I grew up in a conservation-minded home with my mother at the helm. She made food from scratch, bought secondhand clothing, meal planned and shopped with exacting detail so we didn’t over-consume, and opted for quality over quantity when it came to household products. She loved farmers markets, fresh food, and hand-me-down swaps with neighbors and friends. I suspect her habits were fueled by a desire for familial health and wellness – and, of course, positive financial outcomes. Over the years, I’ve learned and incorporated many eco-friendly and wellness practices into my own family’s culture. I married someone who is also passionate about conservation, particularly local conservation, the Everglades, and agricultural practices in our state. I’m so thankful for these experiences – for the knowledge I’ve gained and the habits I’ve been able to incorporate in my family life as we raise our daughter.
And so, for families just starting out and looking to reduce environmental impact and raise their children to care for the planet, the plethora of advice online and from friends can feel like so much. But there are some very easy ways to begin, and as we know better and learn more, we tend to do better. Every small change makes a difference on so many levels. Often, when we opt for more environmentally friendly products and practices, we help both the environment and our health and well-being. Many of these practices also help our consumption levels, which, in turn, helps our budgets. Eco-friendly living doesn’t equate to spending more – rather, it typically equates to spending less.
Where to begin
Any small practice makes a difference. Here are a few ways to reduce environmental impact, support your family’s home environment and health, and even save a few dollars while you’re at it!
- Bring reusable grocery bags to the store. “It’s an easy habit to adopt, and our house seems to collect reusable bags—whether from parades, the bank, random birthday parties, etc. They seem to arrive at our house in droves,” said Ashley McLean. Many single-use plastics, such as grocery bags, aren’t actually recyclable, and recycling relies on nonrenewable resources for transportation and reproduction into other products.
- Stop buying bottled water. Instead, purchase a water filter or filtration system. Yes, many homes in SWFL have disgusting-tasting tap water. It’s better for the environment and your budget to buy a high quality water filter instead of bottled water.
- Buy fresh fruits and vegetables. “Our family shops at farmers markets and favors local produce rather than relying on packaged products,” said Brandi Kermundu. “Making food becomes fun and easy the more you do it! We want to support local farmers who are growing food responsibly in Southwest Florida. Rather than buying processed food that’s grown, shipped, and produced in many different places, we try to make our own snacks and meals from food grown here. It’s healthier and cheaper to eat this way.”
- Shop at secondhand stores. We have so many options for secondhand stores, and we even have shops that cater specifically to children’s products and clothing, such as Once Upon a Child and Twinkle Twinkle Little Store. Rather than supporting manufacturers who use nonrenewable resources producing clothing, housewares, and supplies, we can support nonprofit organizations such as Avow and St. Matthew’s House. We can help make fast fashion a thing of the past. Many overseas manufactures in the clothing industry exploit workers producing pieces that don’t last in an effort to sell as much as possible. And, in the end, even though you may donate clothing to thrift shops, so much of it actually gets thrown away. So, seek out secondhand. “Thrifting can expand and amplify your style,” explained Shannon Brady of Night Bloom Vintage. “It can be super daunting to start, but begin with one thrift store. Since you never know what you’re going to find, really cover your ground and hit every section. I’ve found a lot of my favorite shirts and sweaters in the men’s sections. Trying things on is worth it.” For Brady, thrifting also means saving money. “You can save a lot of money purchasing housewares at thrift stores instead of buying new. It’s also about the thrill of the hunt. Thrifting is modern-day treasure hunting.”
- Buy reusable cleaning cloths and food containers. Paper towels, sandwich bags, and other household items are produced and shipped to stores using nonrenewable resources. Buy quality cloths and containers once and keep reusing them.
- Buy local honey – and use it! Sweeten foods and baked goods with local honey. Briesa Ruby (together with her husband and three children) of Rubee’s Raw Florida Honey is one such local beekeeper. “Aside from the health benefits associated with consuming raw, local honey, purchasing products from local beekeepers instead of chain stores supports the beekeeper, which in turn supports the bees,” Ruby explained. “When you purchase honey from a chain store, you are supporting a honey packaging house that has most likely purchased wholesale honey from another country. Bees are an essential part of our local ecosystem, and buying local honey reduces families’ reliance on sugar and sugar-filled products.”
- Purchase native and native-friendly plants and trees. Rather than relying on water and fertilizer to support plants and grasses that have a difficult time growing in Florida, support the local ecosystem by planting native trees and bushes. You won’t have to spend as much on water and fertilizer for your yard, and many of these plants don’t need as much maintenance. Additionally, runoff from your yard won’t impact waterways. Nurseries like Good Roots in Estero offer a variety of these types of plants, plus advice on growing techniques.
- Become an informed voter at the state level. Legislation regulates Lake Okeechobee discharge, which impacts Florida’s waterways and, in turn, the Everglades. Runoff from sugar cane fields – and, in turn, scheduled discharges – impacts our coastline, fisheries, ecosystems, and local economy. To find out more, visit the Conservancy of Southwest Florida at https://conservancy.org, Vote Water at https://votewater.org, or 239 Flies Inc. at https://239flies.com.
“In the end, less is more,” reiterated McLean. “It is overwhelming. It doesn’t happen all at once, and that’s okay! But, every decision makes a difference on so many levels. When you run out of something or need something, that’s when you have the opportunity to make an informed decision. It’s an exciting way to live.”
Happy Earth Day!