Alright, let’s talk about this whole cultural and environmental sustainability thing. For me, it wasn’t some big theory I read in a book. It started much simpler, right in my own kitchen, looking at the overflowing bin.
I just got really tired of seeing so much waste pile up, especially plastic. Every single thing seemed to come wrapped in layers of it. I felt pretty bad about it, honestly. So, I decided I needed to actually do something, not just feel bad.
First thing, I went through my own habits. Started really basic. I dug out those reusable shopping bags everyone gets but forgets to use. Made myself remember to take them. Then I got a reusable water bottle and a coffee cup. Sounds small, I know, but it was a start. Had to make it a routine, stick it by the door so I wouldn’t forget.
After a while, I started thinking bigger than just my own trash. Where was all this stuff coming from? I made an effort to check out the local farmers’ market more often. Found out the food often had way less packaging, sometimes none at all. Plus, I got talking to the people growing it. It felt good, you know, connecting with local folks.
Thinking About the Old Ways
This market thing got me thinking about how my grandparents lived. They weren’t trying to be ‘eco-warriors’, that wasn’t even a term. They were just… careful. They didn’t throw much away. Clothes got mended, jars got reused, leftovers became the next day’s lunch. It was just normal life, born out of necessity maybe, but also respect for things.
I realised a lot of those old habits were actually super environmentally friendly. They were also part of their culture, the way things were done in their community. Like knowing how to preserve vegetables from the garden, or fixing a wobbly chair instead of buying a new one. That knowledge, passed down, that felt like real cultural sustainability to me. And guess what? It was also good for the planet.
So, I tried to bring a little bit of that into my own life. Here’s what I started doing:
- Mending: I learned some basic sewing to fix small holes in clothes instead of tossing them. Still not great at it, but I try!
- Local Buying: Really focused on buying local when I could, not just food but other things too. Looked for stuff made by people nearby.
- Less Processing: Tried cooking more from scratch, avoiding heavily processed foods that always seem to come in heaps of plastic.
- Sharing/Swapping: Got involved in a neighbourhood group where we swap things we don’t need anymore – books, tools, kids’ stuff.
It’s definitely a journey. I’m not living off-grid or anything. I still create waste, still buy new things sometimes. But I actively think about it now. I try to connect the dots between keeping traditions alive, supporting my local community, and reducing my impact on the environment. It’s about finding that balance in everyday actions. It feels more meaningful this way, not just like ticking boxes for recycling.
