Ecochallenge.org

Campus Ecochallenge

Allison Quinn

University of St. Thomas Faculty & Staff

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
264 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

135

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

90

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

30

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

1.0

pound

waste composted

Allison's actions

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Core Values

We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Work-Life Balance

I will not work more than 8 hour days each day to practice work-life balance.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Limit Social Media

I will limit my social media use to once each day reducing my daily use by 30 minute(s)

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 30 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 45-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 90 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and my natural surroundings.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Joyful Movement

I will spend 30 minutes doing an activity where I'm both moving my body and enjoying myself.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 30 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Happiness

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Energy

Learn About Renewable Energy

I will spend 60 minutes learning more about renewable energy alternatives (i.e. solar, wind, biomass) in my region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Visit A Local Farm

I will visit a nearby farm to pick my own fruits and veggies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy Learn About Renewable Energy

What inspires you to act on sustainable energy and other energy issues?

Allison Quinn 4/22/2021 2:51 PM

My brother works in transmission planning as an electrical engineer, so we have many conversations about sustainable energy and energy issues in his industry. I'm inspired to act by his helpful education, as I know more of how and why things matter.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Support Local Pollinators

Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

Allison Quinn 4/22/2021 2:49 PM

Because of our food supply, and for the longevity of plants and trees who require pollination to grow. I just talked about pollination with my FYEX students and was proud that nearly all of them knew how critical pollinators are to growing and sustaining produce.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Compost Food Waste

New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? How will you use your compost once it is ready?

Allison Quinn 4/22/2021 2:46 PM

We just bought a large composting container for our garden plot and I'm so excited! We will utilize the compost as organic matter for the garden, and as a space to discard rotten or inedible veggies we grow.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity Limit Social Media

Social media can keep us connected with loved ones, make us laugh, and help us to learn new things. It can also create echo chambers and take more time than we realize or intend to give. After completing this action for a few days, how do you feel? What do you notice?

Allison Quinn 4/22/2021 2:45 PM

I feel more connected to my family, and my neighborhood, as well as my work. I'm making more of a point to call friends, or text them, vs. interacting through social media.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Joyful Movement

What's your favorite activity(ies) in which you experience joy while being active and moving?

Allison Quinn 4/22/2021 2:42 PM

I LOVE bird watching while I'm walking or running. Today I saw a brown bird near the lake and recorded it's call. I realized when I got home that it was the female red-winged black bird, but that the females are actually brown in color which I did not know :)

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Visit A Local Farm

How do our current food growing and manufacturing processes affect our future and the future of Earth?

Allison Quinn 4/22/2021 2:41 PM

I marked this task off early as I know the challenge ends soon, but I'm going with my partner to an organic farm this weekend. He's taking an organic vegetable production class at UMN for his master's program, so I'm hoping to to learn more about their growing process and organic techniques to help sustain the environment.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Exercise Daily

How can you incorporate other personal values (like quality time with friends or spending time in nature) into your exercise routine?

Allison Quinn 4/21/2021 12:01 PM

I often call a friend I've been missing on nature walks after work. It's a great time to be outside and debrief with someone I care about.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Plant an Herb Garden

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?

Allison Quinn 4/21/2021 11:59 AM

I feel grateful to have access to a family friend's plot, where my partner and I can grow vegetables and flowers. We built a seed-starting stand this year and have started all sorts of veggies and prairie plants. This year was the first year where we planted a cover crop over the winter (winter rye) to see how that enhances the soil.

Read More