Sustainability: how biological systems remain diverse and productive. Long-lived and healthy wetlands and forests are examples of sustainable biological systems. In more general terms, sustainability is the endurance of systems and processes.
When I asked Nicole if she could somehow simply define sustainability she came up with a great response: "Leaving the environment a better place for later generations." Couldn't put it much simpler if you ask me, but you might be reading his wondering what you could do personally to take those necessary steps to living a more sustainable lifestyle.
Try these beginner steps of sustainability to help the environment endure for those generations to come:
- Recycle - This might sound as basic as possible considering the act of recycling has been around for over 20 years in most residential cities, but shockingly many people still don't recycle. In 2015 recycling has never been easier as most companies offer co-mingled recycling (you don't to sort paper products from plastics, etc.) as well as the recycling of any number of plastics. All you have to do is find the recycling logo and you can recycle that object. Some places (like my hometown of Wheeling, WV) are still very much in the stone age in terms of recycling and only collect clear glass, aluminum and paper. Go online and find a recycling center near you and take your plastics and other glass products there to help those materials be re-used and not end up in our local landfills.
- Garden - Sick of the rising costs at the grocery store? Me too. What can you do about? Grow some of your own food. Whether this is a deck garden with nothing but tomato plants, or a more diverse garden which produces peppers, squashes, carrots, lettuce and an assortment of other vegetables that will not only help reduce your carbon footprint from food traveling to the grocery store, but will help you make strides in your health by eating foods naturally grown in your own back yard.
- Compost - Once you start your garden, you will realize there is a lot which goes into that process. You need to buy compost to add to the soil, as well as other nutrients to ensure your crops are the best they can be. Why pay the money for compost when all you have to do is simply let your trash take care of it. Buy a simple compost bin at your local hardware store (they aren't that expensive) and set it up somewhere you can easily access it throughout the year. Add some dirt at the bottom (along with some earth worms if you can find them) and let the composting begin. Any vegetable and fruit scraps you have can go directly into the compost bin to help fuel the soil with nutrients. This will not only help your garden but will also cut down on how much trash you collect on a weekly basis.
- Conserve Water - People (myself included) take water for granted. Everyone should do their part to conserve water as best as possible. Whether that is cleaning your dishes by hand and letting them air dry rather than using the dishwasher, or simply turning the water on in the tub as it fills rather than waiting till the water turns warm to start to fill the tub. All are small things which can go a long way to conserve water and help the environment.
Try these beginner steps to sustainability and be happy knowing your baby steps are helping to sustain our environment for future generations!
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