Sustainable Spring Roundup
We all know April as Earth Month, but here’s the thing: there are no months without Earth. You’re either moving across it, eating it, or otherwise using it every day of the week. All human experiences are tied to nature in one way or another, regardless of whether this connection is visible.
THREADS: @dream.foramerica, @atmos, @moodymoon.co
On that note, here are 8 simple ideas to help you keep the Earth Day buzz going year round. It’s the perfect time to turn your spring cleaning into spring “greening” — a period for incorporating new eco-friendly habits & minimizing waste when cleaning.
#1: Try new vegetarian recipes
As someone who does NOT love to cook, I’m challenging myself to try a different NYT Cooking recipe every week to add a little variety to my routine. These two chickpea-based meals have been my favorites so far…
Creamy Chickpea Pasta with Spinach & Rosemary
Tzatziki Chickpea Salad (I added red bell pepper & had the salad in toasted pita pockets)
#2: Visit your local farmer’s market
Your one-stop shop for the freshest produce & pastries in town, & you’ll be supporting small business owners in the process — what more is there to say?
#3: Turn old t-shirts into rags
We all have our fair share of spent t-shirts stuffed in the back of our closet, unlikely to ever be worn again. Instead of leaving them to gather even more dust, cut them into rag-sized pieces & use these for cleaning.
#4: Cycle out plastic packaging
The next time you run out of shampoo, replace it with the bar version. Face wash, deodorant, & toothpaste? Pick your favorite plastic-free alternative & go from there.
Kitsch Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
Bite Toothpaste Bits ($5 off with my affiliate code KATHARINE59395)
#5: Start composting
I was intimidated by composting for WAY too long. I felt like it wasn’t even an option living in a small city apartment — until one day I saw a community compost bin pop up outside our local grocery store (thank you DC!).
Now I collect all of my food scraps in my Terracycle Recycled Compost Bin, & about once a week I use a HoldOn compostable bag to transfer these to the community bin.
#6: Transition from single use to reusable
The cleaning products you buy at the store are rarely meant to be reused, but there’s a whole world of other eco-friendly options. Here’s a few refillable &/or compostable staples to get you started…
Zero Waste Store Dish Brush Kit
Blueland Laundry Detergent Starter Set
#7: Thrift any additional clothes
If there’s one thing I’ll always talk about, it’s the beauty of an online thrift store like thredUP. You’re saving money, you’re saving the environment, & you’ll quickly realize that anything you need already exists.
#8: Switch to non-dairy milk
I’ve been drinking traditional milk my entire life — that is, until a few weeks ago.
Unsweetened almond milk is almost identical to cow’s milk in both taste & consistency, even to someone who can be extra picky about these things. If you want to compare the land use, greenhouse gas emissions, & freshwater use of different non-dairy milk options, head over to Our World in Data to learn more.
KATHARINE SHUMAN + KJS/STUDIO LLC
