If there’s one thing many on our team feel they’ve gotten better at over the past few months (in addition to baking banana bread, of course), it’s adopting more sustainable living habits.
Some changes have certainly been more intentional than others (I’m looking at you, the great paper towel shortage of 2020). But either way, we all agree: little changes go a long way on the journey towards taking better care of our planet.
Since we’ve been finding fun and creativity in trying different things, we thought we’d make a blog post to share some (maybe) new ideas and possibly inspire you to make simple changes too!
Keep reading for 6 Tips for Living More Sustainably at Home.
1. Take Shorter Showers
Changing habits is more sustainable (#punintended) when you start small. So we’re kicking off our list with an easy change that makes a big impact: taking shorter showers.
Yep, even two minutes shorter can really make a difference. Skeptical? We were too until a google search showed us how quickly the difference adds up. You can read more about it here and here.
And let’s not forget to mention it’s not only water you’re saving, but energy too. Double win!
2. Start a Home Garden
WWII had Victory Gardens. We have Quarantine Gardens.
Maybe you’ve always dreamt of having a green thumb or maybe these past few months have piqued your interest. Either way, there has never been a better time to hone your gardening skills than now.
And with so many resources available on social media and across the Internet, growing your own food can be an easy, fun, and nourishing way to live more sustainably.
If you’re a DIY-er, check out this helpful article for getting started. If you prefer the support of an expert, check out Erin Hostetler of The Patio Farmer. She is a great local resource who provides both materials and expertise to help you on your way to success in no time!
3. Start a Compost Bin
Since we’ve all been cooking more at home or getting take-out, why not put your food scraps to good use through composting?
Make a DIY compost bin in your yard or sign up for a local composting service like Crown Town Compost.
You might even be surprised to learn of all of the household items you can compost: cotton swabs, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, coffee grinds. Check out this list for even more items you could be composting instead of sending to the landfill.
4. Ask Your Neighbor Before Making a Trip to the Store
One of the best parts about our extended stays at home has definitely been meeting so many of our neighbors we hadn’t before. Stopping for a chat on our evening walks, gathering (socially-distant, of course) for front-lawn picnics, and even the simple wave hello has helped us maintain some semblance of connection during these crazy times.
We’ve heard similar sentiments from so many of our friends, which makes this an easy suggestion on our list: before you go out and purchase a specific tool you need for your latest home improvement project, ask a neighbor if they have one that you can borrow. I think we could all agree not every home is in need of a socket wrench in every size. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
5. Conduct a Plastic Audit
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been overwhelmed with the mismatching assortment of Tupperware in your cabinet. You’re definitely not alone.
Now is the perfect time to take inventory of these items and consider easy ways to replace them with more sustainable, eco friendly products.
Switch your tupperware out with the now-empty salsa jars. Ditch the plastic grocery bag by saving your brown paper bag for your next trip to the store. Buy your grains, nuts, and flours in bulk (most stores make it easy for you to even bring your own jars. Just be sure to have them tare the weight when you get there.)
And if you’re still not sure where to start, there are some small businesses here in Charlotte that can help. Follow along and shop with Ekologicall and Rooted Rethinkery. They offer great tips, tricks, and products that can make the swap super easy!
6. Change Up Your Commute
Getting outside for some fresh air and exercise has never felt better or been more necessary than over the past few months. And boy have we not missed sitting in traffic as we race across town.
This got us thinking: do we really need our cars as much as we think we do? Could we be biking to the store for dinner or walking to the coffee shop for our morning coffees instead? First answer: no. Second answer: yes.
We get it: a car is a necessity for many people and activities. But for the simple trips taken out of convenience rather than necessity, could alternative transportation work just as well? Just imagine the wind blowing in your face and all the endorphins you’ll feel moving down the sidewalk. Sounds ideal, right?! We’re confident this is one switch you won’t regret!
And since this list is all about doing things sustainably, if you’re in the market for a new bike be sure check out Craigslist for the wide assortment of used bikes. There are some really great options on there that will have you cruising in no time!
We know there are so many ways beyond what’s included on this list to live more sustainably. Some require few resources while others require a bit more so just start where you are!
As Anne Marie Bonneau of Zero Wast Chef put it: “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
The same can be said for sustainable living. The goal is not to be perfect, the goal is simply that we’re all trying to do a little better job of taking care of ourselves and our planet every day. Because if we’ve learned anything from the rapid spread of COVID, it’s that everything is connected.
Tell us in the comments below: What are your favorite sustainable living hacks? What additional tips would you recommend?
