Amy DaSilva

While global and national actions get a lot of attention, it’s often at the local community level where individuals can have the greatest input and where change is most tangible. But every community is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. I will spend 20 minutes finding out how my neighborhood, town or city is helping the environment and building local resilience.

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

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 1 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

I will start a compost or worm bin where I live.

Using the Seafood Watch guide, I will feature a sustainable seafood ingredient in a new recipe.

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Drawdown Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation, and commit to reducing my food waste throughout the challenge.

I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of trees and plants in my yard.

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

I will support a community garden by volunteering, donating, or advocating for a new or existing one.

I will practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

I will plan ahead to use paper products only made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.