019 2:50 PMCan anyone offer advice based on personal experience with alternative kitty litter concoctions? Dos/Don'ts When I was fostering kittens shredded news paper with shavings was great but the cat that I recently inherited is a super pooper. I have read about options but it is nice to hear from someone who has had success. Thanks in advance!-
Kim Harris 7/27/2019 7:39 AMThanks for the question, Sally, and the suggestion, Windy. I will need to check that out. I use World's Best currently. -
Windy Wood 7/26/2019 6:44 AMI use Game Bird Breeder Crumbles(FRM brand) from the Alachua Feed and Seed. It's a non-medicated corn crumble very similar to "World's Best Cat Litter", but much cheaper and you would be supporting a locally owned and operated business ($20 for 50 lbs). It clumps, but not quite as well as some of the commercially marketed litters. It's much better for kitties than the clay litters.
-
-
Sally W 7/24/2019 3:25 PMI vote an August Water-Wise Ecochallenge to compliment this one-which is pretty great.-
Kim Harris 7/25/2019 5:22 PMHave you been to EcoChallenge.org? They have a challenge coming up in October that has a water component. Or you could start your own challenge! (in your copious free time)
-
-
REFLECTION QUESTIONPets Thrifty PetsHow does buying used differ from buying new? How does each purchasing decision make you feel?
Sally W 7/17/2019 2:42 PMI love buying used. Most of my clothing, furniture, décor, etc have been purchased from thrift and antique stores/estate sales. The art that I do is mostly generated from curbside finds or other trash I gather or accumulate myself (and with the help of some folks who back my crazy ways). I know it's not a plastic creation but the attached image is made from "trash" I had around. It feels good, whether purchasing needs/wants or creating, to find an extended purpose for something...and spend less money than I would have otherwise if I purchased new!