Rekindled

Growing your own veg is undoubtedly better, for you and the planet, than buying them from the supermarket.  However, the way you grow your vegetables also has its own effect on the environment.  The obvious issue is whether to use chemicals (including fertilizers, weedkillers and pesticides) or whether to go organic.  But beyond that, there are still ways you can reduce any negative impact from your vegetable plot.  These sustainable and thrifty tips will help you save money and reduce waste.

Plant Pots

We all know that we should try to avoid using plastic bags – but what about plastic pots?  Plastic plant pots are actually very difficult to recycle because of the variety of different types of plastic that they are made from, not to mention the number of different colours that are available.  This is where the three R’s come into play.  Firstly, instead of trying to recycle pots, simply reuse them, as many times as you can.  Plastic is quite tough and long-lasting, which is one of the reasons why it is such a problem when it ends up in landfill, but when it comes to reusing, this makes it ideal.

You can also reduce the number of plastic pots you use by buying biodegradable pots like these fibre pots, or even making your own.  For example, this year I am using loo roll tubes as seedling pots.  They are an ideal size, you can write what you have planted straight onto the pot (instead of using plastic labels) and you can just plant them straight into the ground, as the cardboard will rot away, which will minimise root disturbance for the plant.  Plus, you will already have a free supply of them, and if you need lots you can always ask your friends to save theirs for you.  It’s a win-win situation for you and your plants!  Just make sure you press the compost in well so that it doesn’t all fall out the bottom when you pick it up!  Alternatively, you can use a loo roll tube and some newspaper to make your own Newspaper Plant Pots, which do have a bottom.

In addition you can also reuse any type of tray packaging as seed trays.  In the picture shows I have used a tray from a ready meal and the lid from a punnet of fruit.

Composting

If you are growing anything in your garden, you will need compost at some point, either to fill containers and raised beds, or to use as a soil improver.  Making your own compost is a great way of turning your garden and food waste into a valuable resource.  It also requires minimal effort and it all happens a bit like magic!  I chuck all my fruit, veg and garden waste into my compost bin, along with crushed eggshells, teabags and a bit of shredded paper (take that identity thieves!).  I have a two bin system (pictured) which I have just set up.  I have one bin to fill up and one bin to use up.  Once the second bin is empty, I will empty the contents of the first bin into it, as a way of turning the compost.  The only downside is that it does take a long time to get anything useable, but if you can be patient it is well worth it.

Remember the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?  I think we’re starting to get the hang of recycling, but what about reducing?  Reduce the amount of stuff you buy and you will reduce the amount of waste and pollution that is created.  If you want to know more then take a look at The Story of Stuff.  Think about all the things you have bought over your entire lifetime.  That’s a lot of stuff.  And did you really need all of it?  Has it made your life better?  Can you even remember most of it?  Where is it all now?  I’d be willing to bet that you don’t even have most of it any more.

So if you want to make a difference with your shopping habits, buy nothing and make do with what you already have.  This requires a lot of creative thinking and resourcefulness.  Think about alternative uses for things before throwing them away.  For example, I once had a TV stand that, during its long life, also served as a coffee table and bedside table simply by putting a throw (which I also already had) over the top.  

Borrowing (or renting) is also a great tactic to help you buy less stuff.  Instead of buying books and DVDs, borrow them from the library.  I usually read most books once and then they sit on the shelf gathering dust and cluttering up my house.  Now I search my local library catalogue online to find books I want, and I can even reserve them online.  Last week, I suggested a book that they didn’t have in stock, and they only went and ordered it for me!   Friends are also another great source of stuff you can borrow.  Last year, we cut down a tree/bush thing in our garden (to make room to grow veggies) and our friends lent us their shredder.  We could have bought our own, but we would never have used it again.  We lent the same friends a food processor when they were having a dinner party.

Freecycle is another great resource to help you buy less.  It’s a little bit like ebay as people advertise second hand goods, but everything is FREE!  You just have to go and collect it!  Freecycle is also fab for decluttering and getting rid of old junk – your trash becomes someone else’s treasure.  I have scored a compost bin and some jewellery making kit from Freecycle, and given away a whole host of clutter.  It’s a great way of saving things that are on their way to landfill, whilst saving yourself money in the process.

If you really want to go the whole hog, you can even join The Compact, a group of people who pledge to buy nothing new for a whole year.  I joined the pledge and managed about 6 months without buying anything at all.  I don’t stick to it any more, but I definitely buy a lot less than I used to, and I never go shopping just for fun any more – I only go if I actually need something.  So if nothing else, it will change the way you think about shopping.

It really doesn’t take much effort to buy less, and it certainly won’t cost you anything.  But I believe that changing our pattern of massive overconsumption is the single biggest thing that we can do in order to reduce our impact on the planet and make our way of life more sustainable for the future.  And if I haven’t convinced you then can I remind you again about The Story of Stuff?  Seriously, it’s well worth a look.