By Sara Goddard
November 5, 2021
Source: Green That Life
Source Article / Images: Shidonna Raven Patterns & Publications. All Rights Reserved. Copyright. Please contact us for republishing permission and citation formatting.
Make 2022 a Green New Year: 30 Easy and Effective New Year’s Resolution Ideas
Buy Bulk
Make it a green new year by buying bulk!
Whether you’re shopping for a blowout party or just for yourself, keep your purchases eco-friendly by buying bulk for food, produce, and household items. Bring your own reusable bags and containers, or simply leave items loose in your cart.
Buy Local
Minimize the carbon footprint of your shopping trips by shopping at local stores. Not only will you support local businesses you’ll also lessen the environmental impact of your purchases through reduced vehicle travel time. Even better, walk or bike to the shops.
Buy Used
Instead of buying new, consider purchasing pre-owned items. The pre-owned market is booming, making it possible to purchase pretty much anything you want at second-hand stores or online. If you still want to buy new, consider purchasing products made from recycled and post-consumer material.
A Green Dry Clean
Keep dry cleaning green by using a reusable garment bag. You can also recycle your hangers. Most municipalities will take hangers curbside as part of their scrap metal collection, or you can return them to your dry cleaner.
A Green New Year in the Yard
Make it a green new year with a healthy yard!
Transform Your Yard into a Healthy Yard
The perfect way to make this year a green new year is to make your yard into a space that’s healthy for people, wildlife, and the planet by using natural remedies for combating pests while feeding the soil and plants with natural fertilizers and soil amendments.
Even if you live in an urban setting, there’s always space for plants in an apartment, small yard, or rooftop.
Go Native (With Your Plants)!
Native plants are more resilient and they’re also beautiful!
Wondering what to plant now that you’re committed to a healthy yard? Plant native plants and trees to attract wildlife. They’re also more resilient and able to withstand diseases and pests. That means less maintenance and lawn care for you!
You can also try creating a well-being garden in part of your yard to optimize the therapeutic effects of nature.
Install a Rain Barrel or Rain Garden
Install a rain barrel to capture water from your roof to use for watering the lawn or indoor plants. It’s a terrific way to conserve water and it’s free!
Another way to conserve water and control excess water is to install a rain garden.
Get the Dirt on Composting
Compost your food and you’ll be rewarded with nutrient-rich soil!
Composting, or food scrap recycling, is an excellent way to repurpose food waste, transforming it into nutrient-rich soil for your yard or potted plants. (It also makes an excellent gift!).
Say No Thanks to Leaf Blowers
Leaf blowers blow! Not only are they a noisy nuisance, but they’re also a significant source of air pollution. Part ways with that noisy leaf blower. Instead, mulch, rake, or compost your leaves and grass clippings.
Be-Leaf in Yourself: Leaf Mulch!
This fall, instead of raking, blowing, and bagging, mulch your leaves!
A Green New Year for You!
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
First, if you don’t know what carbon footprint really means, take a moment to read all about it. Then use one of the carbon footprint calculators to determine your own overall footprint (or even your food footprint, using food labels generated by My Emissions calculator) so you can work towards reducing the environmental impact of your actions.
Make a (Regular) Date With Nature
Even if it’s cold and damp outside, spending time outdoors has powerful healing effects, acting as a stress reliever. Take a look at these resources for nature-related experiences:
Nationwide trails: visit Hiking Project and All Trails directories.
Nature-based activities: try a nature scavenger hunt or the iNaturalist app, a social network of over 750,000 scientists and naturalists where anyone can record, discuss, and share their photos of living things.
Kids’ activities: visit the NY Department of Environmental Conservation’s Nature Activities page or Natural Start Alliance’s guide to Nature Play.
Learn Something New (and Green)
A simple but effective way to go green this year is to learn something new about the environment, sustainability, or climate change. There are thousands of online resources to help inform and educate.
Join a Cause
Make 2021 a green new year by supporting an environmental cause. The simplest way to help is through donations and financial support to worthy causes, but you can also volunteer your time, in person, or virtually.
Where should you volunteer your time? Think local: a community-based environmental activist group; a local nature center or conservation organization; a municipal sustainability or environmental committee. Looking farther afield, check out the opportunities on VolunteerMatch, an organization that lists volunteer opportunities across the country, many related to environmental causes.
Start Something New
If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, start something new this year in support of an environmental issue. It could be as simple as starting a climate change conversation with friends and neighbors to raise awareness about our climate crisis; or encouraging them to join you in pledging to reduce the use of single-use disposable items this year. You could take it to the next level and Become a Community Climate Change Champion All are worthy and necessary endeavors.
At this point, it’s all hands-on deck: whatever you can commit to environmental protection or climate action is welcome. The planet needs you!
Which ways do you like to be creative / DIY? How can you creatively impact climate change? Which patterns will you use to save money? What other ways can you save during a recession?
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