5 Simple Ways to Save the Planet

If you’re at all worried about the environment, you’re probably pretty good at doing things like recycling, conserving water, and selling or giving away the stuff you don’t want instead of pitching it.

Here are five simple ways to preserve the planet for future generations.

1.    Buy local first, organic second. When organic baby formula hits the shelves, you know the organic food movement is here to stay. Great, now maybe the growth in demand will make organic more affordable. The problem is, organic may be better for you, but it’s not always better for our planet. For starters, the fact that consumers are willing to pay more for organic foods means farmers can afford to ship that food farther, which requires more refrigeration and more durable packaging, all of which adds up to more oil and a larger carbon footprint. 

I’m not talking about shipping bananas across the country; I’m talking about fruit coming from New Zealand, and vegetables coming from Chile. That’s a lot of oil. Meanwhile, your local farmer can get you fresh milk, apples, potatoes, and much more on a quarter of a tank of gas. The popularity of local farmer’s markets means patronizing your local farmer can be about as easy as going to the grocery store. If the grocery store is your only option, try to choose products that originate closer to home. And consider only consuming fruits and vegetables that are in season.Want to learn more? The folks at Tree Hugger have put together a fabulous resource about this topic.

And check out Sustainable Table about buying local and eating well.

2. Be a smart landscaper. Did you know that gasoline-powered landscaping equipment such as lawn mowers account for five percent of urban air pollution? We hear a lot about the negative environmental impact of highly-manicured golf courses; the same goes for your highly manicured lawn. That coveted, lush carpet in your front yard requires a lot of water and a lot of fertilizer. Your best bet is to preserve as much of the natural woodland as possible around your home—it’s better at soaking up water, which means it helps to prevent flooding.