As a parent I am always wondering what life will be like for my daughter when she grows up - will there be amazing natural places left for her to explore? Will she get to see turtles in the wild - not just the zoo? AND - are there simple things that I can do at home to help make this future possible for her?
I caught up with Zoe from Everyday Earthkeeping for some tips and inspiration. I learnt a lot - I hope you do too!
Five Minute Read
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Tips to help Parents do a Little Bit Better
Coffee chat with Zoe from Everyday EarthKeeping - because babies have tiny feet and HUGE footprints.
Photo by Michelle McKay Photography
What Is Everyday Earthkeeping? How Did It Start?
ZOE: Climate Anxiety has affected me for many years now, but when I had kids the sheer size of the footprint we left as a family was really alarming.
It’s often easier to just say ‘yes’ and turn to the convenient option - such as the single use yoghurt pouch - when you’re sleep deprived and juggling the mental load that comes with having a family.
There are also stereotypes that often come with making sustainable choices. Do you need to be vegan or become an eco-warrior? Is it possible to make smaller changes and still make a difference? (Yes!)
I set up Everyday EarthKeeping as a community space for people who want to do 'A Little Bit Better’, one baby step at a time!
What are 5 things Parents can do at home to be a little bit greener?
ONE: Reduce your meat intake (without noticing)
You know how you habitually make spaghetti bolognaise using the whole 500g packet of mince from the supermarket? Halve it!
I’ll get home from the market and will divide up and freeze my mince into 150-200g portions. I cook it up with grated zucchini, carrots, lentils, onions, passata and you won’t even notice that you just HALVED your meat intake.
The flavour is still there. The carnivore family members can see the meat and won’t go all hungry-sceptical-maniac-lion on you at the dinner table.
Photo by Michelle McKay Photography
TWO: Get a Bokashi Bin (or two)
Bokashi bins are a great way of consolidating food waste indoors. They speed up the breakdown process by using grains poured on top. They sit for 10 days and are then ready to compost or bury. The Juice (watered down) is a great feed for your plants as well!
There’s also worm farms, community compost bins and even a ShareWaste app to help you find someone nearby who wants your scraps!
Photo by Michelle McKay Photography
THREE: Rethink your bath (toys)
Bath toys are always plastic squeegee toys that fill with water, grow mould, and then get thrown out in a panic.
Enter: vessels. Any vessel. It could be an empty wash bottle. It could be a cup. It could be the scoop from the formula tin. I find the best combination is a pump-action bottle that they can fill and pump out, plus a cup and something with a spout.
My daughter would make “potions” for hours if the water didn’t get cold. They’ll pour one into the other and use their imagination. Add a bar of soap for the bubble factor and they’ll be off.
Honestly! No more bath toys! Those items are already in your house.
Photo by Michelle McKay Photography
FOUR: Birthday Presents
I love finding the PERFECT gift - but there’s always one rule… it has to fit inside an envelope.
There are so many experiences that can be purchased online and printed out the morning of the party.
Experience ideas? Playcentres, aquariums, museums, zoo, tickets to pantomimes, to Play School Live, to cafes, restaurants, vouchers for cleaners, food delivery, Gumnut Trails guides, subscriptions…
While I’m ordering and printing, my daughter is making the handmade card,
I pair it with the gift voucher and make it FABULOUS. Wrap it in paper from that last art project, add pompoms, repurposed ribbons, stickers - make it look like a circus has landed on the envelope. The recipient will be excited by the idea of merely opening it.
FIVE: Stop Chucking Out Bread!
Did you know that here in Victoria, if we eliminated bread waste it would be the equivalent to removing 100,000 cars from the road? For every loaf eaten, half a loaf is chucked out.
Freeze half your bread as soon as you buy it – portion it in two-slice reusable zip lock bags so you can take out a couple at a time.
If it’s too far gone and stale, blitz it in the food processor for breadcrumbs and freeze for next time. Raisin bread can make incredible bread-and-butter pudding! So can left over hot cross buns. Get creative!
Photo by Michelle McKay Photography
Can Simple Things We Do At Home Really Make A Difference?
it doesn’t need to be an all or nothing approach. Just because you buy a set of cloth nappies, doesn’t mean you can’t buy a pack of Huggies. You may choose to be meat-free on Mondays and still eat Spaghetti Bolognaise on Wednesday!
By the end of the week you may have reduced your waste or footprint by 20%, but better yet - you’ve practised!
You’ve made the first step toward changing habits and in no time at all you’ll turn around and realise those tiny ripples became waves without you even noticing.
Everything needs to be about REDUCING - systems need to change around the world to help us curb the climate crisis, and by reducing our demand for unsustainable products we will put pressure where it counts, as well as reducing your waste. Governments and big business will follow the money - so make your dollars count!
We need everyone to do it imperfectly and not just a few people to do it perfectly.
Are There Exciting Local Projects We Should Follow?
Watch the film 2040 by Australian film maker Damon Gameau. It’s brilliant and full of hope for what the future could be if we adopt the positive changes that already EXIST today. Such as regenerative farming and kelp agriculture.
There are loads of great influencers out there doing fantastic things - check out.
- Compostable Kate
- Trash is for Tossers
- Sustainableish
- Hopscotch Songs - videos for kids on climate change
