Little Green Guide: The Kind and Curious Mindset
2019
Think End-to-End
Before you acquire something, think about how you will use it to its full potential and responsibly dispose of (or better yet, compost). If you do not have a way to get rid of it responsibly, look for alternatives. Is this something you can get second-hand? Do-It-Myself? Are there recycling depots for this product? Do you need it at all? Thinking end-to-end allows you to look at your effort more holistically and focus on the areas you can contribute the most.
Choose Multi-Functional
Like moving into a new home and starting a basic kitchen pantry, having a basic set of versatile household ingredients can help you be more green. Look up the many cleaning uses of vinegar, lemon, baking soda, oils, and herbs. You will find that many household products can be replaced by a simple recipe of natural ingredients. Not only is it cheap to buy these ingredients in bulk, it reduces packaging waste. Apply the same thinking to your closet, office, and the rest of the home. You may find that one shawl of yours doubles up as a beach towel or wrapper.
Make, Grow, Eat Your Own
Gardening is a great hobby that compliments many green initiatives. Start with growing from your veggie scraps or herbs. It may seem like you can only garnish your soup or have an occasional salad but let it slowly blossom into a garden that suits your lifestyle. Composting is also a great way to get rid of food residue and paper packaging. If gardening is not your thing, it’s ok! Visit a local market and buy seasonal produce that has a lower carbon footprint.
Be Creative and Resourceful
To be green is to be creative! Be it Do-It-Yourself, cooking, gardening, or woodworking. Exercise your creativity to experiment and try new things. You may find out that your old shirts make for amazing cleaning cloths, a broken door can become a tabletop or wine cocks become a floor mat. Think beyond what an item is advertised to do and you may find that you need less than you think.
Get Educated
Education comes in many forms. Whether it’s picking up a skill from a friend, borrowing a tool book, or listening to a podcast, getting educated keeps you inspired and in tune with the world around you. To be green is to be aware. You don’t need to scan through stacks of research papers to know how to be kind to the earth. Take a moment to look at what’s happening around you. Stay curious, and don’t be shy about asking questions.
Go Along Your Lifestyle, Not Against
Being green is not about making life difficult or less enjoyable. We have to acknowledge there are privileges in being able to afford time and money for green practices and products. Don’t measure your success against another person. Start with practices that are easy to incorporate into your life and grow from there. It can be bringing your own cup to a coffee shop or growing green onion from scraps. Create small successes that will lead you to bigger endeavours.