Ella Day

Asheville High School

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
519 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1,290

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

1.0

plastic bottle

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

11

neighbors

met
UP TO

570

minutes

spent learning

Ella's actions

Water

Use Reusable Bottles

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Food

Learn More About Food Apartheid

Food Apartheid effects many people by separating those with access to nutrition food and those without. This usually has to do with economic status and living conditions. Not having access to healthy and nutritional food can cause detrimental health problems with significant impact on the community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 1 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

RESEARCH LOCAL WASTE SITES

I will spend 240 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

De-Clutter My Home or Dorm Room

I will de-clutter, clean, and donate or recycle unneeded items in my home or dorm room.

COMPLETED 8
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 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Meet My Neighbors

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

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Reduce refined sugar

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

COMPLETED 10
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
Food Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

How does food sovereignty address the complex transition from localized food systems to modern global food systems?

Ella Day 11/21/2023 11:09 AM

Localized food systems are the creators of food sovereignty. The equal distribution and autonomy of what we eat is the basis of food sovereignty, and local food sources illustrate that, Imported and global food systems can be problematic, as we don't always know what's in them, they are distributed with bias, and often cost more. No matter what food system you rely on, food sovereignty maintains the theoretical equality of the food industry.

Read More
Ella Day 11/16/2023 8:44 AM

What physical impacts can lack of fresh, nutrient rich foods have on a person? On a community?
Symptoms of malnutrition include loss of hair, changes in skin, muscle loss, frequent illness, infertility, and cachexia. These can have significant effects on the person and community. Very often symptoms like this make it hard for them to perform daily tasks and work to make money. It can even affect the growth of a community, causing rising rates of infertility and birth deformities. Sicknesses become more common, decreasing the resilience and even population of the community. Overall lack of nutritious food is detrimental to people and their communities.

How can having access to nutritious food help a community become more resilient?
Access to nutritious food in communities can improve resilience by improving immune systems and increasing cognitive development. It provides energy to perform daily tasks and produce goods to obtain money. Access to food is crucial to the growth and resilience of communities, allowing them to thrive even through hard situations. Food is important to the simplest bodily function and is needed to sustain human life.

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?

Ella Day 11/13/2023 5:33 AM

I always feel guilty after using social media, it just doesn't make me feel good about myself. I find it to be a soul sucking void of affirmations that actually do nothing for us. After limiting social media I feel like I have more free time, and I've also seen a boost in my self esteem. I had more time to do the things I enjoy and overall just felt better about myself.

Read More
- Ciarrah Davis 11/14/2023 11:15 AM
  
  I definitely agree with you! Spending hours just scrolling on my phone often leads me to feel more stressed with the little time I have left in the day to be productive. When I limit my screen time, I find other more fulfilling ways to spend my time. It is a tough habit to get out of but on the days when I do discipline myself I notice that I have a more positive mood and I am more efficient with my time.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Find Local Recycling Depots

Our ability to recycle certain things ebbs and flows based upon many factors, including market demand for recyclables. Luckily there are places that accept uncommon things to recycle or dispose of in a less harmful way. What did you find when looking for places to recycle items that can't be recycled in your curbside bin?

Ella Day 11/11/2023 1:49 PM

It was surprising to me to find that pens and markers can't be recycled in your curbside bin. It feels like recycling items like that would be easy, but apparently they require special maintenance. I also didn't know that plastic bags can be taken back to stores to be reused, and don't actually have to go to the landfill. One thing that can go in the roadside bin that I didn't know about is plastic containers, something I've always thrown in the trash until now. Other things that can't go in the recycling bin include batteries, used cooking oil, tires, most paints, power tools, and paper with a plastic film.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste RESEARCH LOCAL WASTE SITES

In what neighborhoods or areas of your region are landfills or other waste sites located? Which communities are most affected by these locations?

Ella Day 11/11/2023 1:42 PM

Most of the communities affected by waste facilities were poor communities or communities of color. I learned that marginalized groups like this are much more likely to be affected by waste facilities simply based on where they live. People like this are unfairly affected by the negative side effects of living near landfills and hazardous waste sites, something that is detrimental to their health and well being.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Reduce refined sugar

Before you started this challenge, did you think you were 'addicted' to sugar? How do you feel now?

Ella Day 11/08/2023 6:44 AM

I definitely had a sugar addiction. I definitely feel better about myself now, and I've even been losing a little weight. It feels good to take control of my sugar intake for the better.

Read More