Simple Tips for Stewarding the Earth

Small Changes equal Big Impact

In honor of Earth Day, we’re sharing a round-up of our personal practices to steward the earth.

1. Compost Food Scraps

Composting food scraps in your yard allows you to divert waste from landfills. Food scraps that end up in a landfill decompose differently and give off greenhouse gases, including methane and carbon dioxide. Methane is much more potent and traps more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Returning compost to the earth improves soil health by adding back vital nutrients that increase water retention and can decrease the need for chemical-based fertilizers. If you live in an apartment or urban area, check to see if your city offers a composting program. There is new technology coming on the market to compost your kitchen scraps in a matter of hours…like this or this.

We compost at home and even have a bin for food scraps at the office.

2. Incorporate More Plant-Based Meals into Your Diet

Animal agriculture is estimated to create 18% of all greenhouse emissions, plus roughly 30% of the earth is used for animal agriculture. Some estimate that animal agriculture pollutes more than all transportation combined. A small swap to one vegetable based meal per week can make a big difference. Look to beans and legumes and try to steer clear of heavily processed meat substitutes. Added bonus? Adding more plant-based fiber is great for your health! If swapping out is too big of a leap, consider shifting to animal products raised in a more sustainable way or consciously choosing meals that cut back on meat, eggs, or dairy.

3. Buy Clothing Secondhand and Avoid “Fast Fashion”

Skip the marketing messages urging you to buy ‘new’ each season, especially for those fast-growing kiddos! Instead of buying for “back to school”, replace backpacks and lunch boxes when they wear out, and opt for new (or new to you) clothes when the little ones hit a growth spurt. Consider skipping “fast fashion”, brands that make trendy and inexpensive clothing…it is dirty business. The products are designed to only last a few months (so you need to purchase more frequently) and typically require enormous amounts of water, which in turn pollute waterways near manufacturing facilities with dyes and microfibers. The rights and working conditions of garment workers are often at the expense of larger corporations. Buying second-hand allows you to save money too!

4. Reduce Single-Use Plastic

It’s estimated that 91% of single-use plastic is not recycled, and it can take up to 450 years to degrade in a landfill. Yikes! Here are the simple switches: ditch plastic water/beverage bottles and switch to refillable water bottles and use reusable bags or skip a bag all together for small purchases. We also limit restaurant takeout, especially those that come in plastic or styrofoam containers with plastic utensils. (Styrofoam is a type of plastic that is hard to recycle, as many areas don’t have the facilities to do so.)

5. Plant for the Pollinators

Transform a bit of grass into a blooming garden to invite and ensure the survival of native plants that rely on insect pollinators. A quick google search can reveal the best plants in your area for birds, bees, and butterflies.

We are bombarded with messages to consume all the time, directly and indirectly. Whether it’s treat yourself, upgrade your life, be current on fashion trends, outfit your kids for a new school year. Consuming and the pressure to consume is the norm. In addition to the tips above, cutting back on purchases that you don’t need is a simple way to limit your impact.

What are your top tips for stewarding the earth or limiting your impact on the environment?