There’s no doubt that living in the country makes you a lot more conscious of your impact on the environment. When you accidentally drop a crisp packet and it blows across a dangerous and busy road, there’s not much you can do. But when the same thing happens in the countryside, you have a lot more imperative to get it and dispose of it. That said, there are many things we have learned out here in the sticks that are easily replicated wherever you live. Let’s take a look at them now.
Recycle more
How the UK gets rid of its waste is an ongoing problem, and you can see many of the issues when you live in the countryside. The amount of fly tipping that can be spotted in usually beautiful locations is incredible, and you have to ask how people can think it’s OK. It’s sheer laziness or greed – many fly tippers do so just to avoid disposal charges on their business accounts.
However, when you scale it down to households, are we really doing all we can? Anything that can be recycled should be recycled. Give away things that you don’t want anymore – hand them over to charities of friends that might need them. Turn your food scrap into compost. Reuse your plastic bags, or buy longer lasting alternatives made from natural materials. Do anything you can and you can guarantee that thousands of others will be doing the same.
Grow your own
I read recently that almost half of all food bought in the UK goes into the bin. That’s an astonishing amount of waste – and borders on the criminal, when you consider that a good percentage of the world’s population is malnourished. So why not grow your own food and cut down on that waste – and the energy used to transport it?
Getting started is easy, wherever you live. Try some raspberry plants if you have a small garden, or tomatoes if you only have a balcony. Larger gardens can hold a large vegetable plot, and there are plenty of options out there that are easy to grow. Take a look at this article for some veggie-growing inspiration to get you started.
Get out of the car
Using a car is a necessity when you live in the middle of nowhere. However, you might be surprised that our drives out have decreased since we moved in. How? Well, clever planning has a lot to do with it – and also the fact that we are busy. And, of course, the plain and simple fact that we have a dog that needs walking!
It’s a bit of a myth that the countryside is completely cut off. There’s a bus stop just a short walk away, and while the service could be a little more frequent, all it takes is some organisation to make sure you get there on time. And we cycle a lot more, too. It’s a wonderful way of staying in shape and getting to breathe in some beautiful country air. So, if you think you are driving too much living in the city, then have a think about how you can change things. If we can do it out here in the sticks, there’s no excuse for you guys!
Let us know your green credentials – we’d love to hear how you do your bit for the environment.