I recently came across an article on Mother Nature Network In which we discuss the things our grandparents did that we can all learn from, especially those that help conserve personal and natural resources. It got me thinking about things my Grandparents (and parents for that matter) that I really need to reinvent and re-commit.
When you think about it, our parents and grandparents did a lot of “eco-friendly” things, while we knew our ecosystem. required A friend! Another example of “everything old becomes new again”.
17 Eco-Friendly Things Our Grandparents Did
1. Dry clothes on clothesline
Clothes dryers have come a long way in energy efficiency in recent years, but the average dryer is still an energy hog. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, “One of the biggest ways to reduce the environmental impact of laundry is to stop using the clothes dryer.”
Clothes last longer when they are continuously air-dried, and besides, what’s better than sheets and pillows hung out in the sun to dry? I rest my case.
2. Grow their own food
Not only does growing your own fruits and vegetables have an incredible sense of accomplishment, but you can avoid pesticides and control the types of seeds and transplants you plant and grow, such as heirloom varieties. My grandparents always grew their own food – all you need is soil, water and sun!
3. Preserved own food
Canning It’s a great way to preserve the food you grow in your garden without investing in an enormous freezer. I would love a “root cellar” filled with homemade goodies like my grandmother’s. Very little food was wasted back then, and if people today saved even a fraction of what our parents and grandparents did, a lot less food would be wasted today.
4. Collected rain water
A Rain barrel This will save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. And diverting water from storm drains can relieve stressed water systems and conserve limited resources, especially if you live in an arid climate like I do.
Note: Several states have rainwater harvesting laws, including Colorado, Illinois, Arizona, Ohio, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, and Virginia. Most state laws outline acceptable methods for collecting and using rainwater, while prohibiting people from “diverting” large quantities or selling rainwater without proper treatment.
5. Home cooked
Nothing beats a home-cooked meal, and preparing your own meals is good for the environment and your wallet alike. Home cooking typically uses fewer packaged ingredients, which conserves resources such as paper and plastic.
And if you buy those ingredients from local farmers or grow them yourself, you’ll make an even bigger impact on the environment by significantly reducing the number of miles your food has to travel to reach your plate.
6. Save eating out for special occasions
In the modern age, it is not unusual for people to eat out several times per week, but for our grandparents, eating out was saved for special occasions. Even fast food, which was not common at the time, was considered a treat. (I remember my parents packing food for our road trips, and we would stop to eat our meals at roadside picnic tables.)
7. Entertainment at home
Today we spend a lot of time and money on outdoor activities. Our grandparents spent more time outdoors during the day, and evenings were devoted to board games, reading, and other hobbies. Going to movies or concerts was considered a rare luxury.
By finding more free activities to do and family activities you can do at home, you can save a lot of money and get more quality time with the people you love!
8. Drink water from the tap
When our grandparents got thirsty, they got water from the tap instead of a plastic bottle sent from who knows where. Bottled water seemed like a ridiculous notion 100 years ago, but today it’s everywhere you go.
9. “Brown bagged” it
When grandpa or grandma went to work, they brought a packed lunch from home, and it’s still a great way to reduce food waste and save resources! Fast food and fast casual restaurants often serve food in single-use packaging that ends up in landfills. With a little effort, taking lunch to work can be easy, affordable, healthy and green.
10. Play more games
Hopscotch, red light/green light, jacks, hide and seek, roller skating, tag—the list of outdoor games goes on. Being outdoors helps children connect with nature and the environment around them, and outdoor play develops a disposition for outdoors, physical activity, and caring for the environment.
11. Buy less
Our grandparents didn’t buy as many new things as they do today. If something had a hole, it wasn’t thrown out—it was patched or mended. Christmas and birthday gifts were often homemade, and items were often handed down from child to child. These practices not only saved money, but were also environmentally friendly.
12. Spent more time outside
In our grandparents’ day, staying indoors meant you were grounded or sick. Everyone’s playground was outside the house from dawn to dusk! Spending time in nature is a great way for everyone in your family to take a break from screens, especially in the age of smartphones and tablets.
13. Augmented Community
Before Facebook, texting, and email, grandma and grandpa only talked to people face-to-face. Research shows that connecting with the people around you makes you healthier and increases your life expectancy, and gathering on the front porch creates a sense of community and family.
14. Home remedies used
Many of us have been taught home remedies that have been passed down from generation to generation. Learn how to fight a cold or soothe a bug bite with garlic, ginger and onion Lavender essential oil or plantain poultice.
15. Make your own cleaning products
Our grandparents used basic cleaning agents to keep their homes clean and they still do the same today. in fact, baking soda, vinegar, Lemon, Castile soapAnd essential oil Can cover most of your cleaning needs.
16. Used public transportation, road bikes and walks
It was common for many of our grandparents to walk or bike to and from work, and more used public transportation because they didn’t have a car to drive. People took the bus and children rode their bikes to school or walked, and if we drove less today we could save money and help the environment.
17. Recycle
Our grandparents may not have had a recycling center in town, but they knew how to make something else. Clothes became quilts, and milk bottles and soft drink bottles were washed, sterilized and returned to the store to be reused. Everything had a secondary use and nothing was thrown away unless it could be used again.
Did you pick up any eco-friendly habits from your parents or grandparents?
