Despite our rocky footing, the world has already made significant strides toward becoming eco-friendlier—and we’re not even half-way through 2020. The coronavirus has crippled countries, families, and economies, but one silver lining is that it has led to the lowest carbon emissions we’ve seen in years.
India’s polluted cities can now see clear, blue skies; the beaches, closed for public safety, are more pristine than ever with less trash contaminating coastlines; and even though you might be quarantined while the pandemic rages on, there are plenty of projects you can take up to fill your time and make your home a greener place to live.
If you’re looking for ideas on how you and your family can become more environmentally conscious this year and beyond, check out these three green strategies that can help.
Grow a Vegetable Garden
Get outside, enjoy some much-needed sunshine, and use our Spring gardening tips to tackle during quarantine. Not only is gardening a great way to spend your day (whether or not you’re forced to stay at home), but any food you grow yourself helps put up a fight against the horrible industrial agricultural complex that’s ravishing the environment.
You can call in the kids for reinforcements and watch them beam with pride as they see their carrot, celery, and cucumber seeds begin to take root. There’s nothing fresher than a farm-to-table meal, and now you’ll be able to head into the backyard and pull your critical nutrients straight from the ground.
If there’s not enough space to grow a garden, there are other options you can explore, like Lettuce Grow farm stands. They offer vertical gardens that can fit any home and growing your own food has never been easier with their innovative hydroponic design. You pick the size and choose which plants to cultivate (but they offer suggestions based on what species will thrive in the zip code you provide!), and Lettuce Grow will send you everything you need to get started—pre-sprouted plants included.
Start a Sustainability Challenge
Growing your own food is a fantastic way to be more sustainable, which the world desperately needs as we drain the earth of it’s precious, natural resources. But don’t stop there! Take a survey of your lifestyle and find ways you can be less wasteful. The littlest things, like leaving the water running while brushing your teeth, add up and make a huge impact.
If you’re running out of games to play during quarantine, Mom, Dad, and the kids can all participate in sustainability challenges that make eco-friendly efforts feel far more fun. Get creative with your quest! Maybe everyone can round-up at the end of the day and put each piece of plastic they consumed on display; the person with the least consumption takes the title for most sustainable!
If you’ve already banned single-use plastic from your home, there are other ideas you can take up. For example, you could request everyone to bring a fact about sustainability or environmental conversation to the dinner. It’s a great way to learn from one another, make conversations flow freely, and encourage children to think critically with their own independent research.
If they need a little guidance at a young age, put a green touch on their STEM lesson plans while you facilitate their stay-at-home education.
Choose Holistic Health Alternatives
Anytime you purchase a bottle of Advil to quickly cure a headache, not only do you contribute to plastic waste with the pill packaging, but you also inadvertently support the Big Pharma companies—an industry rife with greed, negligence, and, often, environmental harm. Just take a look at the rivers near pharmaceutical companies overseas that are so polluted with chemical waste, wildlife has no shot at survival.
Rather than popping a pain pill, why not tap into the healing powers of hemp—an organic plant you can grow right next to your garden in the backyard. Pick up a CBD tincture by CBDfx that can alleviate pain, promote relaxation, calm nerves, reduce anxiety, and enhance mood—all without the “high” feeling typically associated with marijuana.
There are so many ways you can harness the power of mother nature while doing your best to protect her. What are your best eco-friendly practices? Share your ideas in the comments below!
