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April 1 - April 21, 2021
Matt Demko's avatar

Matt Demko

CCM

"To re-use as many things as possible before re-cycling or throwing away. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 785 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    49
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    540
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    25
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    15
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    510
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    18
    organic meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    20
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    105
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    22
    whole food meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    27
    zero-waste meals
    consumed

Matt's actions

Simplicity

Core Values

We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 30 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and my natural surroundings.

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Go get a check up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Know My health

I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Fix Leaky Faucets

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

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

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Car Maintenance

I will make sure all tires are inflated properly, air filter is clean, and check my spark plugs. This ensures best gas milage.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Water Reduction

I will use soaker hoses for gardening. This reduces water usage and reduces plant diseases.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Flower Garden

I will start several flower gardens. This helps pollenate crops and helps the bee population.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Gardening

I will start my own garden. I can control what goes into what I grow. This is good for exercise, piece of mind, and being able to eat varieties not found in a grocery store.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy From a Farmers Market

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Locally-Sourced Meals

I will source 2 meal(s) each day from local producers.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Zero-Waste Cooking

I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Whole Food Lifestyle

I will enjoy 2 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Choose Organic Ingredients

I will enjoy 1 meal(s) cooked with organic ingredients each day.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Re-Use Containers

Re-use plastic milk jougs for other uses such as starting seends for the garden and watering cans.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and POC-majority neighborhoods. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

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?


  • Matt Demko's avatar
    Matt Demko 4/21/2021 1:01 PM
    I did miss some check-in days but you can see the impact of everyone that particiated.  A lot of resources have been saved over the past few weeks.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use a Reusable Mug
    Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?

    Matt Demko's avatar
    Matt Demko 4/21/2021 12:56 PM
    I don't think this is hard at all.  The problem is not having one when you need it.  So I have three.  One at home, one in the car, and one at my desk.  I akso have a couple reusable water bottles.

  • Matt Demko's avatar
    Matt Demko 4/20/2021 5:47 PM
    I washed my car for the first time in 8 months this past weekend.  I did it myself, not an automated carwash.  I control how much water is used and I use environmental friendly soap.  After a light wax, this will hold until the end of the summer.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Practice Gratitude for Earth
    Kathleen Dean Moore says that a sense of gratitude leads to a sense of moral obligation. Do you agree? How can we cultivate a sense of gratitude as individuals, and as a society?

    Matt Demko's avatar
    Matt Demko 4/20/2021 5:38 PM
    First is to except that there are dumbasses and liars.  Then it gets easier.  Help those that help you and help those that do not help you.

  • Matt Demko's avatar
    Matt Demko 4/20/2021 5:34 PM
    I checked my garden today and the lettuce and some flowers have sprouted already.

  • Matt Demko's avatar
    Matt Demko 4/20/2021 5:33 PM
    Went mountain biking with some co-workers this evening.  Fresh air, exercise, saw 2 rabbits, and the only impact on the environment was the 5 mile drive to the trails.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Reduce Animal Products
    Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?

    Matt Demko's avatar
    Matt Demko 4/20/2021 5:18 PM
    It is a large expense to feed and care for an animal.  Eating more meat keeps the cycle going of needing to grow feed for the animal whoich take resources from other foods to grow.  Meat from animals is most likely from another town, state or maybe enven country.  This adds to the demand on transportation and all of its environmental costs.  Depending on your doctor or beliefs, eating meat may be bad for your health.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Simplicity Core Values
    What are your top 3-5 core values? How did you narrow it down to those as being your core values?

    Matt Demko's avatar
    Matt Demko 4/19/2021 6:30 PM
    Have fun.  Do not be a burden.  You are the only one responsible for getting you thru life. Be authentic.  I was raised by two role models.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Stay on the Ground
    What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?

    Matt Demko's avatar
    Matt Demko 4/19/2021 6:25 PM
    It is a matter of time any money.  I could have taken a plane but the time spent getting to the airport early and landing an hour away from my desination would be 3.5 hours, and hour of flight time, plus the cost of the flight, parking and possibly a rental car.  Driving costs one tank of gas, no tolls, and only 5.5 hours of driving time.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Go get a check up
    How do you practice self care?

    Matt Demko's avatar
    Matt Demko 4/19/2021 6:19 PM
    I talk to close friends every week about anything I want.