Sustainable Spring
Sustainable Spring: Steps You Can Take To Be Sustainable This Season
With the start of spring officially upon us, many people are opening up the windows to fresh air, spring cleaning, and spending more time in the sun.
As you enjoy this season full of sunshine and beautiful flowers, here are a few steps you can take to be sustainable this spring.
Spring Clean Mindfully
Everyone loves the feeling that spring cleaning brings — a tidier house, less clutter, and an overall feeling of lightness.
As you spring clean, take smart steps to care for your home and the planet.
When Cleaning Things Out
Rather than tossing items in the trash, look to keep them in a circular loop and give them new life! Host a garage sale, try and sell unwanted items on resale market sites, or see how you can recycle them or repurpose them into new things.
Especially when it comes to cleaning your closet, you can donate your unwanted garments to organizations that support those in need or give them new life with textile recycling programs.
When Cleaning Things Up
Many traditional cleaning products are made with harsh chemicals that can be harmful to you, your home, and the planet.
Consider making your own sustainable, non-toxic cleaning products!
A great recipe for a DIY all-purpose cleaner that you can make at home is:
- 1:1 parts water and vinegar
- Lemon or orange rind
- Rosemary sprigs
Not only is this natural cleaner better for the environment and your health, but it’s also less wasteful than other cleaners that come in single-use disposable plastic containers.
Shop Sustainably and Locally
As you clean out your home and closet and get inspired with new spring styles and recipes, consider mindful shopping.
Shop Sustainable and to Invest
As you clean out your closet and home, you may discover you need a few items. When shopping, do so intentionally.
Invest in pieces that you know are made ethically, sustainably, and to last.
If you’re shopping for new clothes, materials to look for include organic, biodegradable fibers like cotton, bamboo, silk, and linen. Clothes made without synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers — like those from Blue Canoe — are not only good for the environment and your health but also feel great on your skin.
When shopping for home decor or furniture, consider shopping at secondhand stores. Items are often still in excellent condition — and even if they aren’t, they can be given a new life with just a few hours of work and some paint.
Shop Locally
Rather than buying groceries from your nearby chain supermarket, look for farmer’s markets in your area.
Not only do your dollars go toward supporting local farmers, but shopping locally also gives you access to in-season produce and other farm-fresh products.
Local farmers often boast lush, colorful produce grown organically and ethically. What’s more, you can bring your goods home in reusable bags — without much of the single-use packaging and ties that much of groceries from chain stores are sold in.
You can have peace of mind knowing the groceries you bring home are directly from local farms in your area.
Take Advantage of Fresh Air and Great Weather
As the spring weather warms, take advantage of beautiful, sunny days.
If you’re able, consider biking or walking to run errands instead of driving.
Consider turning off the heat and AC and open up those windows to get some fresh air flowing through your home! The emotional boost you’ll get from sunlight streaming from open windows is incomparable.
Enjoy a Happy, Sustainable Spring
Sustainable living isn’t an end-all, be-all lifestyle. It starts with small, mindful changes like walking to the library instead of driving there.
Find some mindful ways to incorporate more sustainable practices into your life this spring!
