by Maggie Walker
Hi fellow Earth dweller! My name is Maggie, and while I’m not a mom (yet), I am a Christian and budding environmentalist. Living a sustainable lifestyle can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips and tricks on getting started.
Before starting to figure out what changes you’re going to make, figure out why sustainability is important to you. Make it meaningful, rather than something you feel like you have to do but aren’t really sure why.
Here are some of my motivations as a Christian:
- The very first command God gives us in the Bible is to take care of His creation. Genesis 1:28 (NLT) says, “Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Some interpret this to mean that we can do to and take from the Earth whatever we want. But I believe that when God told us to “reign,” he meant to reign in the way He does–by providing for us, caring for us, protecting us, and always doing what is best for us.
- God’s creation is one of the clearest ways His character is revealed to us. Romans 1:19-20 (NLT) says, “They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Just about anyone who’s spent time in a beautiful natural setting knows what this verse is talking about.
- There is so much nature imagery in the Bible. If we lose the sparrows, lilies, vines, and branches, future generations will lose a certain depth of connection to those parts of the Bible.
- Beyond that, there are so many ties between social, racial, economic, and environmental justice (and injustice)- too many for me to get into in this post. Protecting the Earth is definitely a way to love our neighbor and to pursue justice for all. A favorite resource of mine for learning about how these issues are intertwined (and which also often has great tips about green living) is the Sierra Club.
Once you’ve solidified your motivation and are ready to act, the number 1 most important thing to remember is to have grace for yourself!
If you try to go zero-waste cold turkey or to examine every ingredient and material in every product you buy, you will likely become overwhelmed and burn out. Trust me, I’ve been there.
I’ll start you off with some things that I do. Pick and choose what sounds doable for your family, and gradually add more changes when you feel ready.
Minimalism: In general, minimalism is a good rule of thumb when it comes to sustainable living. This doesn’t mean go through your home and throw away a ton of stuff (that just generates more waste!). Instead, be intentional with your future purchases. Do you and your family really need more clothing or toys or household decorations? If the answer is yes, then look around a bit for a good option- fair trade, local, organic when possible. If the answer is no, or maybe not, try making do with what you already have and see how it goes. You might not even miss whatever new item you chose to forgo. Having less stuff around the house can help reduce stress too, and it’s an opportunity to teach your kids that more material possessions does not equal more happiness.
Food, household cleaning supplies, and personal care products: Go for natural, locally made/sourced, organic, and fair trade whenever possible. And go for items that come in the least amount of packaging, particularly the least amount of plastic. Make as much as you can homemade, because then you know exactly what’s in it and where it came from. Homemade products also have a smaller carbon footprint since there’s no packaging or shipping required. Here are some examples of what I use:
- Toothpaste- I’ve tried Tooth Tabs, but I didn’t feel like they cleaned my teeth well enough. I use Tom’s of Maine brand, which uses naturally sourced ingredients and donates a portion of their profits to good causes. They have toothpaste for kids too!
- Deodorant- I use straight-up baking soda and it works great for me! I understand that’s pretty out-there though (and a bit messy), so you can also look up recipes to make your own or find a fair trade, natural option (there are many!).
- Shampoo and Conditioner- I’ve tried several different shampoo and conditioner bars, but they all left my hair too oily. I use Shea Moisture brand, which uses fair trade shea butter and supports black female entrepreneurs.
- Soap- Rather than buying body washes with lots of chemicals and plastic packaging, try bar soap. You can often find locally made, natural soaps or fair trade soaps that support a good cause.
- Tissues, paper towels, napkins, rags- T-shirt strips!! I use these for EVERYTHING (except as toilet paper, don’t worry). Just take an old t-shirt and cut it into strips of your desired size. Machine wash and re-use them again and again. Imagine how much money you’d save if you didn’t have to buy tissues and paper towels! You can pack these in your kids’ lunches too, rather than a paper napkin.
- Laundry detergent- You have to try Eco Nuts. They’re dried Himalayan berries that release a natural cleanser in the presence of water. You just put a few berries in the cloth bag they come with and throw it in with your clothes. They work great and each berry can be used several times. I’m a college student so I only do laundry for one, but I bought a box of 100 berries for about $10 a year and a half ago and I’m only maybe halfway through the box.
- Food storage/packing lunches: Rather than plastic cling wrap or ziplock baggies, try reusable beeswax wrap. It comes in lots of sizes, including sandwich bags! Not ready to invest in beeswrap or reusable plastic baggies? Try washing out your ziplock bags, hanging them up to dry, and using them again. You can also use reusable glass or plastic Tupperware containers. Pack real silverware that your kids can bring back home to wash, rather than plastic that gets thrown out every day.
Composting: Composting is super easy! All you need is a plastic storage bin and a drill.
- Drill a few holes on the top and sides of a plastic storage bin.
- Line the bottom of the bin with a few layers of newspaper or other used paper.
- Find a good spot outside that’s not too close to where you sit or your kids play due to the potentially unpleasant smell.
What can you compost? Non-animal product food waste (i.e., fruits, veggies, grains), tea bags, coffee grounds, paper products.
Plus, a cool feature of compost is that eventually it turns into nutrient-packed soil. If you can handle the smell, it’s a good idea to use a rake or shovel to mix the compost around every so often so it decomposes evenly. Once it becomes the consistency of soil, you can use it to plant flowers or fertilize your garden- a fun way to help your kids make a connection to nature!
Those are some ideas to get you started with green living. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or do some googling- there are tons of resources out there.
Thanks for giving your time to learn about how you can care for our Earth- an investment in the well-being of yourself, your family, and people + creatures across the globe for generations to come.
