I have to admit, now that we're at the last day of the challenge, I'm going to miss it.  It's been fun working hard on this very important goal.  I've really enjoyed working with our group and sharing the challenge. It's also been eye opening as to how "enmeshed" our lives are with single-use plastic.  This experience has not only affected me  in a positive way but also my family and friends..  All are paying more attention to their plastic use.  I'm also more aware of waste everywhere, make a "leftover casserole" and don't throw that food away.  Turn off the water the 20 seconds while I'm washing my hands.  I'm ready to do some more work on saving our beautiful springs.  I saw a piece on TV 20 on the Florida Springs Institute and a three day workshop they just held.  I'll be researching their upcoming events while continuing to keep my goals and add new ones from the Plastic Free Ecochallenge.   https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Today is the last day of the official challenge, but I hope we all agree that we will keep this up! I have learned a great deal about living with intention and monitoring the consequences of my choices. It IS hard sometimes - just today I ordered takeout for lunch without even thinking about the fact that it would come in Styrofoam :( . BUT - some action, however small and sometimes flawed, is always better than no action at all. It's been great engaging in this project with you all. Best wishes! 

I have been home sick with a kidney infection the past two days, so I have not been able to meet most of my daily challenges. However, today I am working on student resumes and watching an environmental documentary (which was one of my one-time challenges). We do what we can, right? :)  

     I was at square dancing last night, and they announced that there is a fundraiser involving saving the hard plastic caps on soda, water, detergent, etc. bottles to benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children.  If you would like to do this, please turn them in to me, and I'll turn them in at square dance.
     I know we're trying to do away with these bottles, but we still use some in my family and at school.  Even though the bottles can go into the recycle bin, the harder plastic tops damage the recycling machinery and should be thrown away.  Please see link to the Gainesville Sun article that I posted on 7/9.  In the Q and A, they list many things that we think we can recycle but can't.
     Anyhow, I thought this fund-raiser was a potential win/win!

Laura, Travis, Mark (honorary member because he has to "live" with this challenge :-) ), and I had fun at One Love Café on Friday talking about our progress, sharing stories and tips, and making plans for the rest of the month.  We talked about doing a kayaking river clean-up on the SF near Ginnie Springs.  No date set yet, but that would be a fun way to cap off our monthly challenge.  

I wish I could add more activities, but there seems to be a limit.