Many of us will find that as we move towards a greener life and more sustainable practices, we become champions for the environment. We want to share our good eco habits and experiences with others, in the hope of motivating them to join us on a planet-friendly journey. One group that it is very important to inspire are our children, as we need to work together to protect their future.
As it’s Set a Good Example Day on 26th February, there’s no better time to think about how we can encourage the next generation to think about caring for the earth and its precious resources.
Learn how to grow vegetables and herbs
Every little step helps on a sustainability journey, and growing your own food can help to reduce the amount of pre-packaged items we have to buy, or short journeys to buy a few essentials. It can also be very liberating and empowering to have a level of self-sufficiency. Potatoes, peas and tomatoes are all known for being easy to grow, so they are a good place to start.
If you want to grow in pots, be sure to source pre-loved ones so you can add to your eco-credentials. Rumage will help you look across different second-hand sites all at the same time, so you won’t have to commit hours to hunting down what you want.
Encourage plant-based options
A great way to reduce your carbon footprint and be more eco friendly is to eat plant-based whenever you can. Encourage your children to try them too, so you can all eat as a family. Start out with some simple switches. Maybe meat-free burgers or tofu instead of other proteins, and you may be able to work up to fully plant-based dishes.
A growing number of schools now offer a plant-based dish on their regular menu. This is another good way for children to try out different foods.
Be proud to buy second hand
Buying second hand has so many benefits for the planet, it is certainly something to be proud of. Be sure to tell your children when you have bought things for them or yourself that are pre-loved. Share with them how you found the item to make second hand shopping the norm over fast fashion and goods that are manufactured to the detriment of the environment.
You could even make up fun stories about where the items might have come from. This could ensure buying second hand is embraced by all of your family. Rumage is the ideal place to hunt for things and believes that thrifting is a great way of life!.
Reuse, recycle, Repair and donate
Be sure to get your whole family involved in re-using, recycling and donating. If you take on this responsibility solely, your children will be much older before they realise the important part this plays in a greener future.
Have a separate bin for recycling and get your children to think about what can go in it. Encourage them to check if they’re not sure before throwing something away. Think about reusing with them too. Glass jars are great for storage or painting pots, cardboard tubes are brilliant for junk modelling. Old clothes that aren’t good enough to be donated are great cleaning cloths.
No longer do we need to chuck things out. We can get our hands dirty and repair items that do have more life left in them. So don’t give up on tech, toasters, or washing machines. It’s often surprisingly economical to repair them yourself with YouTube help or repair shops!