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Grant Benesh's avatar

Grant Benesh

Capstone winter 23

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 220 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    3.0
    miles
    traveled by bike
  • UP TO
    32
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    35
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    neighbor
    met

Grant's actions

Visions of Sustainability

Join An Outdoor Project

I will join an outdoor restoration project in my community.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Consumption and Economy

Buy Only What I Need

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go by Bike

I will commute by bike 3 mile(s) each day this week and avoid sending up to 32.29 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Meet My Neighbors

I will meet 1 new neighbor(s) this week.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Use Reusable Bottles

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 5 disposable plastic bottle(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu, only buying the ingredients I need.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Ecological Principles

Reduce My Footprint

I will calculate my ecological footprint and talk with my family or roommates about way we can reduce our negative enviromental impact.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

A Call to Sustainability

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

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?


  • Grant Benesh's avatar
    Grant Benesh 3/01/2023 12:23 PM
    Last week I volunteered with the North West Trail Alliance at Gateway Green. This week I thought it would be a good idea for my challenge to join their organization again for more volunteer work. The project that I will continue to work on is building a new section of the park that will make it more fun for riders of all skill levels to enjoy and develop their skills. Mountain biking can be challenging to access, especially in the heart of the city. So being able to work on a community project that will serve the city is super cool. And it feels really good being outdoors while doing so.

  • Grant Benesh's avatar
    Grant Benesh 2/22/2023 12:24 AM
    This week i've been cutting down on unnecessary purchases and only trying to buy what i It's been a bit tough, but I've realized that I don't need to eat out or buy coffee as often as I thought. By cutting back, I've saved money and it feels more special when I do treat myself. It's also made me more mindful of my habits and just how much I can spend in a week. It feels so easy some days to eat out when I'm tired from class or feel like I don't have enough time to cook but so far I'm pleased how things are going!

    • Maya Kato's avatar
      Maya Kato 2/22/2023 5:19 PM
      Hey Grant. I've done a similar thing this week by trying to walk instead of drive. I've also realized that I a lot of habits aren't that necessary, like driving 20 minutes away to get food or to go for a hike. I can do those things in my neighborhood and save time and money. I like that you mentioned that cutting back makes those moments when you do treat yourself a little more special. I've noticed that as well since being more mindful of my lifestyle and it feels pretty rewarding!

    • Osvaldo Rios-Sabalza's avatar
      Osvaldo Rios-Sabalza 2/22/2023 12:36 PM
      Good to hear that you're able to cut back on eating out. I actually find it harder to eat out, it seems like a lot to go to some restaurant and order food. I usually eat foods that don't really take much time to cook or any at all. Have you tried looking for meals that are easy to make?

  • Grant Benesh's avatar
    Grant Benesh 2/17/2023 2:38 PM
    For this week's challenge I wanted to commute to campus by bike and just in general ride around more. I usually commute by car, and the weather has been nice so I figured I would give it a go. I've been using those Nike BikeTown electric bikes, which are pretty cool and have been fun to ride around on. The ride to campus is only about 3 miles, and it's been great to see some of the sights around the city on my way. Riding an electric bike is definitely a unique experience - there's a real sense of freedom and adventure when you're zipping around on one. Plus, you don't have to worry about getting too burned out and sweaty before class because of the electric assist. The price is a bit expensive since I wasn't able to figure out how to get the discounted deal for PSU students.

    • Sean Reyes's avatar
      Sean Reyes 2/18/2023 1:44 PM
      Grant,
      That's awesome! I've known people who switched to commuting via electric bike, and in addition to burning less gasoline by community in a car they mentioned feel better overall with regular exercise and more time to decompress before and after work. My wife used to bike to work regularly, sadly we liv too far away for it to be practical, but it's something I wish we could do. Great job!

  • Grant Benesh's avatar
    Grant Benesh 2/08/2023 10:48 PM
    For this weeks challenge, I thought it would be cool to try to be more active and talk to my neighbors more. I live in an apartment unit, with the majority of people I don't know or talk to. It can be easy to keep my head down and not say much as I walk by others, but I have been trying to say hello or start small talk with the other tenets. There are bunch of elderly ladies who live in my building too. They're such a sweet bunch, always with a smile on their faces and ready for a chat. Whenever I ride the elevator with them, we usually end up talking about the weather or the latest neighborhood news. It's always a bright moment in my day and I love the opportunity to hear about their lives and experiences. They add so much warmth and energy to our building.

  • Grant Benesh's avatar
    Grant Benesh 2/01/2023 4:36 PM
    I recently bought a used Nalgene water bottle at Goodwill and it has had a personal impact on me. I try not to use plastic bottles, but it can be so easy to get water while out and about so it felt good knowing that I was reducing my plastic waste. The act of using a reusable bottle has become a routine part of my day. I find myself drinking more since I have it on me all the time. Although it's not much, it serves as a reminder that small actions can make a big difference in protecting the environment. My girlfriend has been using the same plastic water bottle for the past four days now so I need to get her one too.

    • Alina Peek's avatar
      Alina Peek 2/01/2023 10:12 PM
      I felt very similar after recently misplacing a water bottle. When you are without, it's way easier to forget to hydrate, which I find can lead to headaches among other things. I appreciate that you included wanting to get your girlfriend one. Encouraging others not only reduces their impact, but helps with health too! :)

    • Vinny Taylor's avatar
      Vinny Taylor 2/01/2023 5:03 PM
      I feel that, I felt so much better when I got a reusable water bottle. I'm a singer so staying hydrated is super important just to get through my classes, and it's nice knowing that I'm not contributing to single use plastics in the process. It's also fun customizing my water bottle with stickers and art.

  • Grant Benesh's avatar
    Grant Benesh 1/29/2023 9:44 PM
    For this week's eco-challenge I tried to plan and prepare food in advance that would cover me for the week. I ended up eating a lot of rice, proteins, and vegetables for my main meals. I got yogurts and fruits for breakfast and snacks in between. It was tough sticking to my plan because sometimes I would underestimate or overestimate how much food I needed throughout the day. It took a lot of trial and error, but it did feel good to be able to cook all at once and then not really have to worry about it throughout the week.

    • Stacey Alcott's avatar
      Stacey Alcott 1/30/2023 6:53 PM
      Did you have enough variety? Does that matter in your diet? I have a problem with the fact that I only have a limited amount of meals I know how to make. I also have a problem with textures. I should also mention that my gut likes to rule a lot of my world. It sounds like you're on a great path to creating an easier plan for yourself!

  • Grant Benesh's avatar
    Grant Benesh 1/22/2023 8:20 PM
    I wanted to reduce my footprint for this week's challenge surrounding ecological principles. Normally I commute to class by car even though it is a relatively short drive (8 minutes), so every day last week I rode the MAX or took the bus to school. I live super close to the bus and a few blocks away from the MAX, so it wasn't very difficult to just hop on. The only downside was it took a long time (25-40ish minutes compared to 8 minutes). I saved a lot on gas and it was nice to walk around and use my body more getting to and from the stops. Will maybe look into taking the Nike bikes next time.

    • Osvaldo Rios-Sabalza's avatar
      Osvaldo Rios-Sabalza 1/25/2023 12:34 PM
      Great to hear that you've benefited from this, even though it takes more time. Even though getting to your location quicker is better, you also don't have to worry so much about your vehicle such as paying for parking, or possible dents and scratches. Do you use a Hop Pass or a Viking Pass to pay from transit? If you plan to continue taking TriMet, I'd recommend you do. Having to pay for fare can be tedious, especially if you are using dollars and coins, it will probably make you not want to use Trimet as much.

  • Grant Benesh's avatar
    Grant Benesh 1/11/2023 8:49 PM

  • Grant Benesh's avatar
    Grant Benesh 1/11/2023 8:48 PM
    I explored the neighborhoods surrounding the SW hills that PSU is right up against. I walked about 5 miles and climbed roughly 39 flights of stairs in elevation. It was very nice to see new neighborhoods in Portland that I have not had to chance to explore, let alone on foot. The elevation made for some exercise but the roads often lacked sidewalks, so it was a bit scary walking on the road at times.

    • Osvaldo Rios-Sabalza's avatar
      Osvaldo Rios-Sabalza 1/18/2023 12:45 PM
      That is a really good view that you took a picture of. It does look like you could easily slip on the stairs depending on how rainy it was. I have also had issues with roads lacking sidewalks. I've also had crosswalks be intentionally closed off near where I live on Lombard St. It's very strange and seems like a step backward from getting people to talk more rather than drive.

    • Alina Peek's avatar
      Alina Peek 1/15/2023 10:38 PM
      Very cool photo! I often forget how close we are to nature. I am glad you were able to climb those elevations.

    • Jamie Phillips's avatar
      Jamie Phillips 1/14/2023 11:52 PM
      Grant, this is so cool to hear! Your post made me realized that after being a student at PSU for years, I also haven't really explored our immediate environment. That moss is so cool looking! And having so much nature right inside the city is such a rare treat that a lot of us take for granted!