Researching my water supply was an interesting exercise and I am really glad that I completed that challenge today. Mostly, I found information directly from the Tualatin Valley Water District's website. While Portland has some issues surrounding water, I was reminded today by how lucky we are to live in an area that experiences heavy, consistent rainfall and as a result have an abundance of water in comparison with many parts of the world. This morning I talked with my grandfather who lives in Cape Town, South Africa. He was telling me about the water crisis the city is having. The city has less than a 100 day supply of water before they will completely run out. That  sort of situation really makes you realize that individual participation of citizens is critical and that everyone taking measures to conserve their water usage can make a big difference. Thankfully, Cape Town is going into their rainy season, but there is still much room for concern that it might not start raining soon enough.

The day may have been chilly, but it was nice and bright, so I drew open the shades and opened the window to let natural light as I worked. I also did some cleaning and decluttering. Sometimes I forget how nice it is to have the windows open, to sometimes feel a slight breeze, and get fresh air flowing through the house. And hearing the subtle sounds outside like teees rustling and birds chirping. 

This challenge has been a good way to keep track of my small efforts to be more sustainable in my life. Each little bit counts, and even if I'm just turning off a light that isn't being used, if many people are doing the same thing it adds up. 

Between the sunshine, donation trip to Value Village, and time weeding in the backyard, it was a big win for the last day of the EcoChallenge.  I will keep up these efforts whenever I can.

Over the last three weeks I've made a more conscious effort to adjust my habits and live a lifestyle that is less dependent on natural resources. With midterms rolling around, I've chosen to drink coffee at home in my own mug rather than driving to get coffee in a paper cup.  With weather getting nicer and less rainy, I've walked to most of my classes and the grocery store instead of using my car for short trips. Along with turning off water while I brush my teeth, I've learned to limit my showers and not just stand under the water for minutes at a time. Logging my experience  has made me more accountable for my actions, and I've also explained my habit changes to friends who are looking into making small, slow changes too. I'm really glad I was able to participate in the eco-challenge and I hope to start journaling sustainable habits.

I am glad, that this challenge has transformed me into a different person. I have adopted the challenges, and they are now part of me and my family. 

4/21:
Instead of going home for lunch during the 4 hour break during my split-shift, I decided to walk to the cedar hills shopping center and browse the Powell's there and eat my lunch outside. The weather was nice, so it made walking very enjoyable! This eco challenge has helped me to look at the ways in which I spend my time, when I am outside more my eco-footprint is so much smaller because I am using less services overall. 

4/18:
On this day, my partner and I went to Cooper Mountain Nature park and ended up walk for a couple of hours. Despite the fact that it was a bit cold, we also ate a small dinner at the park as well. While I was up in this area of Beaverton, I couldn't help but appreciate how fresh the air was and how clean and well maintained the park intself is (it is actually a nature reserve). This got me thinking about environmental justice, oddly enough, because the area of Beaverton in which Cooper Mountain Nature park is located is very affluent. The homes are huge, and the people who live there are not wanting financially. It is really frustrating that the nicest natural areas are mostly in "rich" parts of town. This part of Beaverton also has pretty much zero access to public transportation, meaning that lower-income families and individuals NEED a car to get here. The area would be really challenging to access by bike because the roads you have to take to get there are not bike friendly at all. 

Today, I chose to take a night walk with my partner (the person I ended up doing most of my walks with) and found a snail friend. I think that this challenge has allowed me to make more time for appreciating my beautiful home here. I always feel so lucky to live where I do because it is so beautiful here, but also because I am able to share my time with others who are environmentally aware. There are a lot of folks like that here, which can't necessarily be said for many other parts of the US. 

I'm actually a bit bummed that this is coming to an end!  It has been a great way to see how I can make progress on environmental issues has been really encouraging.  I will definitely keep up a lot of these practices and try to find even more ways to be a better resident of this awesome earth we have!