New Year, New Goals: Making Sustainability Progress in My Personal Life
The confetti has settled, the champagne wishes have faded, and it's time to face the music – a brand new year is upon us! And what better way to kick things off than with some resolutions that are good for ourselves and the planet?
For those of you following my journey as founder of ZOM I want to humbly share that I’m not starting from zero. This year's targets are based on last year’s lessons at my new farm home in Springfield. I'm sharing three green resolutions I'm personally tackling in 2024, and I invite you to join me on this eco-friendly journey!
Resolution #1: Waste Not in the Kitchen
Food waste is a huge global issue, and I feel the weight of my food waste. About one-third of all food produced going uneaten. For me this issue is most prevalent at the stage of the cycle/process where my food simply rots in the fridge. This year, I'm saying no to unnecessary waste in my kitchen especially from improper planning of my refrigeration. My plan involves:
Mastering Meal Planning: Planning meals weekly helps me buy only what I need and prevents items from languishing in the fridge. I use a combo of homemade Pinterest and Canva based meal prep templates.
Attached to the upcoming links are free PDFs I made. I use Pinterest and Google to find recipes then use a series of monthly, weekly, and grocery store shopping templates. I designed these to make finding items in thing store and seeing different food timelines and corresponding budgets with ease.
Portion Control: By increasing my portioning accuracy (at the super market and on my plate), I can cook just the right amount to avoid leftovers that end up in the bin.
Composting Power! I'm using a compost tumbler to turn those banana peels and coffee grounds into nutrient-rich gold for my garden.
Resolution #2: Supporting Local Seed Producers
There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of harvesting fresh produce you've grown yourself. This year, I'm expanding my gardening game with:
Go Big or Go Home (in the Garden): I'm planning to add more beds to accommodate a wider variety of fruits and vegetables.
Protecting My Precious Plants: A sturdy net around the garden will keep rabbits, squirrels, deer, and other hungry interlopers at bay. 2023 was my first year experiencing wildlife as a threat to my garden. It’s a tough issue to navigate but I have decided to put up a garden net to serve as a nature fence. There are plenty of other wild foods on my farm for the wildlife.
Shop Local, Grow Local: Supporting local farmers and seed suppliers is good for the environment and the community. Plus, locally adapted seeds have a higher chance of thriving in my specific climate. This year in addition to my typical Seed Swap adventures I will be shopping at Territorial Seeds based in Cottage Grove, OR.
Resolution #3: Lace Up and Hit the Trail – One Hour for Mother Nature
Spending time in nature is not only good for the soul, it's also a fantastic way to stay active. This year, I'm committing to at least one hour of hiking per week, rain or shine. Here's how I'll make it happen:
Find My Footsteps: Exploring new trails will keep things fresh and exciting. I use All Trails to find, navigate and record my hiking experiences.
Buddy Up: Hiking with friends or family is a great way to stay motivated and make the experience more social. Plus, there's safety in numbers, especially on unfamiliar trails. I’m blessed to have a network of reliable and inspiring friends to hike with here in Oregon after my big move from New Jersey 10 years ago.
Leave No Trace: Respecting the environment is paramount. I'll continue to stick to designated trails, pack out all my trash, and minimize my impact on the delicate ecosystems I explore.
These are just a few of the many sustainable resolutions I'm embracing in 2024. Remember, every little bit counts! From mindful meal planning to getting your hands dirty in the garden, small changes can make a big difference for our planet. So, let's ditch the resolutions that fizzle out by February and focus on ones that are good for us and the world around us. Who's with me?
I'd love to hear about your own sustainable resolutions for the new year! Share them in the comments below and let's inspire each other to make 2024 a greener and healthier year for all.
Happy New Year!
