7 Ways to Be More Sustainable This Spring
The days are getting longer, the sun is melting the snow, and you’re feeling more connected to the Earth than ever these days. But what can you do to help Mama Earth be a little healthier?
I’ve gathered 7 ways you can bring more sustainability into your life this Spring.
Sign up for a CSA.
CSA is short for community-supported agriculture. A CSA program entails signing up for a weekly, biweekly or monthly package of locally farmed produce &/or grains that is either delivered to you or that you can pick up. It’s a great way to support local farms in your area.
Getting food from non-local sources increases its carbon footprint by requiring it to travel by train, plane, truck, and/or boat (usually more than one of these) to get to your city. Not to mention that the means of cultivating the food in developing countries often involves non-ethical practices such as child labour, unfair wages of employees, and the use of unregulated chemicals and pesticides. Non-organic foods worldwide are grown using dangerous pesticides which both affect your health AND the health of the Earth by contaminating the soil, water, and animals in the area.
CSA programs often involve organic or spray-free farms, making your food not only more sustainable in terms of carbon footprint, but also by reducing or eliminating the use of soil & water-contaminating chemicals.
2. Buy less things.
I get it, you’re spending more time at home than ever, and your inbox is filled with emails from companies wanting you to do lots of online shopping. It’s engrained in our consumerism culture that since Spring signifies a fresh start, you should be buying new things. Clothes, home decor, you name it. But that doesn’t have to be the case.
Use this time to go through your things and rediscover what you own. Maybe it’s new outfit combos that you’ve never tried before. Maybe you can rearrange your existing furniture to create a new look. Chances are your need for a change of energy doesn’t actually require you to get more “stuff”. Every thing you buy will eventually become trash (unless it’s 100% home compostable and that you actually compost)… So choose your things with intention and consideration for its environmental impact.
3. Cut down on your food waste.
It can be tempting to stock up on food right now with what’s going on in the world. But overbuying can lead to a lot of food waste if you aren’t storing it properly or simply not being mindful of what you have.
If you do choose to reduce the amount of grocery store trips you take and so are getting a bigger load than usual (something my household is doing as well), there are a few steps you can take to make sure nothing goes to waste.
First, prioritize eating foods that spoil the quickest. You can either freeze a portion of these foods, or simply ensure you use them within the first few days by meal planning for the week.
Secondly, freezing food yourself versus buying it pre-frozen is a good idea in general (especially since the frozen food aisle is quite bare these days), because it can significantly reduce the amount of packaging you waste and prolong the freshness of your food. You can buy package-free produce (just make sure to wash it well) and freeze it in glass containers or jars. Or perhaps you have a set of freezer ziplocs you already own that you wash and reuse. At least these can be well sealed (slowing the potential of freezer burn) and be reused, unlike the standard plastic bags you buy frozen foods in. You can also freeze most leftovers if you aren’t sure your family will get through all of it on time.
Thirdly, only buy what you know you’ll eat. Don’t buy foods you don’t like or that you never use out of panic that you won’t have enough with what you have. If it isn’t something you’d be willing to eat in the next week, it will likely stay at the back of your fridge or pantry until it expires, and land in the trash.
4. Support local businesses.
In the case where you do choose to buy gifts or a treat for yourself that you’ve been eyeing, try to find a local business to support. Amazon might have too-good-to-be-true shipping, but at what cost? Investing in your local economy means supporting someone’s dream, increasing availability of goods in your area, and (just like with a CSA), reducing the item’s carbon footprint. Plus many small businesses are currently offering reduced or free shipping, or a free drop-off or pick-up option. So it’s a win-win!
5. Be a conscious recycler.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: recycling only goes so far. Especially if the majority of people wishfully place non-recyclables in their bins, contaminating the items that could have been recycled. It only takes five minutes to look up what your municipality accepts in their blue bins. For every thing they don’t accept, try to find alternative recycling programs such as TerraCycle participants in your area so that your trash is minimal. And always opt for package-free purchases when possible!
6. Use what you already own.
Maybe you’ve got a new DIY project you want to try, or are thinking you need a certain item of clothing . But have you done an inventory of what you already own? Are you able to use or transform an existing item into what you need? Maybe that damaged long sleeve shirt in your favourite colour that you no longer wear can become a tank top like the one you’ve been eyeing, or handkerchiefs, or a headband for your hair.
I’m currently creating an entire bullet journal for the year out of paper scraps, some being random bits I’ve kept over the years (pretty art on tags or thank you notes that came from small biz, etc). If making homemade cards or collages is something you want to do in the future, start keeping pretty pieces of paper that already enter your home, & keep them neatly in a box for when you need them.
7. Plan your sustainable future.
Make a list of the changes you’d like to do to make your lifestyle friendlier to the Earth, and take small steps every day. Do you want to grow your own garden? Reduce your clothing purchases to have a capsule wardrobe? Most changes aren’t done in a day and take time to organize. Making a plan will bring you closer to putting these things into action & motivate you to just start today.
Stay safe, stay healthy, & enjoy the beautiful Spring season. ♡
-Chanelle oxo