Sweet Greens

According to Earth Policy Institute, the earth’s temperature has risen by 0.8 degrees Fahrenheit since the industrial revolution. This means that if we don’t reduce carbon emissions, the temperatures will continue increasing. When not controlled, the carbon emissions will affect our plants, animals, the environment, and well-being. For these reasons, it’s vital that we live sustainably.

If you want to live a more sustainable lifestyle, you should start by thinking about the choices you make on a daily basis. Below are four helpful tips on how to live a more sustainable life.

Travel more sustainably

Air travel accounts for approximately 2% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, using the train or carpooling may be better alternatives. However, if you have to travel by plane, you may want to search for flights that use solar panels to reduce their carbon emissions.

Go reusable

The 3 Rs – reduce, reuse, and recycle are crucial to sustainable living. Recycling is one of the best ways to reduce the trash in our landfills. Unfortunately, only 23% of plastic bottles are recycled. When left in landfills, these bottles can take hundreds of years before they can fully decompose. This is why you should use reusable containers.

Here are three reusable things that you should consider:

• Instead of using plastic bags, use reusable fabric or canvas shopping bags
• Reuse PVC water bottles instead of plastic water bottles
• Use reusable silicone, stainless steel, or glassware containers instead of Styrofoam containers

Apart from saving the environment, using these reusable items will help you to save more money in the long run.

Eat less meat

Meat is the main source of protein, and some people cannot stop their urge for ribs or steaks. However, the meat industry does more harm to the environment than emissions from vehicles. Carbon emissions from the livestock industry are very high. For instance, cows alone emit more than 100kgs of methane every year. This greenhouse gas is 23 times heavier than C02.  Additionally, meat processing companies use millions of gallons of water every year.

While not eating meat will help to protect the environment, how will you meet your protein needs?

There are alternative plant-based proteins that will provide your body with proteins, minerals, and vitamins. According to a No Evil Foods review, plant-based meats are great meat alternatives that can reduce climate change.

Grow your food

Visiting your local grocery store for a new batch of vegetables and fruits may be more convenient. However, a lot of energy is used to grow and deliver these products from the farm to the store. According to BBC News, the production of these foods contributes a ¼ of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The production of these foods harms the environment through the use of toxic fertilizers and pesticides. Additionally, there’s machinery needed to plant, grow, and also harvest the crops. Finally, there are fuel emissions when transporting the products to the store. Therefore, starting a garden can limit the emission of harmful greenhouse gases.

Changing your habits a little at a time will help you to lead a more sustainable life. Start your journey to sustainability by incorporating some or all the above ideas regularly. Whether it’s traveling sustainably, recycling items, adopting an eco-friendly diet, or growing your food, choose what works best for you and lessen your impact on the environment.

Helping the environment is all about the lifestyle choices we make. Many people talk about a vegan diet being the perfect way to boost their health and the planet at the same time, but there are a wide variety of other practices that you can incorporate to benefits yourself and the world around you. Let’s show you some approaches that may help. 

Purchasing from Ethically-Minded Suppliers 

Of course, we could go to the farmers’ market to purchase food to minimize the transportation of goods, but it is also important to choose suppliers that have the ethical component as part of how they do business. For example, if you are looking to buy a product that benefits your health, like CBD gummies there are a wide variety of vegan-friendly options, especially as gummies may contain gelatin.

Eating Low-Impact Foods 

Low-impact foods are usually plant-based, such as legumes, whole grains, and vegetables. Low-impact foods will minimize the environmental impact of overall food production and form part of a strong sustainable diet. 

Growing Your Own Food 

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, growing your food may not be a practical option for everyone, but if you are trying to contribute to the health of the environment, even growing some herbs on your fire escape can improve the quality of oxygen in your immediate area. This will reduce the toxicity in your body you are breathing, resulting in higher energy levels. 

Cook Only What You Will Eat 

We throw 40 million tons of food away every year. Being conscious of how much you need to eat is a little thing that can make a massive difference. When you think about all the foods that could go to starving people and being aware of how much food your body requires you can cut down your portions, which will also have a positive impact on your health and your weight. But if you have any food waste, such as scraps, you can always compost them. You can easily purchase a food composter to go in your home, which provides nutrient-dense soil for your plants, but will also help you to grow organic vegetables and fruits that are superior to store-bought brands. 

Trying Edible Insects 

Something that is somewhat controversial, but if you are someone who feels the negative impacts of a vegan diet because you’re not eating enough, you may want to go down this route. It is still relatively new, but there are significant benefits to eating edible insects. Insects are rich in iron and protein and can provide a solution to world hunger. But from the sustainability point of view, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide stable income to farmers within developing countries. And while the idea may sound disgusting, 80% of the world’s population includes insects as part of their staple diet! 

Reducing Your Meat and Dairy Intake 

If you are someone who eats meat, and you want to impact the planet in a more positive way without going vegan, you may want to find a balance. Many people have meat-free days, and there are other ways you can get your protein intakes, such as legumes and lentils. However, if you are someone that requires a significant amount of protein in your diet, either due to a health condition or you are exercising, you can always choose locally grown or seasonal foods or purchase organic grass-fed meat, as this can protect water and soil. Pesticides and other chemicals used in traditional farming run into water and soil, which decreases their nutritional benefit, which then has an impact on the quality of our food. Organic grass-fed meat will have a higher level of Omega-3 fatty acids than traditional meats. 

Cooking Your Own Foods 

One of the best ways to make more sustainable choices in your life is to pick locally grown food in-season, which helps you to make more sustainable choices. More people are eating at home because of the current environment, which has seen a positive impact on their finances, which is always welcome in any money-hungry household. But when you start to recognize just how much you actually need to consume in comparison to what you think you consume, it is worth spreading the message. 

It is important to spread the word to help the environment. We can all try different approaches, but we have to remember that we can’t do everything to save the planet. Even choosing one or two of these components will have a positive impact.

Spring is the perfect time of year to welcome wildlife into your backyard. Even if you only have a small outside space, such as a balcony, you can still attract local birds and critters. In order to create the perfect eco-friendly wildlife garden, use recycled materials where possible to build feeders and habitats. You could also stock your outside space with local plants and flowers for pollinating insects. This way you can help maintain the ecosystem while encouraging some wild visitors. Here are a few tips on how to create an eco-friendly wildlife garden. 

Provide a water source

All animals, birds, and grubs will appreciate a water source. If you have space, you could consider building a pond. This will also make a stunning feature for your yard. Keep the water clean using filters or Tsurumi pond pumps in order to provide a healthy environment for fish and amphibians. Alternatively, you could DIY a small birdbath from recycled materials or upcycle old household items and fill them with water.

Local plants and flowers

For an eco-friendly garden, you should be mindful of the plants you choose. Opt for local plants and flowers that will grow well without disturbing the natural ecosystem. Avoid invading or non-indigenous plants. Colorful pollen-rich flowers will attract the right insects such as bumblebees and butterflies. Here are few tips on how to attract pollinating insects with native flowers. If you want to avoid other unwanted visitors always opt for organic pesticides rather than harmful chemicals.

Build homes for critters

As well as building sustainable exterior features for your home, why not add a few for visiting critters as well? You could DIY a bee hotel out of old bits of untreated wood. Simply drill a few holes in a log for a mini version, or you could go all out and build a bigger structure with different pieces of wood and bamboo. Set up a rock garden for grubs and small mammals. With a few small plants, this can also make an attractive feature.

Create a lawn for nature

Many gardeners overlook the lawn when it comes to wildlife, but it’s actually an important feature. Create a wildlife-friendly lawn by adding patches of meadow. Pollinators will like these. Let your lawn grow long and more flowers will start to appear. Longer grass makes a nice home for beetles and smaller animals. It gives them a place to hide and forage.

DIY feeders

Put out food for your wild visitors. Try making feeders using recycled materials and leftover food from the house. A simple bird feeder can be made from a recycled plastic bottle or mason jar, for example. Check out these DIY bird feeder ideas. You can even make a butterfly or hummingbird feeder with an upturned glass bottle filled with sugar water. Fill your wildlife garden with these upcycled creations, and you’ll soon get plenty of visitors. If you help encourage the ecosystem in your backyard, you can enjoy spotting local animals and birds.