Skip to main content
Carly Canter's avatar

Carly Canter

Pierce Conservation District

"Learning how to live healthy and sustainably more and more each day!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 816 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    7.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    9.0
    bags of litter
    collected
  • UP TO
    45
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    460
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    182
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    180
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    540
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    115
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    18
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    137
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.0
    public official or leader
    contacted

Carly's actions

Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and stop using fertilizers so my footprint in my ecosystem doesn't harm the Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean downstream.

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

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

Nature

Do Nature Activities

I will engage in nature-based activities alone, or with my friends or family, for 30 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 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Pick up Trash

I will pick up and properly dispose of litter on a daily walk through my neighborhood, since stormwater will otherwise carry it to the Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean.

COMPLETED 8
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 3 friends and/or colleagues each day about what I learn.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 18
DAILY ACTIONS

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 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Skip the Straw

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean waterways. I will keep 5 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

I will prevent harmful storm-water runoff to the Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

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

Education

Share my connection with Orcas through art

I will make a piece of art that connects my life to the life of Orcas and Salmon, and share it on social media.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education

Educate my family or friends

Spend 60 minutes educating my family/friends about Southern Resident Orca Whales and their endangered food supply.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Contact my elected officials

If in Washington, I will contact my elected officials to communicate the need to create an annual Orca Protection Endorsement for all recreational boaters in Puget Sound, ensuring boaters are educated on limiting their Orca impacts

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Use a Carwash

When I wash my car I will always take it to a commercial car wash facility to avoid driveway drainage of toxic chemicals entering the storm drain and local waterways, poisoning fish and Orcas in Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Fix all car leaks

I will maintain my car/vehicle by fixing all car leaks and avoid leakage draining to the Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Drive Less

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips thus avoid sending exhaust particles and tire pollution into stormwater that impacts Orca and salmon health.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases further reducing plastics that may enter Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean.

COMPLETED 27
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 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? Do you think this might enable someone to advocate for a better quality of life for those who produce their food, both near and far?

    Carly Canter's avatar
    Carly Canter 11/03/2020 9:08 AM
    Knowing where your food comes from is super important. It adds a sense of trust that local grocery stores may not offer. Absolutely! Knowing that there is a safe source of healthy foods from local farmer makes me want to eat healthier. It also reminds me that there are farms that are struggling during this pandemic and it breaks my heart. Buy Local!!
  • 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?

    Carly Canter's avatar
    Carly Canter 10/19/2020 8:36 AM
    We don't actually have to compost much of our wasted food. We buy fresh food to frequently during the week, we have gone to the approach of buying what we need for those days or that meal. I live less than 3/4 of a mile from the grocery store and about 1.5 miles from a local fruit stand. Between those two options we don't buy bulk. BUT we do put all scraps in compost! #EatFreshEatLocal
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Advocate For More Food Packaging Options
    Single use plastics have become normalized in our society to the point that most people don't see them as a problem. What would you say to a friend, colleague, or family member who may not understand why these disposables are an issue?

    Carly Canter's avatar
    Carly Canter 10/19/2020 8:33 AM
    I have had this conversation with my parents. My mother understands the concern and agreed quickly, however my dad didn't. Because they are family, I went with the approach about how the environment is my passion and I brought up some great ideas to reduce the size of packages that go in trash. Most of the plastics are those day berry clamshells! We wash and reuse those constantly. When the season comes to an end, we hand cut the plastic into smaller pieces to fit in the trash bin.

    This in return was the compromise we made. We also buy a lot more local berries that many times have compostable containers! #SupportLocalFarmers
  • 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?

    Carly Canter's avatar
    Carly Canter 10/14/2020 6:12 PM
    To feel connected to someone or a place you need to spend quality time and have communication. Speaking with different individuals in my neighborhood, distant relatives who ask me what I do for a living, or even my immediate family is so easy because I am passionate about the environment. Yes, I am still learning more aspects of it, but that is just the start!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants
    Where are your nearest natural bodies of water? How might they be affected by runoff?

    Carly Canter's avatar
    Carly Canter 10/14/2020 10:24 AM
    The nearest body of water to me is the Puyallup River. I am not sure actually, but I would be interested in learning more!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Skip the Straw
    How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?

    Carly Canter's avatar
    Carly Canter 10/12/2020 9:11 AM
    I feel that I incorporate many of these R's already. More education would definitely help my household as well as being able to educate those around me about the minor changes you can do to make a bigger difference.
  • 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?

    Carly Canter's avatar
    Carly Canter 10/12/2020 9:08 AM
    Spend time researching the products I use on the regular and switch to less harmful options if possible! ie. Hair/Beauty, Cleaning, etc.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Use a Carwash
    Where does the greywater go after you wash your car in a driveway? Did you know that most of our street sewage heads to the Puget Sound?

    Carly Canter's avatar
    Carly Canter 10/05/2020 4:12 PM
    Back in 2012, my street was apart of a HUGE rain garden installation project. Since then I have worked with the district around 5 years and I have had the luxury to educate my close neighbors about our road, as well as the individuals who walk past. We get tons of compliments on our rain garden and the pervious pavement that lines our street and sidewalks.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Drive Less
    How has your access to various kinds of transportation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?

    Carly Canter's avatar
    Carly Canter 10/05/2020 4:09 PM
    I live less than a mile away from my work(PCD). With that I have been trying to travel by foot much more, not just for my health but also for the environment. I recently traded my car in for a newer one with better gas mileage! I will still continue to walk when I can. Great way to step away from the screens and get some fresh air!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use Reusable Bags
    What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reusable one with you? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to create a successful habit of not using plastic bags?

    Carly Canter's avatar
    Carly Canter 10/05/2020 4:05 PM
    Because of the current climate with COVID 19, most local grocery stores will not allow you to use reusable bags. With that I ask them to place the items back in my cart if I cannot carry them and bag them in my car with my super cool cloth bags!