4 low-cost, home-based ways to shrink your carbon footprint (while social distancing)

Seed sorting for that spring veggie and flower garden.

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

— Jane Goodall

Well, looks like most of us will be staying home more for a little while.

But social distancing and avoiding crowds doesn’t need to translate to throwing our (well-washed) hands up and only streaming Netflix. (Though, okay, we fully plan to catch up on Gardener's World.)

In fact, studies show that fostering optimism and taking meaningful action helps us feel a sense of control and well-being, even (especially!) through uncertain times.

So for those of us not on the frontlines, we thought we’d round up a few home-based climate-friendly to-dos.

Because sometimes keeping busy is just the thing.

(Shoutout to our amazing community working in healthcare, grocery stores, and food service. We love you. We see you. We appreciate you!)

Here are four low-cost ways to shrink your carbon footprint—all from your own home.

#1 - Create your own climate-friendly travel kit

You know when you’re out running errands and the craving hits for iced coffee? And your travel cup is… at home?

We’ve been there. Way more often than we’d like to admit.

But the unfortunate truth is that 80% of single-use plastic cups in the U.S. end up in the landfill—and from there release greenhouse gases, including methane, as they degrade.

Which means that being better prepared for a snack or drink on the go is one of those easy lifestyle tweaks that makes a big positive impact.

Why not stay a few steps ahead of Future You by building a climate-friendly travel kit to keep in your car?

Some starter ideas for a basic kit:

One reusable bag that doubles as the container for your kit, plus a bag when you need one.
One reusable tumbler with a lid that works for hot and cold beverages (a mason jar is the simplest version of this).
Two sets of silverware (one for a friend, you know?). Just grab an extra set from home, or pick up a few next time you’re thrifting.
Two reusable cloth napkins, which, depending on their size, can double as a way to clean up messes, too.
One glass food storage container, or a metal bento box.
Some add-ons! Beeswax wraps, stainless steel straws, a mesh produce bags, etc.

Very basic compost system made with chicken wire. (We use that brown bag of leaves next to it to cover each layer of food waste.)

# 2 - Build a simple compost bin

This one’s a bit more involved, but simpler than you might think.

Did you know that nearly half our solid waste across the world is actually organic or biodegradable?

But, like plastic, much of this waste ends up degrading in landfills without oxygen. Where, also like plastic, it releases methane as it breaks down.

Read: a serious driver for climate change.

A proper composting process, on the other hand, aerates the organic material as it degrades, which averts those methane emissions.

And as a bonus, composting not only curbs greenhouse gas emissions, it actually converts that waste into nutritious fertilizer for your veggies. Plus, it aids in carbon sequestration for your garden soil!

Of course, you can buy a done-for-you system from most hardware stores. But why not build your own?

There are countless methods to create a compost system for your home, some of them using supplies you may already have in a corner of your basement.

Here’s a round up of 45 different methods.

*Source: Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming.

We reused an old milk crate for our (dusty) Hard 2 Recycle bin, and it lives underneath our basement stairs. Out of the way, but convenient to drop random stuff in!

#3 - Make a Hard 2 Recycle area

On the subject of diverting unnecessary waste from landfills: you know that random stuff you can’t reuse, but you’re not 100% sure whether it’s possible to recycle it?

We’re talking everything from damaged books to eyeglasses to printers—that mysterious realm of “what do I do with this now?” stuff.

Lucky for Western North Carolina locals, Asheville GreenWorks has an A+ solution.

They coordinate a series of free events called Hard 2 Recycle where community members can drop off a diverse array of items to be disposed of responsibly.

Events are held all over Buncombe County, every few months.

And here’s our pro-tip: get the most out of these events by making a space in your home to collect hard to recycle items in between events. An old yogurt container for printer cartridges; a bag for styrofoam; a shelf for old electronics, etc.). You can always visit the Asheville GreenWorks website to check when the next event is, and we try to keep it on our radar and share them in our newsletters, too.

Extra points: while you’re at it, why not create an area to collect stray plastic grocery bags? The ones you don’t end up using for trash liners can actually be recycled back at most grocery stores!

Collards for dinner! There’s really nothing like garden-fresh greens.

#4 Try a new climate-friendly recipe

Michael Pollan has said: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

Eating a plant-rich diet ranks high on the list of climate-friendly choices we can make as individuals.

How and what we eat is incredibly personal, which is one reason we love the concept of a plant-rich diet.

This lens suggests abundance and possibility, rather than scarcity and limitations. Not to mention, it’s realistic. And the best part? There’s no wrong way to do it.

Whether you’re farming your own front yard, supporting your local farmers by joining a CSA, or simply picking up more veggies from your local grocery store… eating more plants can only be a good thing, right?

If you wanna read up on the connection between food and climate change: here’s an interactive guide by the NYT, and here’s a link to Drawdown’s explanation of a plant-rich diet.

A few resources if you’re inspired to try a new recipe: Amy Chaplin's cookbooks (and website), Bon Appetit’s roundup of veg-based recipes, and this list of plant-based cookbooks recommended by plant-based chefs.

That’s it for now! What should we add to this list?

Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments section.

Anything resonate? Got a favorite plant-based recipe to share?

We’d also love to hear ways you’re finding to stay connected and support our wonderful community during this time. Let’s share some good resources! We’re in this together. Let us know your thoughts in the comments. <3

Here’s to beating this virus while we take care of each other—and our planet.