Today we have Start the New Year Greener: part 5, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, and Teaching kids about Sustainability. These may be common things that you hear every day but they still hold true. This is the last in our 5 part series.
If you missed any of the other talks in this series and want to go back and read them, please do so.
Start Off the New Year Greener: part 1
Start Off the New Year Greener: part 2
Today is Start Off the New Year Greener: part 5
1. Reuse what you have
2. Reduce your usage and waste
3. Recycle
4. Teaching Kids About Sustainability
Along with the things we have already talked about in the first 4 parts of this series, you can also reduce, reuse, and recycle items when possible. Consider buying food in bulk instead of in individual quantities so that you reduce the amount of packaging you must throw away. When you do need to buy something ask yourself how you can reduce the effect on the environment and if it can be recycled.
1. Reuse what you have
One of the simplest ways to Start the New Year Greener is to reuse what you already have. We talk a lot about being self-sufficient. Part of that is being able to use and reuse what you have on hand.
If you have a new project, do not go out and buy all new materials. Look around and see what you already have. Do you have materials left over from another project that you can use for this project? Can you re-purpose something to make something else? Can you make the materials yourself? Or grow the ingredient, if that fits the case? This kind of thinking is how you use what you have on hand so you do not have to buy more stuff.
2. Reduce your usage and waste
A. Reduce usage where you can
1. Consider a bike or walking instead of driving if the distance will allow, to reduce gas usage. It is also a good workout.
2. Open the windows on a nice day instead of using the air or heat. You may need to put a fan in the window but that will still use less electricity than the air conditioner.
3. Open the blinds to let in the light instead of turning on the electric lights. Or open the doors to let light into a room.
4. Put out rain barrels to collect water to water your plants instead of using the water hose.
5. There are so many other ways, just think of something you do and then consider if there is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way to do it. We are sure you will be able to come up with at least a few ideas yourself.
B. Reduce Waste
1. Buying more stuff puts more strain on suppliers, and shipping as well as adding more “stuff” that will have to be dealt with later. Think about all the packing material you will throw away. Supply and demand are always at the front of commerce.
2. Think about what impact you can make when you choose to reuse rather than buy new. Consider using something from a thrift shop or Goodwill before you buy new from a commercial store.
3. Can you re-gift? We know to some “re-gift” is a dirty word. But lots of things can be re-gifted that still have a good long life ahead of them. Some of the best things are vintage. Your grandmother’s Pyrex casserole dishes will still be good long after that aluminum cookie pan is no longer in good shape. Old glass wear and old, well-made clothing can last much longer than newly made items. Consider this when you think about re-gifting.
4. Buy well-made not disposable
Just because it has already been used by someone does not mean it is bad or messed up. It just means your grandparents knew the value of a well-made item. Cast iron pans are almost indestructible. With a good seasoning, cast iron pans are back up to their original shiny, black, mean cooking machine selves.
We love Goodwill stores and yard sales, you can find the best things there. Many people do not know how good “old” items can be. You often see families getting rid of the old stuff in favor of new, shiny objects. But we can almost promise you, the old, well-made will outlast the new shiny things. For example, our world is digital, but you just can’t get the same sound from a digital recording as you do with vinyl.
5. Do not buy if you do not have to
Of course, there is always, “If you do not need it, do not buy it” and “do not throw it out until you have used it all up”. The grandparents can give you any number of these little tips of wisdom. Our favorite is, do not get rid of anything you may need or want later. Here on this five-generation family farm, we have a lot of that thinking. Yes, some people consider this hoarding but then where will they be when the “zombie apocalypse” comes?
If it is still good, keep using it. Use it all up before buying more. Make sure it is really good and dead before replacing it. Avoid the shiny object syndrome that makes you buy the newest version of an item. Not only will you save money but you will save on packing materials, and shipping costs. You can also help put a stop to unrealistic supply and demand thinking or commercial companies. Or at least slow it down.
Think of this like a big water dam that has leaks. Sure if only one person puts a finger over one leak to stop it, not much will happen. But if lots of people get together to stop many leaks, then a lot can be changed.
3. Recycle the things that can be recycled
Recycling may be the easiest way to become greener. Consider what you would usually throw into the trash to see if that item is recyclable. It is as simple as separating things that can be recycled into bins for that specific kind of recyclable thing.
Many people consider recycling to be a task, time-consuming, or difficult. But it does not have to be. If you keep a bin for each kind of item ready and available, it is just as easy to drop the item in the bin as it is to drop it in the trash. As they say plastics into the plastic bin, glass to the glass bin, you get the idea. This way each item that can be recycled can go directly into a bin.
There are some things that are not accepted at recycling centers. But by and large, most things can be recycled. Most every community has some kind of recycling program or recycling drop-off center. You just need to look around your community and see where yours is and what is accepted there.
There are so many ways to recycle other than sending trash to the recycling center. Many are pretty obvious and common these days:
1. Reusable grocery bags and produce bags
2. Carry a glass or metal water bottle instead of buying plastic
3. Use cloth towels instead of paper towels
4. Replace tin foil and plastic wrap with reusable wraps
5. Get bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic ones
6. Try soap and shampoo bars instead of the liquid kinds that come in plastic bottles.
7. Buy in bulk and split things into glass jars instead of buying individual serving foods.
8. Use glass or metal storage instead of plastics
9. You can reuse tin cans for crafts, plant potting, door stops, and more.
The list truly goes on and on. Almost anything you now use can be replaced with a greener version or way to do it.
Last on our list of things to share with you is teaching future generations how to be sustainable, and self-sufficient.
4. Teaching Kids About Sustainability
One way to help the world learn about sustainable living is to teach it to children. The best children to teach it to are your own children first. Here are eight examples of ways to teach your kids about sustainability and the importance of living mindfully and self-sufficiently. There are many other ways to teach your kids but these are a place to start.
1. By Example: Children truly do learn by your example. This is the main reason why even if you tell your kids not to do something that they see you do every single day, they still end up doing it. That is where the saying, “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree” comes from. Kids learn what they see, and they do what they see. Be the example so that they will live up to that and do even better.
2. Get Them Involved: When you do your daily recycling not only should you let your kids get involved but also give them the responsibility to do it for your home if they are old enough. Ask them to help you find more ways to recycle and they’ll surprise you with their ideas.
3. Talk to Them: When you do anything recycling in nature talk to them about it and explain what you did and why. Don’t just reuse bags for groceries, tell them you did and why. The more your kids understand why things are done a certain way in your home the more they’ll want to do it on their own.
4. Avoid Fear-mongering: While pollution and the undeterred use of our natural resources are scary and could cause cataclysmic problems it’s better to avoid fear-mongering with kids. Instead, use solid scientific information along with practical advice on what to do to affect change. You do not want your kids terrified to not pitch in. You are not trying to scare them, you are trying to teach them. You want them to want to and you want them to know why it is important.
5. Answer Questions: When your kids ask questions, tell them the truth. If you do not know the answer, look it up together. Use scientific websites, journals, and books from the library so that you can both learn more.
6. Make it Fun: Recycling doesn’t have to be boring or hard. In fact, it can be fun. If you live in a state that pays you money to recycle, what kid doesn’t want to earn their own money? Go on a family walk giving each child a bag to pick up trash, make it into a scavenger hunt, and do an art project with found items. Have fun with it and your kids will learn to enjoy it too.
7. Learn More Science: There are many different processes used in recycling that are exciting uses of science. Science is the one thing that can save humans from themselves and their overabundance of trash.
8. Involve Your Community: Whenever you want your kids to do something it’s great to get other people involved to help. Through your church, your schools, and your city government there are likely some sustainable projects going on that need volunteers to pitch in and help.
The more you get involved and the more people you surround yourself with who care about the environment and these issues the easier it will be for your kids to understand and participate. Find local community members who care about these issues and join their families to help spread the word. Kids love to work with other kids on “grown-up stuff”. Ingrain these habits into your kids and they will teach their kids.
Remember, it’s not about being an “eco-warrior.” It’s about being responsible for the Earth’s resources. In this era, nobody takes responsibility for anything, teach your kids to be unique.
We hope this series on how to Start the New Year Greener has been enjoyable and informative to you. Please consider some of these tips to help you become greener in this new year, become more self-sufficient, and help the environment.
Thank you for visiting and please come again for another edition of Out Standing in the Field.
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