Kaylie Teschner

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

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 10 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

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

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

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

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

What can lack of access to nutritious food affect a community? How can having access to nutritious food help a community become more resilient?

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus to reduce pollution in the environment and in local communities.

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

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

I will keep track and reduce my consumption of refined sugars, including sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

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

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 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.