In today’s world, we are surrounded by stresses and strains. It can feel as though we have little agency over our situation and circumstances. When we are faced by a lack of sustainability in many of our societal systems, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. It is easy to imagine that there is not much we can do to change things for the better. But we, as individuals, have much more power than we think. Sustainability begins at home, and there is plenty we can do. Here are a few top tips for sustainability at home:

Equip Yourself For Self-Reliance

The more we can rely on ourselves, our immediate surroundings and resources, the more sustainable our lives can be. There are plenty of things that you can do to boost self-reliance at home. Top of the list is learning. Increasing your knowledge and skills is the number one thing to do to begin your journey to a more sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly way of life. Learn about nature, about gardening and growing, about sustainable cooking and food preservation. Learn age-old skills that will equip you for the journey ahead. Sewing, knitting, crochet, woodworking, herbal medicine, foraging… these are just a few examples.

Make The Most of Natural Resources

When we are thinking about what we have as individuals, we often forget to count the bounty of the natural world around us. When we use natural resources around us wisely, we often find that they can meet many of our needs.

But you may also be able to grow plants for herbal remedies, for fibers, for dyes, and for a range of crafting and DIY projects, from making your own household cleaners and cleaning and beauty products, to making greenwood furniture, with a wide range of options in between.

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle

One of the main reasons to use natural resources around us is to reduce our overall consumption. We can live more sustainably by refusing to buy or accept damaging items, and by generally reducing the amount that we buy. We can also go further, not only to reduce the amount that we buy, but to reduce the waste we generate. The five ‘R’s of sustainability can help us move closer to a zero waste lifestyle.

Buy Better

Even when we aim for much greater self-reliance, it is likely that there will still be some things we have to buy. As well as thinking about buying less, we should also buy better. For example, we should buy fresh, local, organic food and cook from scratch. We should avoid buying products that have caused or will cause harm to people and planet. We can swap out harmful products for more sustainable ones.

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