Katie Olsen

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 60 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

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

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meals each day of the challenge.

I will avoid buying and using 3 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

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I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will spend 20 minutes finding out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

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

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

I will source 25 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions, and opting out of junk mail.

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

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 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.

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.