Josie Share

I am visiting family out of town this week which has presented a great opportunity to support local businesses I wouldn't otherwise be able to support. We have been buying coffee from local coffee shops and shopping from local jewelry and clothing boutiques. It has been really fun to do this while traveling instead of going to a mall and Starbucks, for example. I feel like it has enhanced my experience and made me enjoy the trip even more.

I frequently use public transportation to get around Portland, so for my challenge this week, I rode the streetcar every day to get to work, a clinic I intern at, and various other places like the grocery store. I am fortunate to have a streetcar stop right outside of my apartment and outside of my work, so it's really easy for me to get around this way. In addition to the environmental benefits of public transportation, it's also really convenient to not have to worry about driving or sitting in traffic.

For this week's eco challenge, I decided to choose not to buy disposable water bottles. I am already pretty good about bringing my own water bottle with me everywhere, so I decided to also try not to buy kombucha or other drinks (like coffee or tea) that come in disposable containers, as this is where the majority of my waste comes from. This week, I've been bringing coffee from home in a reusable mug to work instead of stopping at Starbucks and getting a plastic reusable cup. I also haven't bought any kombucha. While it comes in a glass bottle which I always recycle, there is a plastic cap and label which does ultimately end up in a landfill. While I enjoy the occasional drink from a coffeeshop, this is an action I can consistently take to reduce my contribution to landfills.

I went to the Portland State Farmer's Market last Saturday and bought beets, green beans, berries, and peppers. I used all of this local produce to make meals throughout the week (supplemented by non-local food from the grocery store).