Dear Proper Green,
Any suggestions for some green activities for spring?
-Linda, TX
Any suggestions for some green activities for spring?
-Linda, TX
Dear Linda,
Spring is a great time to start new, but thinking about spring cleaning and cleaning out closets is admittedly not the most exciting of things to do. Here are a few spring activities that we think are a little more fun than cleaning — and each has some green benefit, too.
- Plan your garden. If you’re looking for outdoor activities, we suggest gardening. Now’s the perfect time to start planning and planting, so you can reap the rewards of summery veggies. And, there are plenty of ways you can reuse household items in your garden to make it even greener!
- Create a terrarium. April showers are almost upon us, which means a lot of trekking mud into the house. Instead of focusing on outdoor plants, you could bring the gardening indoors on a miniature scale. Select a few hardy succulents, and place in clear containers. The final product will brighten up any space, could improve your indoor air quality, requires minimal water, acts as a beautiful décor, and can be contained in glass jars you might have otherwise tossed. Here’s a great guide to making a terrariums.
- Have a game day. Save energy: Unplug the TV, game consoles, and DVD player, turn off the lights, and head to the sunniest room in your house with a deck of cards or favorite board game in tow. Bonus points if your deck of cards is made of recycled paper!
- Sign up for a CSA. Support local farmers and seasonal food by signing up to get their goods weekly. You’ll have fresh food regularly, and you’ll help your local vendors thrive. LocalHarvest is a great place to learn more about CSAs and to find out if there are any CSAs in your area.
- Make some old clothes new again. If you haven’t already put away your winter clothes, take a look through them and find some t-shirts and scarves you’re inclined to get rid of before next season. Then… transform them into spring and summer gear instead! In one afternoon, you could pretty easily transform a ratty tee into a fashionable one, meaning there’s one less piece of clothing headed to a landfill. Search “refashion” on Pinterest; it’s a great resource!
Recyclebankers, what kinds of green spring activities do you have planned? Share with us in the comments below!
About Proper Green
Proper Green is Recyclebank's green advice column. From promoting good manners in a green world (because ideas about what constitutes proper behavior and the environment are still evolving) to providing easy ways to make your every day more sustainable, Proper Green aims to help smooth the way with answers to questions that are important to you!
Do you have a question for Proper Green? Send inquiries to propergreen@recyclebank.com. Please note: Questions may be edited for clarity and length.
