Michelle Bruhn

Forks in the Dirt

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
433 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

16

zero-waste meals

consumed
UP TO

46

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

1.0

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

0.3

pounds

packaging waste avoided
UP TO

2.0

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

8.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

20

minutes

spent learning

Michelle's actions

Food

Shop the Bulk Bins

Each trip to the grocery store I will purchase 2 products from the bulk section using my own containers.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Food

Cook Meals with Zero Plastic Waste

I will prepare 2 meal(s) at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Plastics 101

Read Plastic-Free Challenge emails

I will read through the three emails each week to learn more about plastic and get ideas on how to use less.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

Make Green Cleaners

I will make 2 of my own cleaning products (cleaners, detergents, soaps) instead of buying them in new spray bottles each time.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Share My Actions

I will make my low-waste actions visible by posting to my social media networks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or at work.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

At Home

WASH COLD, LINE DRY

I will wash my clothing in cold water and hang it to dry to reduce the amount of microplastic shedding and to prolong the life of my garments.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Purchase Alternative Toothpaste

I will purchase toothpaste powder or toothpaste tabs in plastic-free packaging.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

On-the-go

Refill travel toiletries

If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

At Home

Plan a Garden

I will plan an herb or vegetable garden for next year at my home, workplace, or community garden.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Michelle Bruhn 2/26/2025 7:25 AM
- TEAM CAPTAIN
- 10-DAY STREAK
Just got back from a vacation and it was so fun to see how they avoided plastic at the resort- glass when an option, reusable plastic made out of corn and soy - and ZERO PLASTIC STRAWS! I was able to reuse (refill) lots of travel size options, and opted for less laundry at the resort... working hard to offset the plane emissions though!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
At Home

Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?
Michelle Bruhn 2/09/2025 7:23 PM
- TEAM CAPTAIN
- 10-DAY STREAK
I love growing my own food as a way to eat fresh and to preserve the foods for our family for over winter- and to give away extra food to friends and neighbors!

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- Brandon Rathbun 2/10/2025 2:26 AM
  
  28-DAY STREAK
  Growing your own is the way to go, to many chemicals on store bought food..
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
At Home

How do you tackle hang drying clothes during cold winter months?
Michelle Bruhn 2/06/2025 8:42 AM
- TEAM CAPTAIN
- 10-DAY STREAK
I have a foldable clothes drying rack that I set out right in front of our woodstove and it dries so fast - but even before we added the woodstove, clothes would still dry within a day!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Do an inventory of your kitchen to see how many single-use plastics you've used in the past. What are some low-waste or reusable alternatives to these commonly used products? What would your impact be if you switched all the single-use products from your inventory to reusable? Are there any items where it would be difficult to avoid plastic waste?
Michelle Bruhn 2/02/2025 6:19 AM
- TEAM CAPTAIN
- 10-DAY STREAK
It is crazy how many vegetables come wrapped in single us plastic- and I'm always shocked because for much of the year I don't buy veggies but grow and preserve them from our garden. But eventually I want a cucumber and lettuce for salad and always wonder why we can't find a way around all the plastic wrapped produce? I make my own beeswax wraps, but should make more and in more sizes!

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Michelle Bruhn 2/01/2025 1:35 PM
- TEAM CAPTAIN
- 10-DAY STREAK
I Started this team as a way to encourage each other to stay aware of the single use plastics in our midst- it is so easy to just not see them. And to do something about the problem - remember- Action Absorbs Anxiety!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community

Single use plastics have become normalized in our society to the point that most people don't see them as a problem. What did you do to advocate for less single-use items? What would you say to a friend, colleague, or family member who may not understand why these disposables are an issue?
Michelle Bruhn 2/01/2025 1:32 PM
- TEAM CAPTAIN
- 10-DAY STREAK
Asking questions is always a good place to start, so I'll ask where does that plastic bag/wrapper go after you're done with it? It is so pervasive that it can be hard to see the plastic problems all around us.

Read More