I am very passionate (obsessed) with working towards a natural and sustainable lifestyle. Below are some ideas. These are things I practice (not perfectly). I hope to spread the word to make a difference in other people's lives because I have found a positive impact on my own!
To reduce plastic I...
Save plastic bags from bread, paper bags and random wrappers so I don't have to buy bags.
Use beeswax wraps and mason jars. Changed to stainless steel tupperware.
Skip the thin bags at the grocery stores and bring tote bags everywhere just in case.
Bring jars to bulk places - just have to weigh first.
Purposely skip brands that over-package!!
Seriously say no to plastic water bottles. Will go thirsty versus buying a plastic bottle- or I ask to use someone's bathroom and just use my hands to drink water from the tap.
To adjust my diet I...
Try my best to eat local and in season.
Skip the industrial farmed meat, dairy and cheese. Opt for smaller local companies.
Learn about the crops that have a negative impact on the environment when monocropped or cause turmoil in the country where they are grown- e.g avocados, chocolate, coffee..
Try my best to avoid supporting direct or indirect companies that use GMO. A key thing to look for to avoid supporting GMO is buy organic, since legally something can't be both. Not eating processed foods is a good way to decrease GMO consumption.
Shop at farmers markets.
Grow and compost my own food.
Attempt to not overeat, or waste unnecessarily.
Support companies that put effort into reducing their packaging or using reusable materials.
Within the home I..
Try to make all my own products like skincare, cleaning, etc.
Use metal clothes drying racks to skip the dryer in the summer.
Use wool dryer balls to increase the speed of drying in the machine and eliminate the single-use waste of dryer sheets.
Try to buy fabrics that last.. like wool, leather, hemp, cotton.. etc.
In the summer (I try my best) to skip the air conditioning and opt for the open window method.
Try not to run water unnecessarily, like leaving it running while brushing teeth.
Organize recycling into plastics and paper and take note of brands that use unnecessary packaging
Cleaning I..
Use natural homemade cleaning solutions for counters, air fresheners, bathroom, floors etc.. This saves two ways: reduces the bottles and packaging and also no chemicals are washed down the drain / in the air. It's super easy to make with saline solutions, vinegar and essential oils.
Use homemade soap or locally made products that sell without packaging.
Use bar soap or biodegradable dishsoap with reusable scrubbie.
Have sets of cotton / microfibre cloths for around house to forget the use of paper towels
In my community I...
Pick up trash in parks and on nature paths.
Support small businesses where possible.
Take public transit, bike and walk.
During the winter I shovel versus using a snowblower.
I use a push mower- lol
Recycle properly when possible.
Speak up when others act like idiots and litter around me.
Some cool things I have seen around the neighbourhood..
Impermeable driveways that allow water to absorb into the system instead of becoming runoff
Solar panels
Shareable libraries for book recycling
If you have some cool ideas, let me know! :)
-Samantha