Green Guide – Inspired Everyday Living

Many people feel overwhelmed by the idea of saving the planet but it needn’t be stressful or difficult. A favorite piece of advice from an Australian designer and social commentator is to ‘Green your own personal space.’ That means not worrying about the rest of the world’s eco problems, but taking personal responsibility for ourselves and our own surroundings. A great start and solution to our global warming crisis, if everyone followed suit.

Here are a few things you can incorporate into your life to show you care for the environment. You don’t have to change everything about you. Make changes where your lifestyle allows. The most important thing is to remember that every little thing counts. Feel free to share with us your ideas too.

• Buy in season produce. In season produce is abundant, hasn’t traveled hundreds of resource wasting food miles, tastes much better and costs less. Shop at farmer’s markets where possible.
• Grow your vegetables. It’s free and organic! Anyone can start a small veggie or herb garden in their backyard, balcony, windowsill.
• If you have your own garden, start a little compost heap with all your biodegradable food matter. It’ll work magic on the rest of your garden.

• Eat less prepackaged foods. Remember, you are what you eat. If you put chemicals inside you, it will show on the outside. As well as being full of nasties, have layers and layers of packaging.
• Say no to packaging. Avoid plastic containers and disposable cutlery where possible. There are entire surviving cultures that make do without. Give back the extras. If you’re ordering takeaway, and they shove a bunch of cutlery, napkins and condiments you don’t need in the paper bag, return it and reduce waste. Even better, ask  if they’ll fill your own container. They rarely say no.
• Refuse plastic bags. Tuck a muslin shopping bag into your handbag so you never have to use plastic bags when making unexpected grocery purchases.

• Buy earth friendly household products
• Go paperless where you can. Back up your files on an external hard drive and don’t print them out. Get your statements online. If you must print, do so on recycled and unbleached paper and use both sides. Reuse items like envelopes, folders, files, paper clips.
• Dispose of electronics properly. They can be very harmful to the environment if they end up in landfill so Google your nearest recycling center.
• Don’t forget to participate in Earth Hour, a simple initiative with great magnitude. Turn off all your electrical appliances and lights for an hour, and encourage those in your community to do the same.

• Quit smoking. Cigarettes are merely toxins that are bad for the atmosphere and you. And you do your part to banish gross butts that ruin the landscape and contaminate water sources.
• Always turn off lights, appliances and taps that aren’t in use. Make sure you use eco bulbs and have your showerhead fitted with a water saving low flow device.
• Sun and air dry your laundry. If you must use your dryer, make sure the lint filter is clean.
• Use public transport. Convenient and cost effective, the more users, the most likely they are to keep improving it. Ride a bicycle when traveling short distances.
• NO bottled water. Lucky enough to live in countries where tap water is renowned for it’s purity and we’re still water buying cultures. It can take ten gallons of water to make a single half gallon bottle of water. Plus fuel to ship and countless other resources. Just say no thanks. Buy a durable water bottle and refill.
• Invest in quality versus quantity. Buy
• Start an eco-conversation. Spark a discussion and debate about the environment, about recycling and reducing waste, you never know who will listen and make a difference. Raise consciousness about these issues, it’s unfortunate and unbelievable how many people are so ignorant to them.
• And lastly, practice yoga. It’s a life altering regime and a fitness routine that requires no fancy gadgets or resources. Just you and a yoga mat.

*Photo credits: Matt Hannon, MissMalaprop, Iced Buddha, Leo.prie.to