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Brenda Calderon's avatar

Brenda Calderon

Kitsap Conservation District

"Grow food. Eat Food."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 751 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    advocacy action
    completed
  • UP TO
    80
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    370
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    30
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    370
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    1,200
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    32
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    4.0
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    1.0
    water collection system
    installed

Brenda's actions

Waste

Recycle Everything I Can

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by my local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to landfills per day by composting my food, which reduces my climate footprint ultimately helping salmon and orcas.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 8 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream, and downstream in Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean, by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Talk To My Friends and Colleagues

I will research the social or environmental issues in my community and shared ecosystem that matter to me and impact downstream salmon and orcas and tell 20 friends and/or colleagues each day about what I learn.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Support Environmental Initiatives lead by People of Color

Racial inequity is both a sustainability and justice problem. I will support and seek out conservation organizations lead by people of color in my community, as their efforts address environmental justice, Puget Soundand/or Pacific Ocean health.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 60 minutes researching environmental justice concerns that effect people and the connection to downstream fish and wildlife, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Locally-Sourced Meals

I will source 3 meal(s) per day from local Puget Sound producers.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Collect Rain Water

I will use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs because in summer a drop for me may be one less for salmon, which then warms streams or can impair salmon streamflows.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day by installing a low-flow showerhead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers to minimize my water footprint, as in many watersheds, a drop for me is one less for salmon, which then warms streams or impairs salmon streamflows.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Do Nature Activities

I will engage in nature-based activities alone, or with my friends or family, for 120 minute(s) each day to connect with the shared ecosystem in which I live and rely on. (This can be anything from going on a walk or hike, to noticing the leaves changing color, to reading a book with nature themes.)

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Join a Local CSA

I will sign up for a local CSA (community-supported agriculture) to help keep remaining farmland in farmland, in Puget Sound or Pacific Ocean watersheds, and reduce the trend towards paved over environments.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Food Deserts

I will spend 60 minutes learning about food deserts and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh Puget Sound food in my region.

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

Food

Meet My Local Farmers

I will visit my nearest Puget Sound farm to learn about locally produced food and the quality of life of all involved in producing it to make better choices for Puget Sound when I shop.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education

Switch to Natural Yard Care Practices

I will spend 30 to research, write-up, and deliver 1 page about why my family, landlord, apartment manager, or school should switch to natural/organic yard care practices, and deliver to that person.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Remove invasive weeds

Recruit 2+ friends/family/neighbors and together remove invasive vegetation from our home/apartment building/neighborhood that is in a watershed upstream of downstream salmon and orcas.

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 30 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard to improve our regional ecosystem.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Start or Tend a Garden

I will tend to a garden each day, or work on starting one to keep my food local, minimize my climate carbon footprint and therefore reduce my impact to the Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Leave No Trace

I will practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace when doing nature activities alone or with family and friends to minimize my downstream impact in my watershed.

COMPLETED 7
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?


  • Brenda Calderon's avatar
    Brenda Calderon 11/05/2020 8:46 AM
    hoping to stave off election nerves by going for a walk in the Olympic Peninsula today!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Recycle Everything I Can
    What have you learned about what is accepted by local haulers for recycling, what you can drop off or ship to certain places, and what is not recyclable in your area? What is the most difficult part of recycling for you?

    Brenda Calderon's avatar
    Brenda Calderon 11/04/2020 8:35 PM
    I am sad to say that i am finally being more mindful of recyclables and i am sincerely disappointed in how little infrastructure actually exists to properly recycle the packaging our capitalistic appetites produce.
  • 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?

    Brenda Calderon's avatar
    Brenda Calderon 11/04/2020 8:32 PM
    I first started composting about 7 years ago and have not gone back! I love being able to recycle nutrients back into the grounds that i live and work on! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use a Reusable Water Bottle
    While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?

    Brenda Calderon's avatar
    Brenda Calderon 11/04/2020 8:31 PM
    I started my journey with a reusable water bottle in college, and i have only faltered a handful of times! My water bottle has become one of my closest companions and i am always heartbroken when i lose them. It is not often that i misplace my water bottle, i would say it is akin to losing a child! 
    they shall never be forgotten! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Talk To My Friends and Colleagues
    What makes you feel connected to your neighborhood, your neighbors, or another kind of community in your life?

    Brenda Calderon's avatar
    Brenda Calderon 11/03/2020 2:23 PM
    Working on projects together.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Support Environmental Initiatives lead by People of Color
    How does existing pollution, handling of pollution, urban planning, environmental health responses, and opportunities for equitable leadership exacerbate the inequities and disparities in our communities? How can we help alleviate that to promote a healthy community for all?

    Brenda Calderon's avatar
    Brenda Calderon 11/03/2020 2:15 PM
    Food sovereignty is one of the many ways that people of color and indigenous folks are advocating for preserving and healing our environment. 

    I suggest watching the film Gather...
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns
    Who is most affected by environmental degration and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?

    Brenda Calderon's avatar
    Brenda Calderon 11/03/2020 2:13 PM
    Since the treaty of point elliot in the 1850's there have been endless instances of environmental injustice around the Salish waters. We have seen the fish wars of the 60's come with  the popularization of sport & commercial fishing which then put restrictions on indigenous fishing rights here around the Puget Sound.  More recently we have seen the navy be responsible for dumping waste into the Salish waters adding to the pollution of the lifeblood of our tribes. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Do Nature Activities
    What did you observe while spending time outside -- through sight, sound, smell and touch?

    Brenda Calderon's avatar
    Brenda Calderon 10/29/2020 10:13 AM
    Today when i was pulling the dead basil & chamomile out of the herb garden i was inundated with their sweet concentrated fragrances, it was magical.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Install a Low-Flow Showerhead
    How can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?

    Brenda Calderon's avatar
    Brenda Calderon 10/22/2020 2:43 PM
    We need to prepare to use a little water as possible with drip irrigation in the field
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water 5-Minute Showers
    Five minute showers are an impressive step toward reducing your water footprint. What is the next step you can take?

    Brenda Calderon's avatar
    Brenda Calderon 10/22/2020 2:40 PM
    my favorite no package soaps make it even better!