I'm really glad that I participated in the Eco Challenge for the first time! I wish I had been able to be a little more focused during the time of the challenge, but I think I still learned a lot about different actions I can take to make a difference (even if I didn't get them all done this time around). I hope to participate again next time!

I think participating in this challenge was a good starting step for me. I hope that in the future the actions that seemed really improbable for me to accomplish become possible and even routine. One step at a time right?

I just remembered that I wanted to add to the previous post that another big way that I will continue to reduce my water use is by continuing to limit what I consume. Now that the recycling situation has changed I am going to be limiting the plastics I bring into the house, hoping to be able to still have just one can of garbage a year.
Here is a link from Grace Communications about how much water it takes to make our stuff. Reducing the stuff reduces the water we use.
http://www.gracelinks.org/285/the-hidden-water-in-everyday-products

Another EcoChallenge over already. I must say, it's a lot easier to keep up with the posting when one is retired!

I learned from the Portland Water Bureau that the average residential water usage is 6-8 CCF (hundred cubic feet), and that there are 748 gallons per 100 CCF. I'm trying to envision how big a pond that would be. This measurement is from the EPA:One CCF is equal to 748 gallons. What does your usage mean? The average American uses around 88 gallons per day per person in the household. That means a family of four would use around 10,500gallons in a 30-day period.(Mar 24, 2017)

When I started this challenge, I intended to check my water meter every day. Haven't done that. But I will try to check it  I do know that I will be much more conscious of my water use thanks to this experiment. I'm looking forward to next year's EcoChallenge already!
 

I really enjoyed participating in this challenge. I will adopt these activities andake them part of my routine. 

I have enjoyed this challenge, and I have become much more aware of my behavior,  and I  will now consider my purchases more carefully,  I will avoid plastic when possible,  and I will be more connected with nature. Thanks much for this opportunity! 

It's interesting to observe that even though I feel like I've started to make a change in how much disposable packaging comes into my house, there was already so much here in my cupboards, closets and fridge that there hasn't been a huge reduction (so far) in the amount we have to dispose of. It's probably particularly evident now since the recent change in plastic recycling - I can't quite yet bring myself to put those last few clamshells (which I bought when I still thought I could recycle them) into the garbage yet. I wonder if this is partly why it can be really hard to make new habits, since it really takes a while for all these products to work their way out of our lives it is easy to feel like you aren't making a difference when you've just started. 

I can't believe we're almost done! I've been more aware of my choices since I started, and want to learn more about how I can keep up this progress and share with others. 

Wow, the EcoChallenge is almost over. Two weeks has gone really fast. I am grateful for having this reason to really pay attention to my commitment to use less water day-to-day. And I really appreciate that my husband is such a good partner who cares about the Earth and the future as I do.

I can't believe there are only a few days left! I'm hoping these habits will stay with me for longer.