Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge 2025

Kodi Hembree

Heartland College EASC 111 Summer 2025

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
922 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

7.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

0.0

donations

made
UP TO

1.0

hour

volunteered
UP TO

2.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

65

minutes

spent learning

Kodi's actions

Industry

Practice the 5 Rs

Recycling

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

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Composting

Composting, Reduced Food Waste

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

Multiple Industry Solutions

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin practicing it in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Cook With Seaweed

Seaweed Farming

I will use seaweed in a new recipe.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Family Planning and Education

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 7 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Support a Community Garden

Multiple Solutions

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Buy Bamboo

Bamboo Production

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Kodi Hembree 7/25/2025 1:29 PM
I used to think family planning was just about deciding when to have kids, but it’s so much bigger than that. It’s about knowing what’s right for your life, your health, your goals, and your relationships. Whether that means choosing birth control, prepping for parenthood, or just having honest convos with a partner, it’s all about being intentional. No one-size-fits-all, and that’s exactly why it matters.

Read More
Kodi Hembree 7/23/2025 7:28 AM
Micro Wind = Tiny Turbines, Local Power. Small wind systems turn backyard breezes into clean energy. Great for off-grid living or boosting sustainability at home.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

What are the multiple benefits of community gardens, including carbon sequestration? Why do these benefits matter to you?
Kodi Hembree 7/20/2025 10:54 AM
Community gardens are awesome. They pull carbon from the air, grow fresh food, cool down city heat, soak up rain, and bring people together. I love them because they’re proof that small, local action can actually move the needle on climate stuff and growing your own tomato? Total win.

Read More
- Janet Beach 7/22/2025 12:17 PM
  
  TEAM CAPTAIN
  And especially with kids, if they grow a vegetable they will learn to cook it and eat it.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks

Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?
Kodi Hembree 7/20/2025 10:52 AM
Bamboo stuff isn’t super common around Normal, but you can still find great eco swaps. I’m into hemp clothes, stainless steel straws, cork accessories, wheat straw dishes, and silicone kitchenware. Local shops and online stores make it pretty easy to go green without the guesswork.

Read More
- Janet Beach 7/22/2025 12:18 PM
  
  TEAM CAPTAIN
  I use bamboo paper products. It grows so much faster and saves old growth forests.
  
  Read More
Kodi Hembree 7/20/2025 10:39 AM
I’ve been swapping fast fashion for pieces that actually last and reflect my values. Thrifting, clothing swaps, and sustainable brands are my go-tos. It’s not just style; it’s a mindset. Still learning, but every conscious choice counts.

Read More
Kodi Hembree 7/18/2025 12:19 PM
I started composting kind of on a whim, had a bunch of veggie scraps and figured, why not? Turns out, it’s one of the easiest habits I’ve ever picked up. I keep a bin by the sink for fruit peels, coffee grounds, and whatever green bits I don’t use. It all goes into a backyard pile, where nature does its thing. Watching food waste turn into dark, crumbly soil feels like a tiny act of rebellion against landfill overload. Plus, my plants love it. Honestly, I wish I’d started sooner.

Read More
- Janet Beach 7/18/2025 9:40 PM
  - TEAM CAPTAIN
  I have a composter and it fun to see something come out of nothing.all you really need is scraps and a hole to bury them in.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next for you?
Kodi Hembree 7/16/2025 9:40 AM
Im thinking of adding blackout curtains to keep the place cooler and cut down on AC use I also might start line-drying my laundry more often. Sunshine’s free, after all.

Want a few more ideas or care to make it a challenge?

Read More
- Isaac Cornejo 7/17/2025 9:40 AM
  i have some blackout curtains, they work really well. I also like how dark it makes my room.
  
  Read More
- Janet Beach 7/16/2025 3:11 PM
  
  TEAM CAPTAIN
  And there’s nothing like the smell of line dried sheets!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education

What did you learn about the need for family planning? How do the needs of different people in different places compare to each other?
Kodi Hembree 7/15/2025 12:09 PM
Family planning helps people make smart choices about their health and family, but what they need can be really different depending on where they live. Some focus on staying healthy or managing population, while others care more about access and personal choice. Culture and resources play a big role in shaping what matters most.

Read More
- Raimonda Karalius 7/15/2025 8:10 PM
  You're right—family planning is different for everyone. What people need depends on their culture, what they have access to, and what’s important to them. It’s important to understand these differences so we can give the right help and information to each community.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come from eating/serving smaller portions?
Kodi Hembree 7/11/2025 9:16 AM
Eating smaller portions can support better digestion, reduce the risk of overeating, and promote mindful eating habits. It can also help maintain a healthier weight over time, improve energy levels, and encourage greater appreciation of flavor and texture, making meals more satisfying despite less quantity.

Read More
Kodi Hembree 7/10/2025 7:09 PM
I made a meal with seaweed again and I really enjoyed it. I made a seaweed bowl for dinner and how I made it was I simmered rehydrated seaweed with rice, sesame oil, and soy sauce, then top it with green onions and a soft-boiled egg for a nourishing bowl that’s simple and satisfying.

Read More
- Janet Beach 7/13/2025 7:10 PM
  - TEAM CAPTAIN
  That sounds very simple, but very good!
  
  Read More