Cindy Lane

DeSantis Landscapes

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
567 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

66

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

1.0

waste audit

conducted
UP TO

39

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

210

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

33

whole food meals

consumed
UP TO

104

gallons of water

have been saved

Cindy's actions

Water

Brush My Teeth Without Running Water

I will save up to 8 gallons (30 L) of water each day by turning it off while brushing my teeth.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

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

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Personal Waste Audit

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 3 meatless meal(s) and/or 3 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Meet My Local Farmers

I will visit my nearest farm to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those who produce my food in other regions of the world to make better choices when I shop.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

I will spend at least 90 minutes finding out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Choose Organic Ingredients

I will enjoy 5 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients each day.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Whole Foods Diet

I will enjoy 3 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Michael Pollan states that "it is better to pay the grocer (our edit: or the farmer!) than the doctor." What are your thoughts on this?
Cindy Lane 4/23/2019 2:45 PM
Definitely - I couldn't agree more. I would much rather pay a little extra at the farmer's market to obtain healthier food options than to not eat healthy and suffer health problems. Not only are health problems costly physically, but financially they can be crushing. The number of Americans living with a chronic health condition is around 40% and many of these conditions are food-related, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Can organic farming feed the world? Which side of the argument do you fall on? Why?
Cindy Lane 4/23/2019 2:41 PM
Organic farming typically results in lower crop yields and requires nitrogen-rich soil. With the issues facing our climate due to global warming, I'm not convinced 100% organic farming can feed the world, however, I do feel it is a step in the right direction to providing healthier food options.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than in other places, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How do we start shifting a meat-focused food culture?
Cindy Lane 4/23/2019 2:39 PM
I think people in North America eat more meat than other places because it's often more affordable for these individuals. Many holiday traditions are centered around meat and these traditions are handed down generation to generation. Another factor are the marketing campaigns put forth by the meat industry encouraging people to eat beef, chicken, or pork.

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Cindy Lane 4/23/2019 2:35 PM
I joined the challenge because I wanted to learn more about how I can live a greener and more ec0-friendly life.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

When you know who produces your food, you are connecting personally to your complex regional food system. What are the advantages of knowing who produces your food and where it comes from? Do you think this might enable someone to advocate for a better quality of life for those who produce their food, both near and far?
Cindy Lane 4/17/2019 12:44 PM
It's extremely important to understand where our food comes from. One of the biggest concerns a society should have is what is happening to their food and water supply. I definitely feel this information would add to one's quality of life.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

Bringing your own bags and containers to the grocery store, and even to restaurants for leftovers, are a couple of ways to reduce your waste. What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
Cindy Lane 4/17/2019 12:38 PM
I try not to utilize single-use items, and if I do, I try to use them more than once. I have been taking my own bags to the store for over a year and no longer feel guilty for throwing the plastic bags away.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

What are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
Cindy Lane 4/17/2019 12:37 PM
I am new to Western Oregon and while there is a large amount of rain between fall and early summer, there are several months which tend to be dry. Having moved from an area that has been in a moderate to severe drought for decades, I have personally seen the effect drought has on an area. I would like to see changes in the way we consume and waste water. Grey-water utilization must be considered wherever possible.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

Why is it so difficult to understand the impacts our purchases and waste have on other people, animals, and places? How might your experience with this challenge impact your future consumption and choices?
Cindy Lane 4/17/2019 12:34 PM
Personally, I think it's hard to imagine that one person can make a difference by changing our habits and making better choices. I am one person out of 7 billion+, but if every person changed their habits and made better choices, the impact would be monumental.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Does this surprise you? Where would you rather use this money?
Cindy Lane 4/12/2019 11:06 AM
It's so easy to get into the habit of planning meals ahead of time and it's healthier. We will be saving money, which will go towards vacations.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Consider the ways you can garden: a plot of land? a patio container? hanging basket? windowsill gardens? What would work best for your living situation and lifestyle?
Cindy Lane 4/12/2019 11:05 AM
We have planted a herb garden with basil, mint, thyme, and oregano in containers on our patio.

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