Cromaine District Library Shared 'Thinking Sustainably Into 2021'

Press release from the Cromaine District Library:

January 3, 2021

Sustainability In 2021: Simple Projects and Goals To Start the Year Off Right

What a year, friends! There have been some wonderful moments, but also many new stressors in our lives. From empty grocery store shelves to murder hornets to shifting schedules and working from home, 2020 has complicated many aspects of our lives. But many of the conflicts and problems that we faced last year can be a source of inspiration for learning and growth in 2021. It’s important to explore how we can live sustainably as we take on a new year: so as we navigate excitedly and hopefully through the first month of 2021, let’s look at some ways that we can sustain the planet and ourselves by reducing waste, helping local pollinators, growing our own food, and tending to ourselves.

We’ve explored the topic of waste reduction a few times this winter, but landfills and pollution are a constant issue. For example, plastic is a huge contributor to trash accumulation, and it’s hidden in so many everyday objects--did you know that more than 4.83 million tons of plastic film has been generated to date and only about 9.1% of that plastic is recycled? While there are some great local recycling programs, the very best way to reduce plastic waste is by avoiding the use of plastic wherever we can. For example, I have a few multi-purpose, handmade cloth bags that I bring with me to the grocery store. They’re great for holding fresh produce or other grocery items, and they can be washed regularly.

If you’re interested in creating your own cloth bags, join me for a Handmade Cloth Bag Take-Home Kit, with registration beginning January 10 at 9:00 am!

The waste of food is also important to consider. Food waste can be really sad to see not only because the food itself is no longer edible, but also because of the waste of resources (such as water, energy, packaging, and transportation) that went into growing the food. Although I prioritize wasted fruits and vegetables for my chickens, a great way to reduce food waste is to compost extra food scraps! Composting is a wonderful way to use food scraps because of the incredible environmental benefits it offers, such as creating rich soil (and thus reducing the need for chemical additions in the garden). The US Environmental Protection Agency has some great information on beginning a compost project, including items that should and should not be composted, the benefits of composting, and how to start a compost pile. Whether you start a compost project this year, feed scraps to chickens or livestock, or just plan meals regularly, every small effort made towards reducing food waste has a great impact!

We’ve all heard about the murder hornets killing honeybees--so how can we help support them? Growing a pollinator garden has a tremendously beneficial impact on pollinators. By hosting a slew of nutritious flower species, you are creating a diverse and safe space for bees to find food. Plus--and this may go without saying--they’re beautiful!

MSU’s College of Natural Science Michigan Pollinator Initiative has some basic information to introduce you to pollinator gardens. If you are not familiar, try not to get too caught up in having every detail just right. Even hosting a few beneficial flower species that you wouldn’t normally try in your landscape can help--but be sure to research your new plants first, because some plants that are beneficial to pollinators may change or harm your landscape. For example, lavender and mint plants can grow aggressively and take over your garden, and fennel should be grown away from vegetable crops because they hinder vegetable growth.

A few of my personal favorites to include in my diverse gardenscape include sunflowers, nasturtium, marigolds, cilantro, thyme, and borage, because they do very well as companion plants to various vegetables. If you’re really feeling inspired to protect wildlife and take part in a more sustainable food system, consider growing some of your own foods!

Growing your own fruits, veggies, or herbs doesn’t have to mean that your whole spring and summer is spent plowing a giant garden and pulling weeds. In fact, growing food can be as small a system as you want it to be, from potted herbs to growing potatoes in burlap bags! I love growing and drying my own herbs because they’re so much more fresh and vibrant than store-bought, and you’d be surprised at how long a small jar of dried herbs will last! Potatoes are a wonderful gardening project as well because they’re such a versatile food, and can store long into the winter. Whether you live in an apartment or simply have little gardening space, there are some wonderfully creative methods out there for growing your favorite foods--and they don’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. This is another project that can start small and go in whatever direction you feel is best. For those who want to grow veggies outside but have limited space, a wonderful project to start with is vertical gardening. From trellises to hanging baskets to pallet growing, there are countless ways to save space with vertical gardening. Trellises work really well for plants that would normally take up most of your garden space, like tomatoes, squash, and even small pumpkins. Hanging baskets are wonderful for herbs, and depending on the size can also host plants like radishes, greens, and flowers. Pallet growing involves securing the back of a pallet with landscape fabric, filling the pallet with soil, and flipping the pallet so that it leans vertically against a support. My vertical pallets sit against our barn, and they do really well there!

If you’re ready to try your hand at growing your own foods this year, but don’t have a huge workspace or time commitment, a great way to start is regrowing veggies from kitchen scraps. It’s a fun, easy, and rewarding process!

Something that is often overlooked in sustainable living is sustainability of the self. This means taking care of yourself in ways that help maintain your physical, mental, and emotional health. I hate to say it, but just because we’re out of the stress of 2020 doesn’t mean that there won’t still be stress! So it’s important to make patterns for good hygiene, healthy sleep, and relaxation techniques. A recent obsession of mine has been aromatherapy, which is the use of aromatic plant extracts or essential oils to improve well-being. We’ll explore aromatherapy a lot deeper next month, but if you’re interested in learning more before then, consider taking Aromatherapy 101 through Universal Class--an opportunity that’s free with your Cromaine Library card!

Another important aspect of sustainability of the self is mindset. That isn’t to say, of course, that changing your mindset can fix all of your problems, but sometimes approaching certain situations with a new mindset can reduce stress and help you get the most out of life’s ups and downs. One example of this that I have been trying to incorporate into my life lately is how I tend to myself and my space. Instead of thinking, “I have to clean the house again?!” I tell myself “you deserve to live, work, and create in a clean and organized space.” And this is true--a cleaner living space has been linked to improved mental health for some time now. Applying this mindset to other aspects of your life can help you sustain your physical and mental energy through daunting tasks, conflicts, and other regular stressors.

I hope your winter goals and aspirations are a source of joy and inspiration to carry you into the spring. Enjoy this snowy, sunny month. And of course, Happy New Year!

This press release was produced by the Cromaine District Library. The views expressed are the author's own.