The proper use of science is not to conquer nature but to live in it.

Barry Commoner

I think it is safe to say that most of us who are trying to live this simple, back to our roots type of lifestyle do it for reasons far beyond how delicious a freshly picked carrot tastes, or how satisfying it is when you bake the perfect loaf of sourdough bread. For me, it’s quiet. It’s waking up in the morning to beautiful sunshine with a cup of coffee in my hand, knowing that in a few hours the girls and I will be out in the garden getting our hands dirty and tending to our hens making sure they live their best life. It’s knowing that what we have here, we have worked hard for. We appreciate it all! It’s teaching my daughters that there is so much more to strawberries than driving to the grocery store and buying them. That it takes a whole summer of care to get fresh corn on the cob. It’s patience, compassion, hard work, and in the end (hopefully) rewarding.

Tomorrow is Earth Day, and it always encourages me to evaluate around my home. I think even more so now that we have set our wagons down this path of sustainable living, it is important to know where we can make small changes that will have a big impact. I’ve put together 5 ideas to green up the homestead that are easy to accommodate, and won’t cost you your life savings to do!

Reuse, Reuse, Reuse

There are so many ways to reuse in your home, and most of it revolves around food storage for me. We are in no way perfect around here but we try. In my area reusable grocery bags aren’t just a good idea, they are required. If you don’t bring your bags, you can purchase a bag for a small fee, which adds up over time so bring those bags! Another great product to take to the grocery store with you are reusable produce bags. Pampered Chef has a wonderful set you can view here https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/thuskisson/shop/Kitchen+Tools/Storage/Mesh+Produce+Bags/100363. This particular set comes in 3 sizes and are machine washable. They also last a long time!

Did you know that 7.5 million plastic straws are estimated to pollute the U.S. coastlines? That’s JUST the U.S.! Investing in a set of metal straws like these https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/thuskisson/shop/%2410_00+%26+Under/Metal+Straws/100092 can insure there are a few less straws hitting the oceans. I have 2 sets- one in the house and one in the car.

Another great way to reuse is to invest in glass food storage containers. Ours came from Costco and have snap lock lids that are amazing for little hands to open. Glass containers may cost you a bit more up front than their plastic counter-parts, however they last much longer and are overall better for the environment.

This next tip hits close to home since we will be sending our oldest off to kindergarten in the fall- yikes! Let’s talk lunch bags. Paper lunch sacks and plastic baggies with juice boxes are pretty standard. We will be shopping for a reusable lunch pail to send in September along with a reusable water bottle (we LOVE Hydroflasks in our family), and silicone food bags like these https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/thuskisson/shop/Kitchen+Tools/Sets/Reusable+Storage+Bag+Set/100486. Again these types of bags will set you back more money to start with, but washing them and reusing day after day will pay off in the long run both financially and environmentally. I have seen reusable sandwich bags in other stores such as Target or Walmart as well.

Buy Second-Hand

This is one I need to focus on. Buying things second hand on Facebook Marketplace, or at a local thrift store save them from ending up in a landfill, save you money, and can be a fun way to find some unique things to add to your home. On the same note, donate things that you don’t want or need anymore instead of tossing them. Give someone else the chance to hunt for that nightstand you want gone. It could be the perfect piece to finish their home!

Learn to Love Leftovers

Some people love leftovers (me!) and some people don’t care for them at all (my husband!) but it saves time, money, and your garbage can to find ways to use them. I personally just love to eat them reheated as they are, but you can get creative with leftovers as well. I recently did a series of videos on doing just this! We bought a whole chicken and cooked it on the rotisserie with our Deluxe Air Fryer. The first night we had chicken, potatoes, and a veggie for dinner. After that I used the chicken to make paninis the following night, and chicken noodle soup the night after that. I also had enough chicken left to make chicken fried rice, but that meal didn’t make it to a video. You can watch the videos here https://www.facebook.com/tarasfarmhousekitchen/videos/?ref=page_internal.

Along with eating leftovers, be sure to keep an eye on your produce. Freeze what is about to go bad for future use! I love taking fruit that is heading out and freezing it in little smoothie packs. Then when I’m in a smoothie mood, I can pull one out and just plop it in my Deluxe Cooking Blender and make a delicious smoothie with little effort.

Homemade

The benefits to homemade food our many- taste, health benefits, control of ingredients, and…. reduced packaging! I was recently inspired to make my own coffee creamer because I first couldn’t find the brand I like at the store, and second I read the ingredient list on the brands that were available. Yuck. So I made my own, and it turned out delicious! It was also minus the plastic bottle my other creamer comes in, minus the plastic labels that cover the whole bottle, and minus the factory and transportation to get it to my fridge. It also only had 6 ingredients. If we make what we can at home, just saving on packaging alone could make a HUGE difference!

Buy Local

Buying local, like making homemade goods, has many benefits. You are supporting the smaller producers in your area and keeping them going, the goods are generally fresher because you are buying directly from the source, and you are typically buying what is in season, making it healthier for your body as well as the environment.

There are a few ways to buy local. First is visit your local farmer’s market. Farmer’s markets are a great way to buy a variety of goods in one place, and support many local producers at once. If you are into preserving your own food and canning, or you want to learn, most local farms will also sell you canning boxes, which are large amounts of any said crop. Some do require you to order canning boxes ahead, so be sure to chat with them when you are there. Ask what their policy is and when the crop you are after will be in season. I have a horrible time growing pickling cucumbers, so on the opening weekend of our farmer’s market I pack up the girls and head down to order my box. For the farm I order from, I fill out a slip of what I want, add my info, and they then call me the week before the cucumbers are ready. I have the option to then pick up either at the farmer’s market or at their farm.

Another great option to buying locally is to join a CSA. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. You pay into the farm at the beginning of the season, then you get a share of what is produced. You don’t typically get to choose what you receive, so a CSA is also a great way to expand your cooking skills to use up the unfamiliar produce you may get.

Of course there isn’t anything more local than your backyard. If you are able to grow your own garden, I encourage you to try! If you have a small space, container gardens are also a great option. Some apartments won’t allow container gardens, so start a small herb garden in your window sill if this is you!

Start Where You Are

No matter how small your gesture may feel with your quest to green up your home, lifestyle, or homestead it matters. Start where you are and start small. Switch out your straws, and once that becomes habit, switch something else. The most important thing is to start.

~Tara