October 6 - October 27, 2021

Mari-Lynn Flaig

"If I can, through my thoughts and actions, impact one person - and that person impact another, and the chain keeps going, we would all be in a better place. My mother used to say "Tend to the flowers in your garden, and if we all do the same, what a nice lot of flowers we will all have." She didn't mean just family, she meant local neighborhood when she meant garden."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,394 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

99

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1,165

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

240

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted

Mari-Lynn's actions

Nature

Plant Trees

Do at Home

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Support Native Communities

Do at Home

I will use the resource links provided and spend 120 minutes learning about the native populations that lived in my area prior to colonization, and what I can do to support those that still exist.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Joyful Movement

Do at Home

I will spend 60 minutes doing an activity where I'm both moving my body and enjoying myself.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

Do at Home

I will avoid sending 5 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Research Local Waste Sites

Do at Home

I will spend 120 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

COMPLETED
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?

Mari-Lynn Flaig 10/26/2021 3:24 AM

One more day! Let everyone know how you feel things went for you, and how this may change the way you think going forward.

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Mari-Lynn Flaig 10/25/2021 3:29 AM

We only have a few days left, make everyday count, during and after the eco challenge!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Plant Trees

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?

Mari-Lynn Flaig 10/23/2021 8:48 AM

I feel that every time a tree is replaced that was taken, more balance is given to this earth. I do virtual challenges for walking/running/bicycling and each challenge I do, and hit a 20% completion, they plant a tree as a part of the reward. Most of these trees are planted in Africa in places where trees were removed by lumber companies. I hope over time if enough people work together, those lost forests will be replaced.

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- Tammy Coor 10/27/2021 8:00 AM
  
  It hurts my heart to see us cutting down so many trees to replace with concrete...I will look into the virtual challenge also.
  
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- Jackie Chernyak 10/25/2021 8:25 AM
  
  The planting a tree reward for virtual challenges is a fantastic idea. I might have to look into some of those! Trees are so good for your physical health when you spend a lot of time outdoors getting the fresh air. I just told my husband yesterday that when we build our house I really want a Weeping Willow tree in our yard because it is serene and beautiful.
  
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Mari-Lynn Flaig 10/23/2021 8:38 AM

Thousands of contaminated sites exist nationally due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. These sites include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mining sites. In 2016, 65 sites were identified in Michigan. Today, 90 exist. Illegal dumping is also an issue here. If caught the fine is $500 and a possible 90 day jail sentence. Grand Traverse County has over 35 known illegal dumpsites that are monitored, but people still get through and dump waste. Education here is key. Back in the 1940s and 1950s when the auto manufacturers reigned supreme, people would sweep the floors of the plants and bring back home the "soil" for fill for their gardens. This "soil" was black and appeared to be rich, but was filled with assorted parts, oil and gasoline residue, asbestos and even plastics. I had a house in Pontiac where the previous owner would do this on a regular basis and found countless car parts and items buried all over the yard. Flowers, and grass were not easily grown here.

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Mari-Lynn Flaig 10/22/2021 2:22 AM

Michigan has a very poor record of recycling, thanks to plentiful and cheap landfills. You'd think that the one piece of land that is juxtaposed right next to one of the world's largest freshwater bodies would be more eco friendly. The largest three issues from landfills are toxins, leachate and greenhouse gases. Wayne County landfills are so inexpensive, that other states pay to have their waste sent to our landfills. More than half the waste at Carleton Farms in Sumpter Township is waste sent in from Canada. The national recycling rate is about 38%. Michigan's is 18%.

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- Jackie Chernyak 10/25/2021 8:31 AM
  
  That is so unfortunate. What can we do to stop other states (and countries) from filling up our landfills? Does the cost to dump need to rise so that they are deterred? Or is it because they don't have a lot of recycling recourses? It must be terrible for Michigan and our beautiful great lakes as well! :(
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Research Local Waste Sites

In what neighborhoods or areas of your region are landfills or other waste sites located? Which communities are most affected by these locations?

Mari-Lynn Flaig 10/21/2021 3:25 AM

I did more than two hours, because I went down a proverbial rabbit hole with landfills and other waste sites in Michigan. There are 41 operational landfills, but there are 60 in total at the state level. Then there are the superfund sites that are not considered landfills, but are land considered highly contaminated and too toxic to live near. Those are the most concerning to me. I will do further posts to update you on what I found each day.

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- Jackie Chernyak 10/25/2021 8:34 AM
  
  That seems like a really high number of landfills! What happens to the superfund sites? I hope that toxic stuff doesn't just sit there emitting poisonous gasses or is seeping into the ground of Michigan which would eventually contaminate our great lakes also. I wonder what the process would be to clean up those areas so that the land could be used or preserved.
  
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Mari-Lynn Flaig 10/20/2021 3:29 AM

YES! There are days I don't do as well as I should in terms of helping the environment. Whenever I fall, I get back up and start trying all over again. Did you know, if you miss tracking on a day, you can go back and put in what you did?

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing and Renewal Joyful Movement

What's your favorite activity(ies) in which you experience joy while being active and moving?

Mari-Lynn Flaig 10/18/2021 5:17 AM

This is harder than I thought it would be to get the time to experience joy. I bicycle. Always have, always will. It's easier than running and I get further along than by walking. No matter the activity, I center on thoughts that bring me joy, my son, my birds, my husband, my friends and things that help me feel good, like tutoring. Then I reflect on the small things in my environment and see if there is anything that I can find that gives me the same feeling. It could be a bird overhead, the feeling of the sun on my face, or the wind in my hair. I'm very grateful for everything, even the breaths that I take.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Support Native Communities

Indigenous speaker and activist Winona LaDuke says that, "most indigenous ceremonies, if you look to their essence, are about the restoration of balance — they are a reaffirmation of our relationship to creation. That is our intent: to restore, and then to retain balance and honor our part in creation." Why is balance important to sustainability?

Mari-Lynn Flaig 10/12/2021 4:13 AM

There are three main indigenous groups in Michigan, but there are 14 different tribal distinctions based on where they are in the state, and which group they are a part of. It was very hard to find specific information, only very basic and general information on the each tribe's website. Understand that this ethnic group has been treated very poorly by outsiders for several hundred years. They tend to be private folks and I will respect their right to that. The most important thing I have learned from my time is that they are very dedicated to family and community, it's important to have peace and balance - so that caring for others and nature comes much easier when you take care of yourself. If we all were balanced, think of how lovely this earth would be.

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Mari-Lynn Flaig 10/09/2021 7:56 AM

It's a wonderful morning! I am working on getting more sleep on average than I did in the past, because the right amount of sleep helps to buoy my attitude. I also try to exercise early in the morning, because it helps me center during the day.

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