Sophie Rock

I will organize Ecochallenge.org's discussion course 'A Different Way: Living Simply in a Complex World' with my family, friends, co-workers, or classmates.

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.

I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work or on campus.

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

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

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.

I will save up to 15 gal (56 L) of water a day or 450 gal (1,680 L) a month by installing a low-flow showerhead.

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

I will avoid wasting water while waiting for the shower or sink to heat up.

I will sign up for a local CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture).

If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

I will meet 1 new neighbor(s) each day.

I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

I will offer to help 1 person(s) who are in need each day.

I will keep 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and POC-majority neighborhoods. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

I will spend 5 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 4 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper per day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided when I have to print documents.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 5 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

Both systemic and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

I will find out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in recycling dumpsters or my curbside bin.

I will watch 2 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

I will spend at least 5 minutes using the resources provided to learn about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.