I’m grateful for this month’s Eco Challenge. It’s been a privilege to share the journey with the SF College team! Maybe by next year, I will have even more challenging actions. I will continue to learn and change modify my habits.

This month was definitely harder than it seems.  EVERYTHING seems to have plastic.  I really wanted cauliflower but I couldn't find any that was not wrapped in plastic.  And that was just the beginning!  We have so much work to do!

So it does not seem that I am going to accomplish all that I have set out to do by the end of the month, tomorrow. But I am proud of the choices & changes that I did make and will continue. That's what is the great thing about these challenges is that you can figure out what works & what did not. I am still doing the changes that I made last year, so I am confident that the ones that I made this year will carry over. 

Got excited that I found a company that does plastic free wooden lures for my husband to fish with. I stepped out of my comfort zone and called them to ask some questions about their company. They are a Gainesville local company that make every lure by hand. The only down side was that their packaging is plastic. 

Everyone keep up the good deeds, the world becomes better with us taking personal responsibility, and then takings action. People take notice to what we do; While walking up to bus stop from a distance, I witnessed the same person I see at the Bus stop a bunch picking up trash near the bus stop like I've done this past month. I didn't preach/lector this person, I lead by example and it seems to have paid off!!! This is must be what proud parents feels like.... :)

My husband and I have been taking our tote with dishes, utensils and mason jars to church lunches each Sunday this month. It’s given us a chance to talk about the Eco Challenge and SF Zoo’s part in getting us involved. One member brought her own collapsible bowl today because of it. Another agreed thought we should join the Eco Challenge next year as a church and use the metal utensils the church already has, and wash them. We might also bring out reusable glasses next year. It does mean more work and dishwashing, but it’s worth it!

Today my husband joined me with our dog for a “clean-up” walk. I have paper grocery bags from previous months and have filled 1.5 bags total this week just walking a short stretch of Williston Road near where we live. The main challenges are mosquitoes and telling the dog to stop. He’s gotten the idea it’s part of his work day now!  Oh...and this has made me realize our mid-size garbage container is now half full of others’ trash! That’s a lot! —- One thing we have done is cut way back on paper towel use. Dishrags, old towels and napkins work now just like they did when I was a kid. 😀

It is going great!  It is tough at times because it takes a little more time with a busy schedule. I am learning a lot and hope to pass it on to others. I did ask the pharmacist to please shred  all the paper instructions and gave her back the plastic bag it came in. I walked out with just the bottle and the pharmacist was a little confused🤔.