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Cassandra Parrish's avatar

Cassandra Parrish

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden

"Just an outdoorsy person trying to preserve the world that we know and love one small step at a time."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,113 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    183
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    56
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    115
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill

Cassandra's actions

Family

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 2 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Family

Use Reusable Baby Wipes

I will make better choices for the environment and my baby's bum by using reusable baby wipes most or all of the time.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Get Rid of Glitter

I will teach my little ones about microplastics while we do a craft project together using glitter alternatives.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Eco Deodorant

I will switch to a plastic-free deodorant — whether purchased or DIY'd.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Donate Zero Waste Period Products

I will donate 4 zero waste period kits to young people with periods so that they can reduce their waste and the financial burden of menstruation while continuing their education.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Natural Paints

I will paint rooms in my home with low/no VOC or natural paints.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Thoughtful Toys

I will only buy cloth, wooden or plant-based natural rubber toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Use Cloth Diapers

I will replace single use diapers with reusable cloth diapers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Pearly Whites

I will switch to a plastic-free toothpaste — whether purchased or DIY'd.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

That Was a Close Shave

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Reusable wipes

I will switch out paper towels or specialty wipes for personal care with reusable wash cloths. i.e.: Makeup removal

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Switch to Loose Leaf Tea

Because many tea bags and most sleeves and sachets contain plastic, I will switch to using loose leaf tea.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Advocate For Better Food Packaging

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Skip Plastic Bags

When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Choose Reusable Food Storage

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant a Garden

I will plant a herb or vegetable garden using as little plastic as possible and to save from the plastic used buying herbs and veggies.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 2 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 24
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Advocate for Plastic-Free Dining

I will talk to the owner or manager of a restaurant I frequent to request that they reduce their use of single-use and disposable plastics.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Natural Fibers

When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Support a Sharing Economy

I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Food

Office Recycling Captain

Become the person who digs the recycling out of the trash and cleans it to sort it into recycling.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Clean Plate Club

When I need to replace my dish soap, I will switch to a bar or refillable option.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Ditch Dryer Sheets

I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Pets

Pet Friendly and Eco Friendly Vacuum

I will use a cannister vacuum system so I do not use bags that contribute to landfills.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 5 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Pets

Rubber Glove Pet Hair Removal

I will use a rubber glove to remove pet hair from clothes, carpets and furniture.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Pets

Invest in a Pooper-Scooper

I will swap out my single use plastic bags for a pooper-scooper.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Pets

All Natural Pet Toys

I will give my pets natural alternatives to toys like femur bones and antlers, canvas, natural rubber, hemp, rope or cotton toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Share My Actions

I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Homemade Cleaners

I will make my own cleaning products at home.

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?


  • Cassandra Parrish's avatar
    Cassandra Parrish 7/26/2022 12:31 PM
    I am not as strong at the challenge this year but a little bit can go a long way!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Pets
    In what ways is supplying your pet with all natural pet toys better for your pet, better for you, and better for the environment?

    Cassandra Parrish's avatar
    Cassandra Parrish 7/26/2022 12:31 PM
    The less ingredients, the safer things tend to be for an allergy prone doggy like mine. This is also better for the environment because of less consumption and processing. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care
    How can having access to zero waste period products help people who menstruate overcome barriers to education or other opportunities?

    Cassandra Parrish's avatar
    Cassandra Parrish 7/25/2022 1:36 PM
    I think this would definitely help if someone was on the fence about it due to financial costs up front and lack of knowledge. I was definitely on the fence for a while. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care
    Do some research on the toxic side affects of aluminum deodorant. After reading the side effects, can you think of instances where you may have experienced the side effects from this form of deodorant?

    Cassandra Parrish's avatar
    Cassandra Parrish 7/25/2022 1:34 PM
    I think I have experienced some side effects from deodorant sensitivity because I have definitely had some rashes especially around shaving times. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle
    What did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?

    Cassandra Parrish's avatar
    Cassandra Parrish 7/25/2022 1:33 PM
    Most of the ingredients in cleaners seem to go towards the marketing aspect. Making your own is very rewarding and also makes me less worried when cleaning while pregnant since I know what is in it. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?

    Cassandra Parrish's avatar
    Cassandra Parrish 7/25/2022 1:32 PM
    I can't wait to start my garden once my bed is ready! The satisfaction and the peace that comes with growing things is an untapped happiness that many have yet to experience. I highly recommend growing something as a hobby. When I grew my first vegetable gardens at my last house it helped my mental health so much. Yes there are some struggles seeing your precious vined plants succumb to a vine borer the first time or transplanting something that doesn't make it. BUT! The small successes you have are more than worth it. It is a skill that you continuously hone. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Single use plastics have become normalized in our society to the point that most people don't see them as a problem. What would you say to a friend, colleague, or family member who may not understand why these disposables are an issue?

    Cassandra Parrish's avatar
    Cassandra Parrish 7/25/2022 1:28 PM
    I just tell them about micro plastics and advocate for feasible alternatives where/when I can. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family
    How can you and your little one exercise your creativity without creating more plastic waste?

    Cassandra Parrish's avatar
    Cassandra Parrish 7/25/2022 1:27 PM
    We can play in the mud or make crafts out of natural fibers and compostable materials. My family is very into foraging and we can find other things to create with in our back yards. The creativity you have to seek in the challenge is part of the fun. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family
    In what ways do you model choices that align with your values to your little one? In what other ways could you model values-aligned choices?

    Cassandra Parrish's avatar
    Cassandra Parrish 7/25/2022 1:24 PM
    I am mostly raising my baby on hand me down clothing because there is no need to buy new baby clothes when my local friends and family have children who are growing out of their clothes and will need to get rid of them anyway. It is financially sustainable as well as eco friendly. Because I choose to use reusable items and repurpose hand me downs I lessen our impact on suppliers making new disposable products. It just makes sense to me. 

    • Ronni Hatcher's avatar
      Ronni Hatcher 7/25/2022 4:12 PM
      Also community/communication/bond building involved that happens when you add hand me downs as an aspect to your life something so simple has many aspects to it that are positive. Humans are social creatures. Without it we starve even the most lone or highly sensitive type also.  Just less and in different ways then the next.💚 Think about it you are building community into your own life and others with this one act as well as other things come from it for the planet which inturn comes back to us in better environment to grow up in and so on. Blessing after blessing.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle
    Often, single-use and disposable products don't just create more trash - they also contain toxins that are bad for humans. What are some other single-use items that are harmful to humans?

    Cassandra Parrish's avatar
    Cassandra Parrish 7/25/2022 1:20 PM
    Plastic bags and other plastics that break down into micro plastics that are literally in everything. Even our blood! It is scary.