Sustainable Living Practices for Spring
We made it through the dark underbelly of winter and into the light of spring! Hopefully, you’re reading this between being outside and enjoying the bounty of blooms in your area.
Spring is a special time of year because it offers the opportunity to cleanse and purge, update gardens, spend more time in nature and infuse eco-conscious habits into daily life.
Here are a few ways to practice greener living this season.
Embrace nature’s bounty
Out with the potatoes and pears and in with the asparagus, artichokes and spinach! These veggies, along with lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, radishes and rhubarb, are typically in season during spring. Popular fruits include strawberries, pineapple, mangoes, blueberries and sweet cherries. Head to your local farmers’ market or join a Community Supported Agriculture program to get a taste of what’s grown in your area.
Grow a garden
Few things feel as earth-connecting as burying your hands in the soil and growing your own garden. It’s also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Spring provides optimal conditions for many plants to thrive, including beginner-friendly lettuce and salad greens, low-maintenance herbs such as basil and cilantro, fast-growing radishes, versatile carrots and abundant zucchini. Experiment with different varieties to find what works best in your climate and growing conditions.
Consume less energy
There's no need to crank the heat anymore! As temperatures settle into breezy, sunny days, open windows, utilize natural ventilation rather than air conditioning and embrace heavier blankets for cooler nights. Keep your blinds open to take advantage of natural light and when you need to use electric lights, upgrade to LED or CFL bulbs. They last longer and produce less heat, leading to cost savings. Also, consider giving your conventional oven a break and grill outdoors or use your toaster oven for smaller meals to practice energy-conscious cooking. (Check out this awesome guide to vegan grilling for some inspiration!)
Clean and declutter
It’s funny how natural the urge can be to spruce up our living places come spring. This season, be extra intentional about it by setting clear goals for creating a more organized and serene environment. Start small by decluttering a single drawer or shelf to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I recently learned of the 80/20 rule, which says we use 20% of our belongings 80% of the time. Consider identifying those items and prioritize keeping them as you let go of what no longer serves a purpose or brings you joy. Decluttering by category also helps! Instead of going room by room, consider assessing all clothing items in your house. This approach makes it easy to spot duplicates and see the full extent of what you’ve accumulated in each category. Donate what you don’t want versus throwing it away.
Do it with friends
Sustainability is much more fun when you invite people to participate! Instead of driving to a restaurant, go for a bike ride with friends and have a picnic with your garden hauls. Host clothing swaps when you want to update your closet. Organize clean-up events at your favorite parks, trails and beaches. Start a community garden and grow food in community. Encourage colleagues to bring their own coffee mugs to a morning meetup. You can also partner with local organizations, schools or government agencies to coordinate tree-planning activities. The endless options are an awesome way to encourage eco-consciousness in small, accessible practices.
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