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Samantha Gibbs's avatar

Samantha Gibbs

UFV Ecochallenge 2023

"I want to be defined by the things that I love, not the things I hate, not the things I'm afraid of, not the things that haunt me in the middle of the night. I just think that you are what you love. - Taylor Swift "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,992 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    174
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    520
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    32
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    256
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    414
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    2.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    9.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    142
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    390
    minutes
    spent learning

Samantha's actions

Energy

Upgrade My Windows

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 around the world who produce my food in order to make better choices when I shop.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

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

Community

Host A Watch Party

I will host a watch party to screen a documentary about an issue that matters to me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 32
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Joyful Movement

I will spend 10 minutes doing an activity where I'm both moving my body and enjoying myself.

COMPLETED 32
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Carry my Trash

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

COMPLETED 32
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Needs Vs. Wants

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 32
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME 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

Energy

Use an Energy Meter

I will use an energy meter to monitor my energy use and identify opportunities to save power.

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 60 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard or local community garden.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Engage In Active Listening

I will practice actively listening to a friend, family member, co-worker, acquaintance, or someone who I may disagree with in at least 5 conversations.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

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

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

Health

Reduce refined sugar

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

COMPLETED 32
DAILY ACTIONS

Energy

Heat and Cool Naturally

I will naturally heat and cool my house, office, or dorm room by opening or closing my windows, curtains, and blinds, and by using fans.

COMPLETED 32
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Audit Toxic Cleaning Products

I will spend 45 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home or dorm room.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Limit Social Media

I will limit my social media use to once each day reducing my daily use by 15 minute(s)

COMPLETED 32
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Tend a Garden

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

COMPLETED 32
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

LEARN ABOUT TRANS, FEMME, AND NONBINARY EXPERIENCES

I will spend 60 minutes learning about the experiences of trans, femme, and/or nonbinary people.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Turn it off

I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.

COMPLETED 32
DAILY ACTIONS

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 32
DAILY ACTIONS

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?

    Samantha Gibbs's avatar
    Samantha Gibbs 11/09/2023 3:41 PM
    The future and future generations. I feel like some folks tend to be focused on the present (generally, not always a bad thing!) when it comes to these issues, and we don't always think about the repercussions and effects our actions will have on the future until it's too late.

    • Jasmin R's avatar
      Jasmin R 11/09/2023 8:37 PM
      Yes I totally agree! So important to teach the younger generations about sustainability and about how they can help the environment as well- I think this challenge would also be great in k-12 schools!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Simplicity Core Values
    What are your top 3-5 core values? How did you narrow it down to those as being your core values?

    Samantha Gibbs's avatar
    Samantha Gibbs 11/09/2023 11:02 AM
    As I've gotten older, I think that some of my core values have changed. By this, I mean that my perspective has shifted on the values, and something that was in my top five values 5 years ago is now in my top 10. I think that you're allowed to change and refine your values over the course of your life, because people grow and change every day!

    • Jasmin R's avatar
      Jasmin R 11/09/2023 8:59 PM
      Hi Samantha, I totally agree! I find that my values change and shift as I grow older and gain more wisdom and perspectives which is totally okay!

  • Samantha Gibbs's avatar
    Samantha Gibbs 11/07/2023 2:21 PM
    I cannot believe there's only a couple of days left in our EcoChallenge. 😱 It's hard to believe that it's gone by so fast! I've said this before, but it's been really fun, and I loved learning from the actions I chose and from everyone else! 🙂
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Stay on the Ground
    What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?

    Samantha Gibbs's avatar
    Samantha Gibbs 11/06/2023 10:06 AM
    This one was challenging, as the trip I am planning is very difficult to go by car, and is for a pretty significant event, and I am also not able to take a lot of time off for. In this case, I feel like I can justify this planned flight because I don't fly very much in general: in the last 5 years I have flown twice. I also feel quite lucky as my job does not require much travel beyond me geographical region.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Meet My Local Farmers
    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? How can knowing their food producers enable someone to advocate for a better quality of life for those who produce their food, both near and far?

    Samantha Gibbs's avatar
    Samantha Gibbs 11/05/2023 5:01 PM
    I think it's important to know where your food comes from. Not only is it important to know what grows in your area, but it is also important to know how those people live, and by living in the same geographical area, you can get a sense of that. By purchasing their produce, you are not only supporting a small business, but you're also supporting the family who produces the food, and nourishing yourself and your family with locally grown food.

  • Samantha Gibbs's avatar
    Samantha Gibbs 11/03/2023 10:45 AM
    The trees are at their peak colours right now - the red, green and gold leaves are lovely to look at right now! 🍂
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Turn it off
    How is electricity generated where you live? How does it impact the environment, animals, and humans?

    Samantha Gibbs's avatar
    Samantha Gibbs 11/01/2023 9:04 AM
    In BC we use hydroelectricity. While it is "renewable", it does affect the ecosystem in that a dam needs to be built, and the water's natural course gets diverted, which uses up land, and displaces people and wildlife. I don't think there is really any electricity generation that is not detrimental to the land in some way, other than solar power, which can often be expensive and not suitable for parts of the world that don't get a lot of sun, or don't have the amount of land to devote to solar capture.

    • Janelle Sztuhar's avatar
      Janelle Sztuhar 11/02/2023 1:00 PM
      Well said Samantha! I find those off-grid style homes really interesting how they handle their power (not sure if I could live off-grid myself full time)! I would really like to have some level of solar power someday - even if it is to light a bulb in my garden shed :D

  • Samantha Gibbs's avatar
    Samantha Gibbs 11/01/2023 8:54 AM
    Just over a week left in our EcoChallenge! This year it has been really fun! And I've been good at keeping up with my actions! Go team! 🙌
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Simplicity Needs Vs. Wants
    How is creativity a necessary ingredient for practicing simplicity?

    Samantha Gibbs's avatar
    Samantha Gibbs 10/29/2023 3:34 PM
    I think creativity is an ingredient for practicing simplicity as you have to think creatively sometimes to live or practice simplicity. In turn, I think that simplicity can also be an ingredient for creativity.

    • Janelle Sztuhar's avatar
      Janelle Sztuhar 10/30/2023 9:40 AM
      I agree on both of those thoughts! I found an old jar of buttons over the weekend (the jar expiry was 1998) and I thought to myself wow - would I save a jar or would I go out and buy matching containers based on my past year of behaviour? Definitely something to remind myself of more often!

  • Samantha Gibbs's avatar
    Samantha Gibbs 10/28/2023 1:52 PM
    Today I remembered to bring my reusable produce bags into the grocery store with me! I think I'm going to try keeping them inside the grocery bags I keep in my car trunk from now on, so I don't forget!

    • Abbey Murray's avatar
      Abbey Murray 10/28/2023 7:09 PM
      That's awesome! Not only are they environmentally friendly, but they are better quality, too!