Topics surrounding the environment have become popular in social conversations in recent years and people have started to notice the levels of their waste and consumption. Globally, we have seen huge differences to the way companies use resources (compostable wrapping on magazines, banning plastic straws etc) and how much information the media give to the public on this subject. Although with all this information, we can find ourselves sifting through a lot of advice and not knowing what to do with it. The bombardment of messages showing us the state of our eco-system can leave us feeling helpless and upset. So, what if you could make a few simple changes in your home today?
The Kitchen
We are all aware of plastic bag charges and most of us have ‘bag for life’s’ stacked up somewhere in the kitchen. One of the issues with these is that they are still made from plastic and they don’t fold nicely into handbags or rucksacks, so we often forget them. Investing in cotton bag that will bio-degrade, are easily washed and do not put fibrous materials into our water system is crucial. They can also be used instead of thin plastic bags used for produce, which often get tossed away.
It can feel frustrating to know that you are throwing food or plastic away, but we can find our way back to living more naturally. Many of us in the UK have a compost pick-up service from our local council. This is a fantastic initiative that has revolutionised most people’s thoughts on waste. So, instead of throwing away vegetables, egg shells and tea bags, we now put it in our compost bin and send it away. But composting at home could be the start to what you can do. By creating compost from your own food waste, you could make growing vegetables easier and more efficient.
Look through our vast range of composters and wormeries to start this today. We even have wooden composters that give you double eco-points! Unsure how to compost? Here are our hints and tips on composting, and our updated wormery guide and read through our how to build a pet poo wormery guide in case you wish to set one up.
The Garden
The garden is one of the most natural places to take your sustainability project further. Compost is great for fruit and vegetable plants and could be a fuss-free way of becoming eco-friendlier. Organic produce can be better for your wallet and your health so put your compost to good use and reap the benefits. Also, if you end up with a large harvest that you’re unable to get through, you can share it with friends and family.
Creating wild patches of grass and weeds is very good for pollinating insects and can encourage them to pollinate fruits like strawberries. You could use the wilder parts of your garden to encourage creepy crawlies to live, hopefully this may discourage them from invading your fruit and veg patches. You can also take another step and use non-harmful and non-polluting ways of discouraging insects. We have a veg patch protector that does not kill bees, slugs or any other unwanted visitors. We also have this handy bundle that only repels creepy crawlies away from certain areas of your garden.
The Gutters
Every summer we live in threat of a hose-pipe ban which is a real testament to the low rainfall in some areas of the world. What can seem even more frustrating is that we do have days and days of rain in other months, so it can leave one wondering how we run out of water! If you find it hard to manage through hose pipe bans make sure you have a store of water by installing a water butt. You will be able to water plants regularly in any month with this one simple change. Also, if you collect excess water, you can use this to flush toilets! A water butt will help you cut down on water waste and usage. To minimise the risk of having foreign bodies such as leaves enter your water butt (especially if you’re using the water for flushing toilets or washing fruit and veg), you may want to invest in Hedgehog Brush to protect your harvested water (and cut back on cleaning guttering!).
To create a sustainable garden and to live in an eco-friendlier way is a lot easier than you may think. Just making a few changes can completely overhaul not just your garden but your way of life. Composting waste, growing organic food and harvesting rainwater are some of the more accessible ways of starting, naturally you will use less single use products and cut down on plastic consumption because of making these changes.
Interested in other ways you can make sustainable changes? Explore our website for more
