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Michelle Bruhn's avatar

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

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?


  • Michelle Bruhn's avatar
    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!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?

    Michelle Bruhn's avatar
    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!

    • Brandon Rathbun's avatar
      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..
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    How do you tackle hang drying clothes during cold winter months?

    Michelle Bruhn's avatar
    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!
  • 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's avatar
    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!

  • Michelle Bruhn's avatar
    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!
  • 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's avatar
    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.