Louisa Lubiak

SAGE EcoLogicals

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,118 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

27

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

255

minutes

spent learning

Louisa's actions

Share Your Story

Find out what’s happening in your neighborhood

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Plastics Audit

Reduced Plastics

I will complete a plastics audit to see where plastics show up in my life and determine how I can reduce the use of single-use plastics.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 60 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meals each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Research the Wonders of Macroalgae / Seaweed

Macroalgae Protection and Restoration

Each day, I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about protecting and restoring macroalgae/seaweed.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Visit the Coast

Macroalgae Protection and Restoration

I will visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and look for the presence of macroalgae/seaweed.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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
Share Your Story Find out what’s happening in your neighborhood

Did I learn something new about my community?

Louisa Lubiak 6/30/2024 11:36 AM

I learned that my township has had a Sustainability Action Plan since 2011. The Environmental Advisory Council recently worked with Parks & Recreation on a "Pathway to Zero Waste" plan that removes trash & recycling bins from township parks, and requires all trash and recyclables generated by park visitors to be carried out by the visitors.

Read More
Louisa Lubiak 6/28/2024 5:32 PM

Hey SAGE EcoLogicals! It's Friday June 28 - we have 3 days left to log-in our completed Actions!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Reduce Animal Products

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our bodies, our planet, and other people?

Louisa Lubiak 6/28/2024 4:54 PM

One reason why people in wealthy countries eat a lot of meat is because it's part of their culture. My heritage is northern & eastern European. I was raised on family meals centered on meat. There were always vegetables, but they were considered "sides". Meat does provide certain nutrients that are not available in plants, but meat should supplement a heaping plate of veggies, rather than veggies supplementing the meat.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Plastics Audit

What was the hardest item to reduce using or cut out that is plastic? Did you find a way to do it?

Louisa Lubiak 6/24/2024 12:20 PM

A big portion of my plastic waste is from medical use: Cleansing eyelid wipe single-use packets, daily wear contact lenses & packaging, Invisalign trays & cleaning tablet packets, inter-dental brushes, dental floss. Also. I can't find the probiotic half-sour pickles in the grocery store anymore (in recyclable plastic tubs), so I've been buying the fermented krauts & slaws that are packaged in plastic bags. I guess it's back to Bubbies kosher dill pickles in glass jars.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Research the Wonders of Macroalgae / Seaweed

What did you learn about seaweed and its importance to coastal ecosystems?

Louisa Lubiak 6/14/2024 6:00 PM

Macroalgae/seaweed farming (aquaculture) can be used to absorb carbon dioxide & mitigate seawater acidification, benefitting oyster beds & other shellfish. The great variety of seaweed that can be farmed may be used in many different ways: as fertilizer for land crops, added to fodder to reduce the methane from belching cows, turned into truly compostable bioplastics for single-use packaging, provide pulp for making paper products, and serve as delicious & nutritious sources of human food.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro turbines can be placed on large structures to take advantage of stronger, steadier breezes. The Eiffel Tower now sports vertical axis turbines that produce electricity for use on site. Where could micro turbines potentially be installed in your city?

Louisa Lubiak 6/09/2024 5:01 PM

I learned about the experimental magnus effect wind turbine. The compact vertical design provides high torque with low velocity wind and looks quite promising for use in urban environments. It would be awesome if some form of micro wind turbine(s) would be installed on the roof of the NJDEP building!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Learn More about Silvopasture

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

Louisa Lubiak 6/08/2024 1:46 PM

I've heard of regenerative agriculture before, but not silvopasture. The advantages of silvopasture are many, but carbon sequestration and providing shade for the animals in the summer seem to be the biggest advantages.

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Louisa Lubiak 6/07/2024 10:26 AM

One of my Actions is to visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and look for the presence of macroalgae/seaweed. I just read a news clip reporting that clinging jellyfish are reappearing along the New Jersey coast now. Clinging jellyfish, an invasive species native to the Pacific Ocean, hold onto the algae and seagrass in the shallow waters of bay areas. Although only about the size of a quarter, their sting has been described as excruciatingly painful. So, I don't think I'll be planning that kayak outing to Barnegat Bay to look for macroalgae after all. :-(

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Louisa Lubiak 6/03/2024 2:38 PM

I'm learning that macroalgae that grows on the west coast, like kelp, is beneficial to coastal environments. But macroalgae in New Jersey's coastal waters can grow to such a degree that they block the sunlight that the benthic, bottom-dwelling species need.

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Louisa Lubiak 6/02/2024 2:28 PM

There is so much to learn about the Project Drawdown solutions - I'm thankful that the Ecochallenge makes the learning fun!

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