

Collin Tydings
"Find ways to make everyday impacts, and figure out how it all adds up."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 852 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0water collection systeminstalled
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UP TO150minutesbeing mindful
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UP TO135minutesspent learning
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UP TO13lightbulbsreplaced
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UP TO5.0treesplanted
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UP TO120minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
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UP TO120gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO493minutesspent exercising
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UP TO5.0locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO17poundswaste composted
Collin's actions
Water
5-Minute Showers
Do at Home
I will save up to 6 gallons (23 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.
Water
Collect Rain Water
Do at Home
I will create a rain garden or bioswale or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.
Water
Calculate My Water Footprint
Do at Home
I will calculate my Water Footprint to learn about my tap water use and "virtual water" use.
Food
Join a Local CSA
Do at Home
I will sign up for a local CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture).
Waste
Compost Food Waste
Do at Home
I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to.
Waste
Go Paperless
Do at Home
I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.
Waste
Personal Waste Audit
Do at Home
I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.
Simplicity
Go for a Daily Walk Outside
Do at Home
I will take a walk outside for 15 minutes each day.
Waste
Prevent Recycling Contamination
Do at Home
Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 20 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.
Simplicity
Meditate
Do at Home
I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 10 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.
Nature
Plant Trees
Do at Home
I will plant 3 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.
Simplicity
Family Game Hour
Do at Home
I will spend quality time with family and friends by playing low-tech game(s) and/or through the spirit of imagination.
Nature
Support Local Pollinators
Do at Home
At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 20 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.
Energy
Invite a Friend to Calculate the Carbon Footprint of their Household
Do at Home
Individual actions are important, but people and organizations working together can make a real impact. I will share a carbon calculator with a friend and invite them to calculate the carbon footprint of their household.
Nature
Explore My Area
I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.
Energy
Calculate the Carbon Footprint of my Household
Do at Home
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.
Energy
Choose LED Bulbs
Do at Home
I will replace 13 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Energy
Online Energy Audit
Do at Home
I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.
Food
Buy From a Farmers Market
Do at Home
I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWasteWhy is it often difficult to understand the impacts our purchases and waste have on other people, animals, and places?
Collin Tydings 10/26/2021 4:36 PMIt's so easy to put the trash out and not think about where it goes next. We try to keep it to one bag of trash (not even one can full) per week but it still all adds up. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNatureHow can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place -- your deep knowledge of and appreciation for your surroundings?
Collin Tydings 10/24/2021 5:50 PMKnowing the terrain, seeing the wildlife, and simply finding new trails can expand your experience and perspective. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWasteWhat have you learned about what is accepted by local haulers for recycling, what you can drop off or ship to certain places, and what is not recyclable in your area? What is the most difficult part of recycling for you?
Collin Tydings 10/23/2021 7:07 PMThe most difficult part of recycling is making sure we don't put contaminated items in the bin. We try to recycle as much as we can, down to cutting the top half of a pizza box off because it managed to remain grease-free. The recycle stream is challenged by contamination as well as viable markets for recycled materials. We want to make our recycle as viable as possible. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaterName some of the human activities impacting the health of water systems, both locally (your watershed) and globally (freshwater and oceans). What can you do to improve the health of water systems?
Collin Tydings 10/23/2021 7:00 PMDiscarded plastics are ending up in our waters and our ecosystem. I go around the neighborhood several times a week picking up litter, especially plastics. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNatureWhy is it important to take care of pollinators?
Collin Tydings 10/23/2021 6:56 PMPollinators are taking care of us, the least we can do is return the favor. We planted marigolds from seed and the activity they're generating is amazing ... bees, butterflies, moths galore. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONSimplicityFresh air and movement are good for our entire being and can help us think more clearly and creatively. How does taking a walk each day affect yourself and/or your work?
Collin Tydings 10/21/2021 4:14 PMActually, I'm able to put work aside which is not easy to do when you work from home. As great as remote working has been, it has also severely blurred the lines between home and work, and I need a way to change gears. Getting outside is a great way to do that. Plus it's an extra opportunity to bond with my daughter. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONWaterTrace the water that flows down the drain from your house to the largest body of water nearby. What is the route it takes?
Collin Tydings 10/21/2021 4:12 PMGot the rain barrel on hand, now I just need to get it installed ... just in time to winterize it for the season ;-) But we're excited because we live close to the Magothy River which is a tributary of the bay, and it needs all we can do to limit stormwater runoff and pollutants. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONSimplicityWhat would you like to invest more time in reflecting on?
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Collin Tydings 10/11/2021 8:50 PMWith regard to signing up for a CSA, I didn't find that better prices were a benefit. I had several promising leads for local growers who have a great CSA with local pickups, but the cost per share was just too much to manage within our budget. Surprisingly it couldn't compete with the local grocery store chain. Too far past the break point for us. -
Collin Tydings 10/09/2021 4:40 PMHere's a novel idea - go for a daily walk at a farmer's market, and knock out a two-fer