Gina Carver

Community Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
425 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

69

zero-waste meals

consumed
UP TO

88

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

40

pounds

food waste prevented
UP TO

10

minutes

spent learning

Gina's actions

Cooking

Revive Limp Produce

I will rescue limp produce like leafy greens or carrots by soaking them in cold water or using them in recipes where appearance doesn't matter.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Shopping

Glean or Forage

I will learn about the foods that grow locally and try gleaning or foraging.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Shopping

Buy Loose Produce and Shop the Bulk Bins

I will buy loose produce with a reusable bag or food from the bulk section to get the exact quantity I need.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Planning

Find your meal planning personality

I will explore different meal plan techniques and choose one that works for my household.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Storage

Create an Eat First Area

I will create an "Eat First" area in my fridge to prioritize food that needs to be used right away for my household of 1.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Planning

Make Time for Meal Prep

I will set aside time to prepare meals in advance.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Storage

Learn About Food Storage

I will learn about food storage and store food based on best practices to keep it from spoiling before it is used.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Shopping

Scrutinize Deals

I will resist the suggestion to buy the quantity advertised on sale and only buy what I know I will eat.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Planning

Plant a Garden

I will plant an herb or vegetable garden at my home or community garden.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Shopping

Support Imperfection

I will intentionally buy ugly produce at the grocery store, farmers market, or sign up for an ugly produce CSA box.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Shopping

Are you someone who typically chooses what you buy based on what is on sale? How can you make sure you don't buy more than what you need?
Gina Carver 8/20/2025 10:23 AM
I wouldn't say typically, but I also don't strictly adhere to recipes, so if I can substitute something that's cheaper, I'm all for it! Only buying extras of things that are somewhat shelf stable and then prioritizing them with meal planning helps. My lack of storage space/funds also puts a natural limit on how much I can buy for "someday":)

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Storage

What kinds of food are on your Eat First shelf? Has creating an Eat First area helped you reduce food waste?
Gina Carver 8/06/2025 3:35 PM
Leftovers, opened canned goods, and fresh herbs that go bad quickly are all there. Just knowing it's there helps remind me to check before deciding what to cook.

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- Vivien Fowler 8/06/2025 5:56 PM
  On my Eat First shelf, I’ve placed items that are close to expiring or need to be used soon -- like leftover cooked vegetables, half-used cans of coconut milk, and ripe fruit. Hopefully, this would help reduce food waste, and it serves as a visual reminder to use what I already have.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Shopping

Did you know what "gleaning" was before you joined this challenge? Have you noticed any fruits trees or berry patches in your neighborhood that produce more than is being used up?
Gina Carver 8/06/2025 3:32 PM
I had heard of it but wasn't really familiar with it. It seems like about a third of what the mulberry trees in my neighborhood produce just ends up smashed on the pavement.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Planning

Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?
Gina Carver 8/06/2025 3:27 PM
Putting up a little window box garden outside my kitchen window has improved the view and impressed my neighbors, but what really fills me with pride is seeing the local pollinators benefit from it:)

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