Collectively, small lifestyle changes can make a huge impact on the environment–and your life. Looking for happiness and health? What’s good for the environment is also, it turns out, great for you. Here’s a collection of tips from the No Impact community.
My boyfriend and I keep a mini-flock of four chickens in our urban backyard. They provide nearly infinite amusement, as well as a steady supply of delicious and healthy eggs for us and our neighbors. No more pale yellow yolks in my omelette!
This post was submitted by Kendall .
I have used public transportation, by varying degree, for nearly 15 years, and when I started, I enjoyed the luxury of living close enough to the best job I ever had so that I could walk, bike, or ride to work rather than driving.
Times have changed, employers have changed, and my current employer moved 6 miles further from my home a year ago. They used to provide half-price monthly passes, and now offer free monthly passes, on multiple public municipal transportation systems. Nonetheless, I have reduced my dependency on these modes by riding my bicycle for as much of my 44-mile round trip commute as possible.
Last Fall, I was riding 24 of those miles daily, down to 162 pounds, BP was 117/75, and for the first time in my 59 years, my good cholesterol was well into the desired range, and all the ratios were favorable. This year, I hope to get below 160, and walk/pedal 30 or more of those miles.
This post was submitted by Brett Hawks.
I bought mix and match silverware at the thrift store super cheap and keep it in a box in the cabinet. We use it whenever we have parties. No more plastic ware, ever!
This post was submitted by Kim.
I’m a composting nut. I’ve saved tons of food waste from entering the landfill and raised millions of healthy earthworms. since 1975…for really…I have composted all of my cooking refuse. there is a stainless steel 4 quart soup pot that lives on the counter by the sink. It has a lid and is always shiny. throughout the day everything from fruit and veg peelings, hulls and seed pits to tea bags goes in. at dusk I walk back to the fenced composting area and dig a hole, chop everything up, layer it with shredded leaves or grass and bury it. back inside I wash the pot and we’re good to go for tomorrow.
all through the growing season I have instant, at the ready, beautiful rich compost to add the garden and top dress the shrubs.
This post was submitted by Donna Iona Drozda.
For the past two years I have volunteered at a monthly free market. People bring unwanted items which someone else could use (mostly clothes, books and household items), and take away whatever they like.
This is not a 1-1 swap: one can bring plenty and take little or nothing away, and one can bring little or nothing and take many items.
This project keeps many items out of the landfill and recirculates them to new users. It helps people save money. I have found interesting clothes and books there myself, and it is the best and most enjoyable voluntary work I have done in my life.
[NB Organising a free market on a regular basis requires storage space, which should be kept well-organised so that the confusion doesn’t become overwhelming (as ours did at one point). Items past hope should be rigorously weeded out, or the market starts to look a bit dismal.]
This post was submitted by Deborah Sweeney.