Skip to main content

Washington County (Official Team for Employees of Washington County Oregon) Feed

BACK TO TEAM PAGE

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?


  • Robin Straughan's avatar
    Robin Straughan 7/31/2019 11:49 AM
    OPB posted a nice article about solutions for reducing plastic pollution. Enjoy! https://www.opb.org/news/article/plastic-pollution-solutions-recycling-bans-alternatives/#.XUGsg_DVpxY.mailto

  • Jennifer Nelson's avatar
    Jennifer Nelson 7/31/2019 8:03 AM
    Thank you everyone for an awesome EcoChallenge! I'm here to capture our success - you can of course continue to log those actions and take pride on our accomplishment. I just need a snapshot now for the EcoTimes.  ALSO - last chance to win a straw set! Answer one of the reflection questions, reply to this post, add your own post... I'll be wrapping up distribution of prizes today no later than 5pm. :)

  • Ann Hawkins's avatar
    Ann Hawkins 7/30/2019 11:59 AM
    First day back from vacation and I realized how much of an impact this challenge has made on my daily decisions!  I took a stainless steel straw with me and threw a sturdy tote bag over my shoulder on daily excursions.  It was a great feeling to know that all I had to do was "put it in the bag" and be out the door. 

  • Max Lopez's avatar
    Max Lopez 7/30/2019 8:08 AM
    Happy Tuesday! May your day be plastic free! :)
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Buy Unpackaged Produce
    Why do you think these produce products started amassing so much plastic packaging? Who is the plastic packaging really serving -- the consumer, the producer, or someone else?

    Jan Jensen's avatar
    Jan Jensen 7/29/2019 9:21 AM
    I can't seem to find a good answer as to why all the plastic boxes and wrappers for produce, but was surprised to read how much water is used for the pre-packaged triple rinsed produce.  I will attempt to locate and purchase bulk greens whenever possible.  

    I am going to replant lettuce and spinach in my garden every 10 days to keep a continuous supply, adding shade netting so that I can grow it successfully during the warmest months.  For people with limited garden space, you can grow it in a very small area and even in containers on a deck.  A package of seed, for a month of salads costs $1.50 and one plastic box for a night or two, $3.00.    

    • Max Lopez's avatar
      Max Lopez 7/30/2019 8:14 AM
      For the first time in my life I have my own small garden! I had a lot of misses, but a couple of good hits. I'm excited to take what I've learned from this year (cherry tomatoes grow very well, too well!), Peas need to be up front, box elder bugs are really bad! Next year I'm going to try spinach!

    • Robin Straughan's avatar
      Robin Straughan 7/31/2019 11:53 AM
      New Seasons has a good supply of bulk greens at a reasonable price, as do many farmers markets this time of year. 

    • Jennifer Nelson's avatar
      Jennifer Nelson 7/29/2019 10:32 AM
      University of Michigan did a good life cycle analysis on food packaging and highlighted where it pays off in terms of having a lower carbon footprint to preserve food than to waste it. That said, nothing will ever beat growing your own for sustainability on a local level!

      Here is the executive summary of the study, if you have time and interest later: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/PEF-Packaging-ExecutiveSummary.pdf

  • Jennifer Nelson's avatar
    Jennifer Nelson 7/29/2019 9:00 AM
    Tomorrow's class on low waste food packaging has been cancelled due to lack of rsvp. Thanks for your patience and participation in the EcoChallenge!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Brusha Brusha Brusha
    What are the benefits of switching to bamboo toothbrushes? How would you implore others in your community to make this switch as well?

    Jan Jensen's avatar
    Jan Jensen 7/29/2019 8:52 AM
    Bamboo is awesome.  It grows super fast, mostly without chemicals.  If you remove the bristles, they are biodegradable and are naturally antimicrobial.    

    With over 7 billion people in the world, can you imagine the amount of plastic toothbrushes saved from landfills?

    • Jennifer Nelson's avatar
      Jennifer Nelson 7/29/2019 8:59 AM
      Jan, you win some straws! Thanks for participating and posting to the feed. :D

  • Elizabeth Love's avatar
    Elizabeth Love 7/29/2019 8:48 AM
    Oh the glory that is pink but it's all reusable and it makes me happy.  And the plants in the background make it nicer in here too.  Cleaning the air and bringing positivity too!  The starts are in one of my coffee mugs that has been repurposed to growing plants.

  • Kristen Ornelas's avatar
    Kristen Ornelas 7/29/2019 8:42 AM
    I have really appreciated being a part of this challenge.  It has made me more mindful of my habits.  Instead of grabbing for a self-sealing plastic bag, I have been using a reusable container.  Instead of reaching for the plastic wrap, I am also reaching for a reusable container.  It makes me feel good to be reducing the amount of items going into the landfill.

    • Jennifer Nelson's avatar
      Jennifer Nelson 7/29/2019 8:46 AM
      And now you win! It was great to hear how the challenge has been for you - I'd call that a win-win actually! Please check email for how to receive your prize soon.

  • Jennifer Nelson's avatar
    Jennifer Nelson 7/29/2019 8:38 AM
    Congratulations team for making it this far! I'm so proud of all the change we have made and look forward to highlighting our collective impact on Horizons Wednesday. And now, without further ado, the final weekly winners are....

    Laura, Max, Alicks, Angie, Margarita, Julie, Elizabeth, Robin, Lynn, Thea, Isela, Jared, Amy and Jennifer S.

    But guess what? That's only 14 people... we have 20 prizes... 6 more people can win!

    How can you win a set of two silicone straws in the last 3 days of this challenge? Sign in to the EcoChallenge, and share something to the feed. Ideas for sharing include:

    - Answer a reflection question
    - Show a photo related to the challenge you selected
    - Post a thought about how the EcoChallenge was for you

    I'll keep an eye out for the first 6 people who have never posted to the feed and be sure to send them their prize too.

    Thank you all for taking the challenge and building a little sustainability muscle this summer!