Five Things I'm Doing to Save the Planet

Taking my lead from @pennsif, @steevc and @revisesociology, here's the five more or less every day things I'm doing to save the planet.

There was an interesting programme on Radio 4 yesterday about Veganism as part of the Beyond Belief series. Most of the panel talked about a journey towards vegetarianism or veganism, rather than a violent do or die break with eating meat and animal products.

Eliminating Food Waste

We have very little food waste - mainly from growing up in a time where food was never wasted - every scrap is used. Trimmings and peelings go on the compost.

I'll buy from the reduced counter, shove things in the freezer until I'm ready to use them, keep stale bread for breadcrumbs and croutons, make soup with forgotten vegetables lurking in the salad drawer and throw left over cooked vegetables into an omelette.

I was pleased when I calculated my ecology footprint, it came in quite low and I was able to make some more changes by buying more food grown or reared locally. There are lots more resources at Global Footprint Network.

Reducing Car Use

I have a car which I rarely use and mainly to take things to the re-cycling centre. I prefer to travel by public transport or walk, whichever works. I keep getting my Raleigh Shopper out and pumping up the tyres and oiling various bits, but I haven't been brave enough to go out on the public highway yet.

I saw a gardener yesterday at the Co-op with a little trailer on the back of his bike with all his tools and gardening debris. I'd like one of those.

Reviewing Energy and Water Use

I've got a bit lax with these. I've just taken some meter readings, and recalibrated all the thermostats. I use a slow cooker a lot, and I want to buy some another shelf for the oven so I can cook several things at once when its on. I have a dual flush on one of the toilets, the other one is due to be replaced in the next six months or so, and I need to hook up more rain barrels.

Voting Green in the European Elections

It's called Red Leicester for a reason, and the national and local elections returned almost exclusively Labour candidates (just one lonely Independent or LibDem councillor, I can't remember which). Talking of LibDems, they have been courting me with personalised direct mail and flyers through the door nearly every day since the European elections were announced.

But I've looked up the East Midlands Green Party candidates and they'll be getting my vote. Sorry, Vince, another time maybe.

By the way, I see that Nancy Mogg is standing in our constituency. I suppose she has to stand somewhere.

Grand Finale

I was trying to think of something show-stopping for number five, but really, I think saving the planet is about doing more and more small every day things and having more awareness about the true costs (human and environmental) involved in producing things.

I like the Slow Fashion movement, the increasing emphasis on handmade recycled, re-purposed clothes. Right now, we have Me-Made-May-2019 going on, where sewists pledge to make the most of their handmade wardrobe. And every week, we have #needleworkmonday where Steemians share their ideas.

I have a young person who's just come to live here. He's very intrigued by the re-cycling box and compost bin and, today, the new-to-us desk that arrived, courtesy of Age UK's furniture shop in the village. I guess that's the final thing: spreading the word :)