Lena Stepp
"Fill cups, grow community, spark joy, and greet the winds of change with optimism!"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 517 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO14meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO7.0locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO7.0organic mealsconsumed
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UP TO3.0documentarieswatched
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UP TO2.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO3.0petitionssigned
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UP TO70minutesspent outdoors
Lena's actions
Visions of Sustainability
Eco-friendly Gardening
I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.
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.
Consumption and Economy
Support a Sharing Economy
I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.
Transportation
Locally-Sourced Meals
I will source 1 meal(s) from local producers each day this week.
Transportation
Improve a Bus Stop
I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or some other small improvement.
Community
Sign a Petition
I will sign a petition in support of an environmental or social initiative in my state.
Community
Connect with a Nonprofit
I will connect with a local nonprofit, environmental or otherwise, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.
Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 2 hour(s) in my community this week.
Water
Watch The Story of Bottled Water
I will watch The Story of Bottled Water to learn more about bottled water's impacts on the environment.
Water
Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants
I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency.
Water
Learn About My Watershed
I will find local resources for learning about my watershed and the particular water issues my region faces.
Food
Choose Organic Ingredients
I will enjoy 1 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients each day this week.
Food
Watch a Documentary
I will watch a documentary film about food with family and friends and talk about what we learned.
Food
Reduce Animal Products
I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.
Ecological Principles
Join An Outdoor Project
I will join an outdoor restoration project in my community.
Ecological Principles
Research Renewable Energy Options
I will find out if my local utilities offer an option for supporting renewable energy investment.
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.
Ecological Principles
Practice Gratitude for Earth
This week, I will spend 10 minute(s) each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.
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.
A Call to Sustainability
Explore My Area
I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.
A Call to Sustainability
Watch a Documentary
I will watch a movie about a sustainability issue I would like to know more about.
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?
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Lena Stepp 5/20/2021 9:51 AMIn completing my Eco-Change project, I was going to need a lot of soil, bark, and rock. I checked the Nextdoor app and saw a neighbor posting about free river rock in a mile away! I sent her a message and the next day I went over to her house with a fleet of buckets in the back of my car. She had a wheelbarrow full of extra river rock from her own extensive backyard project and didn't know what to do with it. I filled my buckets, offered her a spider plant in trade, and completed my project without another trip to the store! Thanks neighbor Sarah! -
Lena Stepp 5/11/2021 11:47 AMI've been volunteering lately with Solve to do trash pickups in nature areas and walking trails around Portland. This last weekend, we were at Oaks Bottom, and I thought we'd be picking up litter along the trails. But no, the Parks & Rec employee led us down to the gate for the wetland, where people generally aren't allowed. At first we were dubious, I felt like we were just trampling around the wetland with empty bags. Then, we found the area she had directed us toward- the area just below the parking lot and trailhead. The banks of the pond were covered in trash, unceremoniously dumped over the side of the lot into the wildlife refuge below. This was by far the hardest pickup I've done since there was so much trash and we had to mountain-goat our way up the steep forested slope to retrieve much of it.
Originally, the motivation to volunteer came from the trash I could see. This week, I was astounded by all the trash I couldn't see. Time to sign up for more! -
Lena Stepp 4/29/2021 10:08 AMThis week my focus has been on my eco-change garden and in combination with this week's course on water I'm thinking a lot about how I water my plants. At the moment I use a timer-sprinkler for the whole garden, and manually watering with a hose attachment for the backyard. I've been looking into drip irrigation systems or soaker hoses and trying to decide which method is best for our house. Which one will get me the best spread of water without wasting it on concrete or bark? More research is needed! -
Lena Stepp 4/22/2021 11:50 AMMy grocery shopping and food preparation choices have been great this week. I'm really happy with how my diet has changed. In addition, by shopping more mindfully and pulling out the ol' compost bin, we made less waste this week than we usually do! That wasn't a benefit I was looking for but I'll definitely take it! -
Lena Stepp 4/15/2021 12:03 PMI sat down with my boyfriend and pulled up the PGE website last night and made sure we were signed up for the Green Future Choice (thanks for reminding me christina!). We also briefly looked at getting a bid for solar, the front of our house gets great light when it shines. More research is needed!-
Abigail Jones 4/17/2021 10:54 PMThis is so great that we have this option through PGE! I moved recently and need to double check that I'm using this option too. Hope all goes well with the solar adventure!
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Lena Stepp 4/13/2021 9:59 AMSpending time in nature is always a plus, I'm glad my challenges send me outside so much! My pup and I went for a walk at Tryon yesterday. Today I sat in the garden, watching the birds, thinking about flowers, feeling the wind... peace.
Now that my schedule is set, I signed up for two SOLVE cleanups (Lents 4/18 and Oaks Bottom North Entrance 5/8 if anyone wants to join...) I've also been doing some research into composting. I have tried a few times to start but it always seems to turn into a mess, fruit flies everywhere. Am I too lazy to compost? Any tips? -
Lena Stepp 4/08/2021 11:51 AMThis week has been a nice introduction, getting my mindset in the right place to be able to take on more challenges and assess where in my life I have room to grow and where I've become stuck. Watching documentaries about sustainable living environments, checking out my local nature areas with my dog, and keeping an eye on the current news were the ways I surveyed my life this week to make way for change. This year, spring cleaning feels a little more important since I've been at home so much lately. It's a good change of perspective do it with sustainability freshly in mind.