Becci Larreau
"That reminds me of a story..."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,288 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO239pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO10hoursvolunteered
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UP TO24disposable cupsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO228milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO240minutesspent learning
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UP TO500gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO19locally sourced mealsconsumed
Becci'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.
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.
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.
Nature
Join An Outdoor Project
I will join an outdoor restoration project in my community.
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
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.
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.
Food
Learn More about Food Deserts
I will spend 120 minutes learning about food deserts and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh Puget Sound food in my region.
Food
Locally-Sourced Meals
I will source 1 meal(s) per day from local Puget Sound producers.
Waste
Use a Reusable Mug
I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to landfills by using a reusable mug.
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.
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?
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Becci Larreau 11/05/2020 4:32 PMwatching "A Plastic Ocean". It's a bit depressing, but felt it apropos on this last day of the challenge. -
Becci Larreau 11/04/2020 9:40 PMThis morning, I startled a local celebrity. I managed to snap a 'razzi shot as they fled, but the quick getaway resulted in some blurred legs.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONNature Join An Outdoor ProjectHow well do you know the area you live in? In what ways is a deep knowledge of your surroundings -- known as a 'sense of place' -- important to you?
Becci Larreau 11/04/2020 9:32 PMI was raised here. My sense of place is very strong and I know this area like the back of my own hand. I was brought up under the principle of noblesse oblige. That is, you have an obligation of service to that which has ennobled you. My family has been tremendously enriched, both tangibly and intangibly, by the maritime landscape and I feel a duty to conserve/preserve what I can for future generations. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNature Leave No TraceEducator Stephanie Kaza advises her students to focus on what they care about most when addressing the enormity of ecological problems. Is there a specific area you feel particularly called to work on?
Becci Larreau 11/04/2020 9:24 PMYes, socioecologically-linked frameworks in the context of food security and resilience. Hungry people bother me and the idea that climate change may likely lead to widespread agricultural failure just exacerbates that unease. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportation Drive LessHow has your access to various kinds of transportation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?
Becci Larreau 11/04/2020 9:10 PMI was raised in a ferry town, but the surrounding area is fairly rural. Growing up, we did not have a public transportation system. All of our "trips to town" were consolidated as much as possible. I still get uncomfortable when I can't accomplish more than one thing per trip. I don't mind exploring new routes, but I hate backtracking and will plan commutes to limit travel miles. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaste Use a Reusable MugMaybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?
Becci Larreau 11/04/2020 7:31 PMI have a super cute travel mug for hot bevvies (purple with silver snowflakes) that I absolutely adore and it's been easy to incorporate daily. The fact that I've cut back on corporate coffee and have been making it at home really helps. Honestly? I should be more conscientious about my water bottle. But I'm doing good with the hot beverages. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWater Eco-friendly GardeningWhat are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.
Becci Larreau 11/04/2020 7:19 PMDefinitely pollution. Specifically, non point source such as roadway runoff. In our county, we also have many older onsite septic systems that have reached the end of their lifespans. Some of these are on waterfront properties and garner lots of attention when they begin seeping effluent into the Sound. However, most are are on old rural homesteads. these are legacy polluters, steadily leaching nutrients into the water table. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Meet My Local FarmersWhen 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?
Becci Larreau 11/04/2020 7:10 PMAs a person who has volunteered with local food co-ops, I am acquainted with several local farmers. When you know who produces your food, you are more readily assured that it is grown "cleanly". That is, without harmful environmental pollutants and within a humane standard of labor practice. Consumers do have the ability to change lives just with the power of their purse. By supporting ethical and sustainable production, buyers can improve the lives of producers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Locally-Sourced MealsIf you were to only eat what is in season locally, what would be the hardest food item for you to give up?
Becci Larreau 11/04/2020 7:04 PMI consider coffee to be its own category, so will exclude that. I think blueberries would be the hardest to give up. It's one fruit that I eat year-round, even fresh out-of-season. I suppose I could switch to frozen, but it would be a sacrifice. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Learn More about Food DesertsWhat are the implications of access to nutritious food for a community?
Becci Larreau 11/04/2020 7:00 PMOne clear implication is an increase in intellectual capacity. When a community has access to nutritious food, their children are less apt to suffer neuro-deficiencies that may affect cognition.
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=LhSuBAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=nutrition+and+brain+development#v=onepage&q=nutrition%20and%20brain%20development&f=false