Ecochallenge.org

Choices for Sustainable Living Discussion Course

Eli Nordstrom

ENVR 352

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
349 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

21

organic meals

consumed
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

210

minutes

spent outdoors

Eli's actions

Visions of Sustainability

Collect Rain Water

I will create a rain garden or bioswale, or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Visions of Sustainability

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Consumption and Economy

Learn About Alternatives to the GDP

I will research alternatives (like Gross National Happiness) to measuring economic livelihood and the health of a nation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Consumption and Economy

Support Local Businesses

I will buy from local businesses instead of shopping online.

COMPLETED
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

Water

Learn About My Watershed

I will find local resources for learning about my watershed and the particular water issues my region faces.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Say No to Plastic

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. This week, I'll say "no" to plastic bags at the store and plastic straws in all of my drinks.

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

Food

Choose Organic Ingredients

I will enjoy 3 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients each day this week.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Ecological Principles

Recycle Everything I Can

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community this week.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Ecological Principles

Research Renewable Energy Options

I will find out if my local utilities offer an option for supporting renewable energy investment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Ecological Principles

Practice Gratitude for Earth

This week, I will spend 30 minute(s) each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

A Call to Sustainability

Pay Attention to Current Events

I will watch or read the news each day this week with a specific focus on sustainability issues and happenings.

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

A Call to Sustainability

Watch a Documentary

I will watch a movie about a sustainability issue I would like to know more about.

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?

Eli Nordstrom 4/23/2020 8:39 AM

I think something that was really highlighted this week is just how much capitalism ties into climate change. I think that its hard to imagine a world in which society lives sustainably in every facet of life without also changing the way we view money and goods. The very structure of our system points to an unsustainable and unenvironmental way of life.

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Eli Nordstrom 4/19/2020 7:43 AM

I think something that struck me about water is just how differently people value it and assess it based on where they live or where they are from. I grew up in the midwest region which is super water rich so I have never been very thoughtful about water nor have I ever considered there not being enough of it. If I were to take that mentality to California, I would face a very different reality. I think that will be one of the challenges of an ever-growing population. How do we distribute resources equitably and efficiently without killing ourselves in the process?

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Eli Nordstrom 4/08/2020 9:52 AM

Something I found interesting this week is something I observed. I am in a small rural town in Northern Minnesota that is dominated by agriculture of all sorts. When I drive through "downtown" of this city, there is only one, I repeat, one organic/local oriented grocery store. In the very place that food is being produced, you can only find one outlet for which you can consume local product. I find it interesting that I found more "local" food when I was living in a major city. Makes ya think ya know?

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Eli Nordstrom 3/31/2020 3:55 PM

So I recently started living in rural Minnesota at a cabin on camp lake. It is located near Brainerd Minnesota and is predominantly surrounded by livestock and agriculture. That being said one of my challenges was to discover a new outdoor recreation space in my area. I thought this would be outrageously easy because no matter where I go I see clusters of forest and seemingly natural spaces. What I have found is that is actually quite hard to find space to get into nature because so much of the land in rural areas is privately owned through agriculture. This makes a place that is so ideal for recreational use practically unusable which I think is very interesting.

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